Mar. 6, 2026
Member Spotlight: Elizabeth Westling, MD
Works at: Providence-Washington State University Internal Medicine Center, Everett.
How long in practice: Five years.
Specialty: Internal medicine.
Why WSMA: My first introduction to the WSMA was in residency when I attended the WSMA Legislative Summit. Up to that point, I hadn't realized how much impact physician organizations could have on local legislation and I was inspired by the respect that legislators have for the WSMA. I aspire to have a positive impact on the health of the community where I practice beyond the provision of direct clinical care and my involvement with the WSMA has provided an avenue to support tangible change.
Inspired by: I love the relationships that medicine allows me to build with my colleagues and patients. It is motivating to feel that we are all part of a bigger team working toward the great shared goal of improved health and quality of life for those we care for. I learn something new from my patients or colleagues every day, and getting to know my patients provides insight into many other ways of living that I would never know about if I worked in another field.
Why WSMA's Your Care Is at Our Core campaign matters: My role as a healer and ally to my patients is one of the most important parts of my identity as a physician. Our medical system is complicated and hard for patients to navigate and, whether it is intended or not, many people experience trauma during their health care journey. To me, embracing the role of healer means taking patients' experiences seriously, walking alongside them on what can be a difficult journey, and helping them recover from medical trauma and rebuild their trust in the medical system. This feels particularly salient right now as public trust in medicine is being undermined. I hope that my patients feel that I am a safe source of information and reassurance.
Best advice: The purpose of the first visit is to earn the second visit.
Spare time: Hanging out with my husband, 2-year-old son, and two cats. We love going for walks on the Everett waterfront and checking out the Imagine Children's Museum.
Hobbies: Cooking for friends and family, crocheting, and gardening. My son loves tomatoes and we're looking forward to growing cherry tomatoes this summer. We just finished sowing shallot seeds to get a head start on the growing season.
Recommended reading: "Prophet Song" by Paul Lynch is a book that I read over a year ago and still think about all the time. I highly recommend it but be prepared to be emotionally devastated. For a lighter read, I got "The Secret Keeper" by Kate Morton for Christmas and read it over one weekend! It's a historical mystery with great pacing.
This article was featured in the March/April 2026 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.