Jan. 14, 2025

Doctors Making a Difference: Mark Vossler, MD

For Mark Vossler, MD, a trip to Japan as a medical student set in motion a decades-long effort to create a healthy population through social change. As a past president and current treasurer of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, and winner of a 2024 Grassroots Advocacy Apple Award from the WSMA, Dr. Vossler is working to make a difference through policies focused on climate change. He talked with WSMA Reports about the upcoming legislative session, what physicians can do to promote climate and economic equity in their practices, and more.

WSMA Reports: How did you get involved with Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility?

Dr. Vossler: I had the privilege of doing a research fellowship at the Radiations Effects Foundation in Hiroshima, Japan as a medical student. The science was focused on cell signaling in carcinogenesis in response to radiation, but the experience was much more than that. Being in Hiroshima, studying the impacts of nuclear war, and visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park had a profound impact on me. When I returned to the U.S., I joined Physicians for Social Responsibility to speak out against nuclear weapons and to prevent what we cannot cure.

Are there certain advocacy issues that are most important to you personally?

Right now, I'm pretty focused on the health impacts of using gas for home heating and cooking. It turns out that there is limited awareness of the scope of the risk, even among physicians. I'm proud of the work that I did along with other concerned health professionals to help get state building codes passed that encouraged a transition off gas and to electric heating and cooking. Unfortunately, those gains are being set back by an initiative that just passed in the November election.

Do you think physicians can play a unique role in advocating for policies that address climate change and its effects?

Physicians have a unique role to play in advocacy, especially on issues that affect health. We are trusted by both the public and by elected officials. So long as we focus on being credible, truthful, and focused on human impacts, our input is taken very seriously. I feel it is an obligation of the physician to use their privilege to speak up on matters of public health. I am super grateful that the WSMA House of Delegates has passed resolutions calling for a reduction in emissions, acknowledging the health impacts of burning gas in the home, and for reducing climate impacts of the health care sector. This sends a very strong message to our electeds.

What are your advocacy priorities for the upcoming legislative session?

We are looking to pass a bill that would help hospitals and surgical centers reduce the greenhouse gas impacts of anesthesia. We have the backing of both the WSMA and the Washington State Society of Anesthesiologists on this. We are also eager to pass the CURB Pollution Act. This would require state agencies to take cumulative community pollution burden into account in the permitting process.

Are there any ways that physicians can take action in their daily practice on climate or economic inequity issues?

We need to be in the habit of understanding our patients' vulnerabilities to social determinants of health. Economic factors are a big deal. Inability to buy healthy foods, fill prescriptions, or afford housing has a tremendous impact on our patients' health. We need to also ask about preparedness for things like extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Making air filtration and cooling available to low-income households in our state will make a big difference on the health impacts of climate change.

This article was featured in the January/February 2025 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.