| action-alert-act-now-to-prevent-physician-shortages | Action Alert! Act Now to Prevent Physician Shortages | Leadership | Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/April 3/action-alert-act-now-to-prevent-physician-shortages | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/getty-images-8RHFeR8fbOI-unsplash-for-web.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Concerns with Medicare and Medicaid " /></div>
<h5>Apr. 3, 2026</h5>
<h2>Action Alert! Act Now to Prevent Physician Shortages</h2>
<p><em>Urge Congress to support H.R. 7961</em>
</p>
<p>
The bipartisan <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7961">H-1Bs for the Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961)</a> would exempt physicians from the new $100,000 H-1B visa filing fee—helping ensure hospitals and physician practices can continue recruiting the international medical graduates who make up one in four U.S. physicians and serve many underserved communities. Without this fix, rising costs will worsen physician shortages, increase wait times for appointments, and limit access to care.
</p>
<p>
Take action: <a href="https://physiciansgrassrootsnetwork.org/be-heard?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f130422%2fRespond">Urge your member of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 7961 and protect patient access to care</a>.
</p>
<p>
The WSMA has reached out directly to members of Washington's congressional delegation to request their support for this critical legislation.
</p>
</div> | 4/2/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| growth-in-ama-membership-in-washington-results-in-a-stronger-wsma-ama-delegation | Growth in AMA Membership in Washington Results in a Stronger WSMA AMA Delegation | Leadership | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/March 13/growth-in-ama-membership-in-washington-results-in-a-stronger-wsma-ama-delegation | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/march/AMA-Mtg-2025.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Image of 2025 AMA meeting attendees" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 13, 2026</h5>
<h2>Growth in AMA Membership in Washington Results in a Stronger WSMA AMA Delegation</h2>
<p>
<em>More AMA delegates mean more influence at the national level</em>
</p>
<p>
The American Medical Association has allotted the WSMA with an additional delegate and alternate delegate to the state's delegation as more Washington state physicians join the national association.
</p>
<p>
Washington-based AMA members at the end of 2025 totaled 6,352—an almost 10% increase from 2024, which ended with 5,779 Washington-based AMA members. State medical associations are apportioned one delegate and one alternate delegate for every 1,000 AMA members or fraction of, so the growth in AMA membership automatically triggered an increase in WSMA's AMA delegate count from six delegates and six alternate delegates to seven delegates and seven alternate delegates.
</p>
<p>
The <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wsma/about/who_we_are/standing-committees.aspx" target="_blank">WSMA's delegation to the AMA</a> serves on the WSMA board of trustees representing the interests and needs of Washington state physicians and their patients in the creation of policies and programs at the AMA. AMA delegates and alternate delegates are elected by the House of Delegates for two-year terms.
</p>
<p>
Per WSMA's bylaws, vacancies on the board of trustees are filled by presidential appointment for the unexpired portion of the term and until the next session of the House of Delegates. The WSMA Nominating Committee will be preparing a slate of candidates for our House of Delegates to vote on this fall, including for the new delegate positions.
</p>
<p>
With the AMA hosting its annual meeting in June, WSMA President Bridget Bush, MD, has elevated Colin Fields, MD, from his current alternate position to serve in the new delegate position and will herself serve as an alternate at the June meeting.
</p>
</div> | 3/13/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |
| wsma-members-are-connecting-with-peers-and-colleagues-you-can-too | WSMA Members Are Connecting with Peers and Colleagues—You Can Too! | Leadership | Shared_Content/News/Membership_Memo/2026/March 13/wsma-members-are-connecting-with-peers-and-colleagues-you-can-too | <div class="col-md-12">
<div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/MembershipMemo/2026/march/2022-LDC-Group-Shot1-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="Group photo of Washington physicians" /></div>
<h5>Mar. 13, 2026</h5>
<h2>WSMA Members Are Connecting with Peers and Colleagues—You Can Too!</h2>
<p>
<em>WSMA online communities are growing as members learn of the ease of use</em>
</p>
<p>
If you're looking for meaningful connections with your peers and colleagues, we have a modern version of the "doctors' lounge" for you. <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/wsma-communities/wsma/membership/wsma-communities.aspx" target="_blank">WSMA's member communities</a> are bringing members together in an online forum where participants can share concerns, speak openly, seek guidance and enjoy solidarity with fellow physicians and physician assistants.
</p>
<p>
To date, the WSMA offers the following communities. Don't see yours? Create your own and invite your peers.
</p>
<p>
</p>
<ul>
<li>
AI in Health Care
</li>
<li>
WSMA Virtual Reference Committees and Policy
</li>
<li>
Early Career Community
</li>
<li>
Latinx Community
</li>
<li>
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Forum (coming this month)
</li>
<li>
LGBTQ+ Forum (coming this month)
</li>
<li>
WSMA Center for Leadership Development Alumni
</li>
<li>
Medical Officers Collaborative
</li>
<li>
County Society Leadership
</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>
These forums, whether based on shared interests, geography, or identities, provide a space where you can connect on a personal level.
</p>
<p>
Connections matter. Your community is accessible via email, the WSMA website, or mobile app, making it easy to connect, post, and share anytime, anywhere. If you don't see a community that speaks to you, consider pulling some friends together and propose a new WSMA community.
</p>
<p>
Ready to connect? <a href="https://wsma.org/wsma/membership/wsma-communities/wsma/membership/wsma-communities.aspx">Get started</a>.
</p>
</div> | 3/13/2026 12:00:00 AM | 1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM |