WSMA Leadership Development Conference

Community advocacy, patient trust themes of 2026 Leadership Development Conference

The politicization of health care, the spread of incorrect or misleading health information, increasing downstream effects of social drivers of health … today’s health care environment is presenting unique challenges for care teams and their patients—challenges that threaten the foundation of patient care: the trust between a patient and physician. As we face these new challenges, new competencies may be required—some that may extend beyond the walls of the exam room or clinic.

The 2026 Leadership Development Conference will feature speakers and sessions that explore the role of physicians and care teams in their communities as patients advocates, and how our voices and actions on behalf of evidence-based medicine can help restore the sacred patient-physician bond. Topics will include leading as community health advocates, using communication technologies to elevate physician voices and evidence-based information, and embracing opportunities to harness cutting-edge solutions to social drivers of health.

This year’s conference will explore our evolving understanding of what it means for physicians and their care teams to lead in today’s environment. Physicians, practitioners, and patients are facing multiple challenges unique to our era, including the politicization of health care, the spread of incorrect or misleading health information, and increasing downstream effects of social drivers of health. This year’s conference will feature speakers and presentations that will look at leadership from underexplored angles, including how to show leadership as community health advocates, embracing evolving communication technologies to platform physician voices and evidence-based information, and opportunities to harness cutting-edge solutions to social drivers of health.

The conference features a weekend of engaging course content, including both general presentations and interactive breakout sessions, delivered and facilitated by experts from across the health care spectrum. With the lakeside resort setting backdrop, family-friendly activities, and an agenda structured with plenty of time for social events and recreational activities, the conference provides an opportunity for physicians, physician assistants, and clinical teams to develop their leadership competencies in a relaxed setting.

This day-and-a-half educational event is for professionals at all leadership levels, from experienced leaders to up-and-comers, from large systems to small practices, rural and urban. Consider bringing your clinical team—the conference is an ideal opportunity for fostering collaboration, communication, and engaged team members. A discounted registration rate is available for WSMA members; non-member pricing is available.

Central to the success of the Leadership Development Conference is the resort's family-friendly, beautiful lakeside setting. The Lake Chelan region in the spring is a wonder to behold, with activities, wineries, and much more to offer for the whole family.

Join your colleagues from across the state for a weekend of education, networking, and recreation. You’ll leave the weekend refreshed, inspired, and equipped with tools and strategies you can put to use immediately in your practice setting.

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit^™

Friday, May 15

7:30 a.m. - Check-in and networking breakfast

8 a.m. - Opening remarks - Bridget Bush, MD, FASA, WSMA President

8:15 a.m. - KEYNOTE: Policy and Nutrition Access – Jim Krieger, MD, MPH, Healthy Food America

9:15 a.m.- Who Gets to Be Healthy? Hospitals as Community Healers – David Ansell, MD, MPH

10 a.m. - Networking break

10:30 a.m. - When Social Needs Screen Positive: Resource and Referral Partnerships with Help Me Grow – Jackie Litzau, Lyndie Simmonds, and Francie Chalmers, MD of Help Me Grow Washington

Noon – Lunch

1 p.m. - Food Security Metrics: What are we measuring, and why does it matter? - Marie Spiker, PhD

2:30 p.m. - Networking break

3-5 p.m. Breakout sessions (choose two sessions; each session is held at both 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.)

• Option A: Using Social Media to Communicate Health Information - Lora Shahine, MD
• Option B: Developing a Practical Diabetes Resource Toolkit Through Community Partnership - Bindu Nayak, MD, and Emely Barragan, MPH
• Option C: Legislative Advocacy: Fueling Futures: Public Health and Free School Meals in Olympia – Sen. Marcus Riccelli

Saturday, May 16

8 a.m. - KEYNOTE: Evidence vs. Influence: Restoring Trust in Modern Medicine – Kelly Casperson, MD

9-10 a.m. Breakout sessions (choose one session)

• Option A: Talking About Food Insecurity: Skills for Real World Practice – Jennifer Maxwell, MD, and Gabrielle Frank, RD
• Option B: Disagreeing Better – Heather Sulejman

10 a.m. – Networking break

10:15 a.m. - Public Health Panel – Moderator: Bridget Bush, MD; panelists: Jens Metzger, MD, Gregory Engel, MD, and Bindu Nayak, MD

11:15 a.m. – Coaching for Leaders - Patty Burgin, Rhumeena Bhalla, Karen Souter, MD, and Michael Spruance

Noon - Adjourn

Friday Keynote: Policy and Nutrition Access - Jim Krieger, MD, MPH

Jim Krieger, MD, MPH, is a clinical professor emeritus at the University of Washington School of Public Health and executive director of Healthy Food America. He previously worked for 25 years at Public Health – Seattle & King County as chief of chronic disease prevention and assessment, policy development, and epidemiology.

He has contributed to implementation of the nation’s second menu labeling regulation, adoption of sweetened beverage taxes, front-of-package food labels, and development of ultra-processed food policy.

He received his undergraduate degree at Harvard, medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco, and master of public health at the University of Washington.

Saturday Keynote: Evidence vs. Influence: Restoring Trust in Modern Medicine - Kelly Casperson, MD

Kelly Casperson, MD, is a board-certified urologic surgeon, CEO, and founder of The Casperson Clinic, a modern practice dedicated to hormones and sex medicine. She is a renowned public speaker, sex educator, and host of the top-ranking podcast You Are Not Broken. Dedicated to empowering women, Dr. Casperson blends humor, candor, and science to demystify sexual health, intimacy, and midlife wellness. Through her podcast and online courses, she tackles myths about desire and normalizes conversations around healthy, fulfilling sex. Her work also provides essential education on hormones and midlife health. Connect with Dr. Casperson on Instagram at @kellycaspersonmd or visit kellycaspersonmd.com.

Who Gets to Be Healthy? Hospitals as Community Healers – David Ansell, MD, MPH

David Ansell, MD, MPH, will talk with conference attendees about how health systems can adopt anchor missions to hire, purchase, and invest locally; and how a focus on reducing gaps in health outcomes and experiences advances health equity. He’ll discuss his experience implementing universal social determinants of health screenings at primary care clinics and how clinic staff responded to patients’ needs (i.e., referrals to nutrition programs, utilizing telehealth for those with transportation issues).

Dr. Ansell is the Michael E. Kelly presidential professor of internal medicine and senior vice president and associate provost for community health equity at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. His research and advocacy have been focused on eliminating health inequities.

In 2011 he published a memoir of his times at Cook County Hospital, “County: Life, Death and Politics at Chicago’s Public Hospital.” His latest book, “The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills,” was published in 2017.

Breakout Session: Legislative Advocacy:Fueling Futures: Public Health and Free School Meals in Olympia - Sen. Marcus Riccelli

Sen. Marcus Riccelli was elected to the state Legislature in 2012, serving 12 years in the House before being elected to the Senate in 2024. In the Senate, he is the majority floor leader and also serves on the Ways and Means Committee; Health and Long-Term Care Committee; State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee; and the Rules Committee. Outside his duties with the Legislature, Sen. Riccelli is the community relations manager for the Community Health Association of Spokane.

Sen. Riccelli worked with advocates and colleagues from both sides of the aisle to prime sponsor and pass legislation creating the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, which trains homegrown doctors to help fill the needs of our state’s rural and underserved communities. He championed funding to expand oral health access to an additional 60,000 people, increasing dental visits by 150,000 annually. He also passed multiple bills expanding access to free school meals, benefiting 670,000 Washington students.

Disagreeing Better – Heather Sulejman

Heather Sulejman will talk with attendees about approaching fraught issues with patients and colleagues, and what techniques may foster openness to discussion, paving the way to productive conversations.

Sulejman is the co-founder of Disagreeing Better, where she delivers engaging, effective trainings dedicated to translating behavioral science insights into practical conflict- management tools for professionals, including those in health care. Sulejman and co- founder Julia Minson recognized the recurring issue of well-meaning individuals leaving challenging conversations feeling misunderstood, frustrated, and defensive. Their research-based approach informs their work to teach teams how to navigate disagreement in an actionable and measurable way. Sulejman is also the managing director of The Constructive Disagreement Project at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

As a trained mediator, coach, and facilitator, Sulejman’s expertise centers on process design for conflict management and negotiations. She has facilitated leadership workshops for the Washington State Hospital Association and the Council for Medical Specialty Societies.

The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WSMA designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The WSMA may have a photographer or videographer on-site at this event to gather imagery for use by the WSMA in its communications materials and channels, as well as for media outreach. These images will be the property of the WSMA, and the WSMA will not sell or otherwise market event imagery. If you have any questions regarding imagery taken at a WSMA event, please contact Milana McLead at milana@wsma.org.

The WSMA wishes to thank the following corporate partners for their generous contribution. Learn more about becoming a partner.

Exclusive Premier Partner

Protecting your healthcare organization. Your business. Your reputation and life’s work. Physicians Insurance is a boutique mutual insurance company based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to protecting, defending, and supporting our Members with a suite of medical professional liability offerings and exceptional, personalized service. Backed with strong financials, Physicians Insurance delivers proactive protection for you now, and for whatever the future may hold.

Sustainer

 

Northern Capital Management has experience working with the distinctive financial requirements of physicians, physician assistants, and their practices. Financial planning and wealth management are tailored to your specific investment goals and objectives. WSMA is a client and paid promoter, as a result there is an inherent conflict of interest. Disclosure

Supporters

For more than 40 years, Gohagan & Company has been curating all- inclusive, affinity travel programs for intellectually curious and discerning travelers.

Resolve is your top source for employment contract review services and salary data. Whether you are signing your first employment contract, or renegotiating a current one, their team ensures your terms are fair.