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 executive director/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:
Jessica Martinson
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, clinicians, 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 , co-sponsored by the WSMA and the Washington State Hospital Association, 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 and the WSHA. The advisory
group comprises a representative mix of regular collaborative attendees from a
variety of hospitals and clinic types around the state.
Staff:
Jessica Martinson
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.
Staff:
Jessica Martinson
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