Get Involved

By becoming a member of the WSMA, you not only have the security of knowing you have a strong advocate looking out for your and your patients’ interests, but you also have an opportunity to get involved in our various initiatives and governance.

Below is a list of WSMA’s governing bodies, standing committees, councils, work groups, and task forces. To learn more and find out how you can get involved, contact the staff member listed.

WSMA House of Delegates

The House of Delegates sets policy for the WSMA. The House is composed of members who represent, and are designated by, their respective county society and specialty society sections, as well as representatives of WSMA’s special sections and members of the WSMA board of trustees. The House meets annually in the fall. If you want to serve as a delegate representing your specialty or county, please contact your local county society or state specialty society.

Staff: Shannon Bozarth

WSMA Board of Trustees

The board of trustees carries out the mandates and policies of the WSMA as determined by the House of Delegates. On a more informal basis, the board serves as a representative group of physicians elected by the House to provide guidance and feedback to the WSMA Executive Committee.

The board comprises: The officers of the executive committee (president, president-elect, immediate past president, vice president, and secretary-treasurer), the speaker and vice speaker of the House, finance committee chair, trustees (21 total), young physician trustee, resident trustee, student trustee, four AMA delegates, and four AMA alternate delegates. The WSMA president serves as chair of the board.

The board meets approximately four times per year. Applicants to the board are submitted to the WSMA nominating committee, which prepares the slate of candidates for the House of Delegates to act upon.

Staff: Shannon Bozarth

WSMA Executive Committee

The executive committee carries out the mandates and policies of the WSMA as determined by the board of trustees and the House of Delegates. The executive committee supervises and directs the CEO and has the power to exercise all powers of the board in the management of WSMA’s affairs and business, except when the board is in session.

Officers of the executive committee include the president, president-elect, immediate past president (who serves as its chair), vice president, and secretary-treasurer.

Staff: Jennifer Hanscom

WSMA Finance Committee

The finance committee supervises the funds, investments, and expenditures of the association, together with the board. The finance committee is composed of five members, three of whom are elected by the House of Delegates to serve a three-year term, plus the secretary-treasurer from the executive committee. The finance committee annually designates one of its three elected members to serve as chair, and the chair also serves as a voting member of the board of trustees.

Staff: Amy Fredericks

WSMA Nominating Committee

The nominating committee reviews applications to serve on the board of trustees and nominates at least one candidate for each open position on the board to be elected by the House of Delegates during the WSMA Annual Meeting each fall. The nominating committee is composed of one member from each of the state's congressional districts and is chaired by the immediate past president of the WSMA (who does not represent a congressional district). The president-elect serves as an advisory member. Nominating committee members are appointed by the president and serve three-year terms.

Staff: Shannon Bozarth

WSMA Bylaws Committee

The bylaws committee reviews and makes recommendations to the House of Delegates on proposed amendments and other issues pertaining to WSMA bylaws. The bylaws committee is composed of six members, all of whom are appointed by the president with the approval of the board of trustees. Committee members serve three-year terms.

Staff: Shannon Bozarth

WSMA Foundation Board of Directors

The foundation board of directors governs the WSMA Foundation for Health Care Improvement, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to creating transformational health care change at all levels—individual, organizational, and statewide. We believe in a future where physicians are healthy and fulfilled; where physicians, the health care team, and patients are partners; and where all Washingtonians experience equitable, quality care that aligns with their needs, goals, and values. The foundation board of directors is composed of nine members, all of whom (except for the WSMA CEO) are appointed by the WSMA board of trustees. Members serve three-year terms and can serve up to two terms.

Staff: Jennifer Hanscom

WAMPAC Board of Directors

The WAMPAC board of directors governs the Washington Medical Political Action Committee, WSMA’s campaign arm. WAMPAC provides analysis on elections and meets with those running for office to learn about their legislative priorities and to educate them about policies important to the WSMA. The WAMPAC board consists of one physician member from each of the state’s 10 congressional districts. There are also membership positions for a physician assistant, a resident physician, and a medical student. Leadership positions on the WAMPAC board (chair, vice-chair, secretary-treasurer, and assistant secretary-treasurer) are two-year terms and are voted on by the WSMA board of trustees.

Staff: Sean Graham

WSMA Advocacy Council

The advocacy council reviews WSMA’s lobbying agendas, current events, and policy development at the state level and communicates relevant information to council representatives’ respective societies and groups. The advocacy council is composed of any specialty society, county, or large group members interested in legislative, regulatory, legal, and other advocacy. The advocacy council meets virtually several times per year.

Staff: Alex Wehinger

WSMA DEI Committee

As part of WSMA’s commitment to building health equity, eliminating health disparities, and recognizing that we are responsible for ensuring that all member voices are heard, the WSMA is incorporating a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to everything we do. To help guide this work, 2021-22 WSMA President Mika Sinanan, MD, PhD, implemented a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee charged with informing WSMA policy development as well as the association’s demographics, to ensure that we are a truly representative organization.

Staff: Jennifer Hanscom

AMA Delegation

The WSMA’s delegation to the American Medical Association represents the interests and needs of Washington state physicians and their patients in the creation of policies and programs at the AMA. The AMA delegation comprises delegates and alternate delegates based on AMA membership. Currently, the WSMA is allocated four of each. AMA delegates and alternate delegates are elected by the House of Delegates for two-year terms.

Staff: Shannon Bozarth

WSMA Young Physician Section Governing Council

The Young Physician Section governing council directs the programs and activities of the Young Physician Section, WSMA’s special section for physician members under 40 years of age or within the first 10 years of professional practice after residency and fellowship training. The governing council is composed of the chair, vice chair, a delegate to the House of Delegates, an alternate delegate to the House of Delegates, and three at-large members. The council also may appoint designated seats on the council for non-voting liaisons. Each of these offices is voted on annually prior to a meeting of the executive committee in September.

Staff: Milana McLead

WSMA Resident and Fellow Section Governing Council

The Resident and Fellow Section governing council directs the programs and activities of the Resident and Fellow Section, WSMA’s special section for resident and fellow members. The governing council is composed of the chair, vice chair, a delegate to the House of Delegates, an alternate delegate to the House of Delegates, and three at-large members. The council also may appoint designated seats on the council for non-voting liaisons. Each of these offices is voted on annually prior to a meeting of the executive committee in September.

Staff: Milana McLead

WSMA Medical Student Section Governing Council

The Medical Student Section governing council directs the programs and activities of the Medical Student Section, WSMA’s special section for medical student members. The governing council is composed of the chair, vice chair, a delegate to the House of Delegates, an alternate delegate to the House of Delegates, and three at-large members. The council also may appoint designated seats on the council for non-voting liaisons. Each of these offices is voted on annually prior to a meeting of the executive committee in September.

Staff: Milana McLead

WSMA Latinx Advisory Council

The 2020 WSMA House of Delegates passed policy establishing a Latinx Advisory Council within the WSMA beginning in 2021. The Latinx Advisory Council will provide a forum in which Latinx physicians and physician assistants can support each other professionally, recruit other Latinx physicians, and develop and inform advocacy strategies within the WSMA.

Staff: Aaron Waldkoetter

Washington Serious Illness Care Coalition and Steering Committee

The Washington Serious Illness Care Coalition (previously known as the Washington End-of-Life Coalition) is a broad-based group of individuals and organizations from across the state dedicated to helping patients, physicians, advance practitioners, and caregivers improve the way we discuss, prepare for, and treat serious illness. There are no dues or requirements for membership. Members will receive news and information via email and will be invited to participate in activities in support and celebration of end-of-life and advance care planning initiatives across the state.

The WSICC Steering Committee serves as a convener for professionals and the public; promotes education, conversations, and planning across all settings; and participates in state and national conversations. Steering committee members each agree to a minimum term of two years. The steering committee is guided by three officers: chair, vice chair, and immediate past chair (chair emeritus), each with a term spanning two years. Candidates for the vice chair position are chosen based on qualifications, not years of committee service. One of the three officeholders must be a WSMA member.

Staff: Brendan Cox

Washington State POLST Task Force and Advisory Group

The POLST task force coordinates the Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) program to ensure the form keeps pace with current practice standards. The task force is chaired or co-chaired by a WSMA member. The task force consults with a larger ad hoc POLST advisory group every two years, or as needed, to review the form for revisions.

Staff: Brendan Cox

Medical Officer Collaborative and Advisory Group

The Medical Officer Collaborative is a forum for medical leadership from across the state to collaborate on important topics of quality and leadership. The collaborative is composed of chief medical officers, vice presidents of medical affairs, and chiefs of staff from hospitals and large medical groups in Washington state. The Medical Officer Collaborative advisory group establishes the collaborative’s priorities and helps inform discussions at the WSMA. The advisory group comprises a representative mix of regular collaborative attendees from a variety of hospitals and clinic types around the state.

Staff: Monica Salgaonkar

Honoring Choices® Pacific Northwest Advisory Council

The Honoring Choices Pacific Northwest advisory council guides the WSMA's and the Washington State Hospital Association's jointly sponsored Honoring Choices® PNW advance care planning initiative and informs both associations on advocacy matters related to the initiative and advance care planning. The advisory council is composed of physician and administrative leaders from medical groups, hospitals, insurers, AARP, and advance care planning/end-of-life associations from around Washington state.

WSMA Behavioral Health Work Group

The behavioral health work group provides the WSMA with physician input on the development of WSMA positions on behavioral health issues and better enables the WSMA to react to proposals offered by various external parties, including the governor’s office, the state Health Care Authority, and others. Work group members include representatives from specialty society leadership, including addiction medicine, child psychiatry, emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry.

Staff: Shannon Bozarth

WSMA CME Accreditation Committee

The accreditation committee accredits institutions and organizations in Washington, Alaska, and Oregon to provide AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for continuing medical education. The committee upholds intrastate accreditation requirements as set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and advises WSMA leadership, state legislation, and the licensing board about continuing education requirements. Members on this committee share a passion for high-quality continuing education for physicians and allied health professionals. The accreditation committee is composed of physicians and CME program administrators throughout the Pacific Northwest. The committee meets three times per year.

Staff: Kendra Peterson

WSMA CME Program Committee

The CME program committee reviews CME applications and awards credit for WSMA and jointly provided AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for continuing medical education activities. Members on this committee share a passion for high-quality continuing education for physicians and allied health professionals. The CME program committee is composed of WSMA physician members from throughout Washington state. The committee meets once per year.

Staff: Kendra Peterson