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Continuing professional development to support our members on their lifelong learning journey.

Upcoming Webinars

On this page, you'll find upcoming virtual sessions dedicated to physicians' continuing professional development as well as other WSMA priorities. Continuing professional development is the process of lifelong learning in which physicians acquire, through formal and informal activities, the medical and nonmedical competencies they need to improve their ability to practice medicine and provide effective patient care.

The WSMA offers continuing professional development as part of our commitment to supporting physicians and physician assistants on their lifelong learning journey. Questions? Contact Brendan Cox at brendan@wsma.org or 206.956.3625.

WISeR in Practice – What Washington Physicians Need to Know

Wednesday, May 27, noon–1p.m.

Since its introduction in January, the new prior authorization pilot program for certain traditional Medicare services, the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction Initiative, has had a rocky rollout in Washington state. The WSMA has taken a lead role in advocating on behalf of the physician community by raising concerns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, policymakers, and the media. At the request of the WSMA, CMS and Virtix Health, the designated vendor for Washington state, will host  a  webinar  designed for Washington state physicians, organizations, and staff, to provide practical training and answer questions about the program.

About the webinar: Hanul Bhandari, MD, a clinical leader at Virtix Health, and Jay Ahlmer, Virtix Health’s executive vice president, will walk through the submission workflow, cover documentation and physician information requirements, explain how to request peer-to-peer reviews, and preview Virtix Health’s upcoming gold carding program for qualifying physicians. Representatives from Noridian, the WSMA, and the Washington State Hospital Association will be available to answer questions.

When registering, we encourage you to submit your questions. Virtix Health will do its best to address them during the live session. 

Salary Data & Contract Review Tips

Wednesday, June 3, noon-1 p.m.

Early-career physicians frequently tell us they’d like more education and guidance on navigating contracts. To help, the WSMA has worked with our partners at Resolve to offer dedicated education to help you ensure you’re getting the salary and contract terms you deserve. With this webinar, WSMA members will have the opportunity to learn tips and tricks for reviewing salary data and contracts.

About the speaker: Kyle Claussen is the CEO of Resolve, a company dedicated to empowering physicians. Resolve gives physicians instant access to the tools needed to ensure they get the salary and contract terms they deserve. Resolve is the preferred resource for over 50 national and state medical societies.

POLST in Your Practice

Friday, June 5, noon-1 p.m.

Sharmon Figenshaw, ARNP, and Barb Hansen, RN, cover complex case studies where Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment completion and use is “tricky.” They will provide new tools and information about accessing the toolkit and cover guidelines for making policies and procedures for ensuring proper use in practice. Learners will hear updates on POLST support, revisions, and legislative efforts.

About the presenters: Sharmon Figenshaw is a board-certified nurse practitioner with 35 years of experience in hospice and palliative medicine, providing compassionate support to people and their trusted companions in the midst of serious illness. Barb Hansen, RN, MA, is the CEO of the Oregon Hospice and Palliative Care Association and executive director of the Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization.

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

Beyond the Exam Room: Physician-Led Approaches to Food Access and Social Needs

Monday, June 8, noon-1 p.m. Monthly on the second Monday through October.

The WSMA Foundation is pleased to announce a new monthly webinar series dedicated to practical conversations and tools on food security screening and other social determinants of health. Details and registration will be available soon. For now, save the dates!

Measles Spread and Immunization

Friday, June 26, noon-1 p.m.

Washington State Health Officer Tao Kwan-Gett, MD, will discuss why greater measles vaccine coverage in adults is urgently needed in Washington state, and strategies that health professionals and organizations can implement to increase uptake of MMR and other immunizations.

About the presenter: As the state's health officer, Dr. Kwan-Gett provides the Department of Health with key science, health, and medical expertise to provide public health recommendations and to promote the health, safety, and well-being of all Washingtonians.

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

Measles Transmission and Prevention

Friday, Aug. 7, noon-1 p.m.

Eric Chow, MD, will describe current epidemiology of measles in the United States and implications for Washington State, including transmission dynamics, clinical presentations, and considerations for patient management.

About the presenter: Eric Chow, MD, is the chief of communicable disease epidemiology and immunization for Public Health-Seattle and King County.

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

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midterm-elections-on-the-horizon-join-the-wampac-diamond-club

Midterm Elections on the Horizon - Join the WAMPAC Diamond Club!

Latest_News

Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/Apr 30/midterm-elections-on-the-horizon-join-the-wampac-diamond-club

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/iStock-1259154099-stethoscope-ballotbox-blue background-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="graphic of ballot box" /></div> <h5>Apr. 30, 2026</h5> <h2>Midterm Elections on the Horizon - Join the WAMPAC Diamond Club!</h2> <p> WAMPAC, the nonpartisan campaign arm of the WSMA, works to identify and support candidates for political office whose priorities align with the house of medicine. The relationships we build on the campaign trail are crucial to our advocacy on WSMA's legislative priorities, such as the passage of legislation ensuring access to and insurance coverage for vaccines and the defeat of all concerning scope of practice expansion proposals during the 2026 legislative session. </p> <p> Health care issues are front of mind for voters and candidates as decisions made at the Capitol impact access to care and the practice of medicine in Washington state. The 2026 midterm elections will see more than two-thirds of the state Legislature up for election (125 positions), as well as all 10 of the state's congressional House seats. </p> <p> WAMPAC's role is to advocate on your behalf, and we start from the ground up before candidates are even sworn into office by engaging with campaigns. Each session, lawmakers consider hundreds of policies that could impact the practice of medicine and patient care, and with no physicians in the Legislature, it's crucial that the physician voice has an avenue to help influence good policy. </p> <p> The Diamond Club, WAMPAC's elevated membership program, offers exclusive benefits like special recognition at WSMA events, insider election updates from WSMA's government affairs team, invitations to campaign events, and opportunities to connect with elected officials. There are three Diamond Club membership levels: Bronze ($250), Silver ($500), and Gold ($1,000). </p> <p> Your contributions-large or small-will help WAMPAC stay relevant and give us the resources we need to advocate on your behalf as more and more interest groups try to gain a foothold on health care policy issues. As a physician or health care leader who values advocacy, would you donate today? Make your contribution at <a href="https://www.wsma.org/wampac">wsma.org/wampac</a>. </p> <p> With questions about your Diamond Club membership or WAMPAC's engagement on campaigns, please contact WAMPAC Director Alex Wehinger at <a href="mailto:alex@wsma.org">alex@wsma.org</a>. </p> </div>

4/30/2026 12:00:00 AM

1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

wsma-successfully-launches-medical-student-and-resident-advocacy-program

WSMA Successfully Launches Medical Student and Resident Advocacy Program

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Shared_Content/News/advocacy-report/2026/Apr 30/wsma-successfully-launches-medical-student-and-resident-advocacy-program

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/advocacy-report/2026/april/2026-Medical-Student-and-Resident-Advocacy-Day-capitol-steps_v2-645x425px.jpg" class="pull-right" alt="image of Medicare documents" /></div> <h5>Apr. 30, 2026</h5> <h2>WSMA Successfully Launches Medical Student and Resident Advocacy Program</h2> <p> The WSMA recently wrapped up the inaugural session of our newest program to support our state's physicians in training: the WSMA Medical Student and Residency Advocacy Program. It was a successful first year, providing medical students and residents with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to be effective advocates for their profession and patients. </p> <p> The program started in December 2025 and ran for the duration of the 2026 legislative session, with participants regularly meeting virtually to learn about the basics on the Washington state Legislature, how a bill becomes a law, and how to engage in the WSMA's House of Delegates and along the campaign trail. </p> <p> Through the program, medical students and residents followed the progress of <a href="https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=2242&amp;Year=2025&amp;Initiative=false">House Bill 2242</a>, WSMA priority legislation to preserve access to preventive services and vaccines, hearing from various stakeholders who were involved in crafting the policy and shepherding it through the legislative process to its final passage into law. </p> <p> The program culminated with an in-person advocacy day at the state Capitol in Olympia, where the WSMA hosted 20 participants from all three Washington state medical schools and multiple residency programs who traveled from as far as Spokane and as close as Olympia. </p> <p> The day was filled with multiple speakers, including the prime sponsor of the bill to ban noncompete agreements, Rep. Liz Berry (D-Seattle), and state agency leaders such as the CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange, Ingrid Ulrey. Participants also had a chance to tour the state Capitol and meet with legislators while they took votes on the House and Senate floors. </p> <p> WSMA awarded medical students and residents with a certificate to include in their CV to commemorate their participation. We are grateful for their time and engagement and hope they continue to be lifelong advocates. Look for information about the 2027 WSMA Medical Student and Resident Advocacy Program to be shared later in the year. </p> </div>

4/30/2026 12:00:00 AM

1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

are-we-treating-adhd-or-the-conditions-of-modern-life

Are We Treating ADHD - Or the Conditions of Modern Life?

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Shared_Content/News/Latest_News/2026/are-we-treating-adhd-or-the-conditions-of-modern-life

<div class="col-md-12"> <div class="col-sm-5 pull-right" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/Newsletters/Reports/2026/may-june/Heartbeat-Website-Image-Urriola-645x425px.png" class="pull-right" alt="WSMA Reports Heartbeat logo featuring Alina Urriola, MD, MPH" /></div> <h5>Apr. 28, 2026</h5> <h2>Are We Treating ADHD - Or the Conditions of Modern Life?</h2> <p> By Alina Urriola, MD, MPH </p> <p> My patient, "Lisa," spent a decade as a highly competent, reliable intensive care nurse, thriving in a setting characterized by clear roles, immediate feedback, and focused, high-stakes decision-making. When she was promoted into an administrative role requiring project management, shifting priorities, and prolonged self-directed task organization, her performance declined. She began to doubt herself and was placed on a performance improvement plan. She met criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and stimulant treatment significantly improved her ability to stay on task and restored her confidence. </p> <p> Diagnoses of ADHD in adults have increased substantially over the past decade. As a practicing physician, I prescribe stimulant medications regularly andâ€”as in Lisa's caseâ€”I have seen their capacity to significantly improve patients' functioning and quality of life. </p> <p> At the same time, their expanding use invites a broader professional question: What does it mean, at a societal level, when growing numbers of adults require long-term stimulant therapy to meet everyday expectations of work and productivity? </p> <p> The dominant clinical narrative frames ADHD primarily as a highly hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder rooted in individual neurobiology. While this model is valid for many patients, it is incomplete. Stimulant medications improve attention, task initiation, and persistence not only in individuals diagnosed with ADHD, but in most humans. Their effectiveness alone does not establish a disease-specific deficiency. Rather, it highlights how pharmacologic agents can enhance performance in environments that demand sustained focus, rapid task-switching, and constant cognitive engagement. </p> <p> Those demands have intensified. Modern professional life increasingly requires prolonged attention to abstract tasks, continuous digital availability, greater cognitive load, reduced external structure, and heightened performance pressure. For many adults, attentional strain reflects not individual failure, but the limits of human cognition under persistent load. </p> <p> Adult ADHD diagnosis hinges on functional impairment, yet impairment is inherently contextual, as illustrated in Lisa's case. As expectations escalate, more individuals will meet diagnostic thresholds. This does not invalidate their distress, nor does it negate ADHD as a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition. However, it does suggest that medicine is increasingly being asked to address a mismatch between human attentional capacity and the structures in which we work and live. </p> <p> The ethical concern is not whether stimulant medications should be prescribedâ€”they often should. Rather, it lies in the broader implications of their widespread, long-term use. When pharmacologic treatment becomes the primary means by which individuals adapt to increasingly demanding systems, medicine risks unintentionally relocating structural problems into individual biology. </p> <p> This is not a new tension for our profession. Medicine has long been called upon to optimize bodies for systems: hypnotics for shift work, antidepressants for burnout, beta blockers for performance anxiety. Each intervention may be clinically appropriate. Taken together, an important public health implication emerges. If large segments of the adult population require medication to function at baseline levels of productivity, that pattern suggests systemic strain rather than widespread personal pathology. </p> <p> Acknowledging this tension does not mean withholding care. Patients live in the world as it is, not as it ought to be. Compassionate practice meets patients where they are and offers tools that reduce suffering and improve functioning. But ethical care also requires honestyâ€”recognizing that benefit does not necessarily imply defect, and that treatment does not automatically validate the conditions that make it necessary. </p> <p> As physicians, we are trained to think both clinically and systemically. Caring for individual patients should not preclude reflection on the broader forces shaping their health. On the contrary, maintaining that dual awareness may be essential to practicing medicine that is not only effective, but humane. </p> <p> <em>Alina Urriola, MD, MPH, is a family physician at Vera Whole Health and a volunteer physician at Lahai Health, both in Seattle.</em> </p> <p> <em>This article was featured in the May/June 2026 issue of WSMA Reports, WSMA's print magazine.</em> </p> </div>

4/28/2026 12:00:00 AM

1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

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