Alan Melnick, MD
Specialty: Public health and general preventive
medicine; family medicine.
Years in practice: 45.
Works at: Clark County Public Health, Vancouver.
Society memberships: Clark County Medical Society;
American College of Preventive Medicine, American Academy of Family
Practice, and Washington Academy of Family Practice.
Why WSMA: The WSMA is the voice of Washington physicians
who are a key part of the state health care delivery and public health
systems and are essential in protecting and promoting the health of
patients and the public. For example, the WSMA voice, involvement, and
leadership have been critical in addressing barriers to access to quality
health care, including, but not limited to, Medicaid and Medicare
reimbursement and prior authorization, as well as identifying and
responding to threats to community health, including, but not limited to,
network adequacy (particularly concerning for prenatal care), the opioid
crisis, and underfunding of our public health system (by supporting
foundational public health services funding). As a local health official
and public health physician, I joined the WSMA knowing that it was a key
partner in strengthening ties between the governmental public health
system and practicing physicians and in doing so, would take a leadership
role in developing policies to improve the health of all Washington
residents.
Why serve on WSMA’s Board: Washington physicians (and
the WSMA) are a key part of the state public health system and are
essential to protecting and promoting the health of the public. For
example, the WSMA partnership with public health has been critical in
addressing clinical and policy needs associated with the COVID-19
pandemic, and in supporting adequate funding for foundational public
health services. Early in the pandemic, the WSMA added its support for
direct funding for COVID-19 vaccine administration to ensure vaccination
equity, and WSMA continues to support efforts to address misinformation,
promote science, and improve immunization rates in general. In addition,
WSMA has identified and supported efforts to address barriers to care for
the Medicaid population, including Medicaid reimbursement. As a local
Health Official/ Public Health physician member of the WSMA Board of
Trustees, I hope to continue to work with WSMA to create policies to
improve the health of all Washington residents, and to strengthen the ties
between the governmental public health system, practicing physicians, and
physician leadership.
Why should physicians lead: Physicians, serving on the
front lines of healthcare, and based on their training, skills and
experience, are in a unique position to recognize system issues that
affect access to care, patient safety, and ultimately the health of
patients and our communities. I've come to understand that quantitative
data on access, care and outcomes are not sufficient to identify areas of
concern and opportunities for improvement. Personal experience in clinical
practice, including hearing from patients and their families, combined
with their knowledge and credibility, put physicians in a unique position
as leaders to recommend practice and policy changes to improve the
healthcare experience of our patients, and ultimately the health of our
communities.
How do you help further WSMA’s vision to make Washington state the best
place to practice medicine and receive care:
As a board member, I hope to bring the voice of WSMA forward in
partnership with key stakeholder partners that I work with daily,
including local and state public health officials, on policy
recommendations to make Washington State the best state to practice
medicine and receive care, which in turn, will improve community health.
Fun fact about you: I was a cab driver the summer before
I started medical school.