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ANNOUNCING THE 2024 KCMS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENTS!
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 🌟The Winners🌟The KCMS Community Foundation is delighted to announce the three winners of the 2024 Foundation Grant. After a thorough review, our Grant Committee selected these outstanding recipients from nearly 30 applicants across the three medical schools in Washington State. We are thrilled to recognize their exceptional dedication to their communities and medical careers.
Salsabeal Alsaedy – from the Washington State University School of Medicine: A third-year medical student, is passionately committed to healthcare equity, Salsabeal co-founded Premeds United, volunteered during the COVID-19 pandemic, and worked as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic. Their time as a scribe with University District Street Medicine, where they connected with homeless patients to provide essential care, reinforced their advocacy for holistic patient care and reducing healthcare disparities.
From Salsabeal:Â "I grew up in the Greater Seattle region and attended the University of Washington, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. I am committed to serving patients holistically, especially those in medically underserved populations. I find all areas of medicine fascinating, but I am interested in internal medicine. This grant provides me with more motivation and confidence, pushing me to strive even harder toward my goals."
Luis Sanchez – from the University of Washington School of Medicine: Luis is proud to be a Latino immigrant from a family of migrant farmworkers. Luis brings a powerful personal story of overcoming barriers.Â
From Luis:Â "I am deeply honored to receive the King County Medical Society Community Foundation (KCMS-CF) Grant. As a second-year medical student and the first in my family to graduate from high school and university, this achievement holds special significance for me. My journey from being a first-generation immigrant from Mexico to pursuing a career in medicine has been driven by my personal experiences with healthcare disparities, particularly those faced by migrant farmworkers and underserved communities.
Growing up, my family worked as seasonal migrant farmworkers, and I witnessed firsthand the challenges of accessing quality healthcare. These early experiences ignited my passion for medicine and my commitment to addressing these inequities. My work at Sea Mar Community Health Centers, along with my teaching and volunteer experiences, has further solidified my dedication to serving marginalized populations, including immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. Receiving this grant is not just a milestone in my education but a validation of my commitment to becoming the first doctor in my family. It empowers me to continue working toward a future where everyone, regardless of their background, has access to the healthcare they need and deserve."
Gabriela Gomez – from Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences: Gabriela's experience as a bilingual interpreter and their involvement with the Flying Samaritans at UCLA exemplify their commitment to cultural representation and understanding in healthcare. Their work as a clinical coordinator and scribe highlights their dedication to improving healthcare access for all.
From Gabriela:Â "Growing up in an inner city in Los Angeles, CA, I became accustomed to seeing the effects of inequality, poverty, violence, and discrimination that impacted most of my community. From a sense of hopelessness to help, I used my desire to bring change to communities like my own and fueled it into finding resources and opportunities to improve my professional development. Along my journey, I had the fortune to be a part of amazing organizations where I could not only expand my skillset but bring medical care to some of our most vulnerable communities. As a first-generation Latina, I carry my culture with me and use my lived experiences to connect with other like me who dream to become the first doctors in their family. My aspiration as I prepare myself to become a medical doctor is to bring representation and improve access to medical care for marginalized communities. In addition, I want to demonstrate to students, who like me, come from academic institutions with limited resources and poor academic success that entering higher education and professional careers is not just a dream but attainable... With this grant, I now feel less of a burden on budgeting and planning for unexpected emergency and can channel those fears into training to become a well-rounded physician and volunteer with organizations to continue to advocate for increased representation."
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💡The Grant Is Open for Your Donations
Support the Fund and Empower Future Healthcare Leaders!
✨ Why Donate?  Your contribution, no matter the size, can make a significant impact on students like Salsabeal, Luis, and Gabriela. These dedicated individuals are committed to addressing healthcare disparities and serving their communities. Your support will help alleviate their financial burden and allow them to focus on their passion for creating a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system.
✨ Pay It Forward:  Remember your own challenges as a student? Now’s your chance to help the next generation of compassionate doctors on their journey.
💖Every Dollar Counts! Your donation supports future healthcare leaders and is also tax-deductible, making it a meaningful and beneficial way to give back.
💡 How to Donate? Click the link below to donate—quick, easy, and truly life-changing!!
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVE
WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST KCMSÂ MEMBERS
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Dr. Mia Shim
Mia Shim, MD, MPH, is the Interim Health Officer for Public Health – Seattle & King County, an internal medicine physician with an extensive population health experience in both domestic and international settings, and Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington.
Dr. Shim joined Public Health – Seattle & King County in 2017 as the Chief Medical Officer of Community Health Services Division. In this role, Dr. Shim served communities experiencing greatest health disparities and provided leadership, strategic direction, and clinical oversight of Public Health’s primary care, sexual and reproductive health, addiction medicine, and school-based health programs and the Health Care for the Homeless Network of King County.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, in partnership with various government agencies and community partners, Dr. Shim led nation’s first large-scale COVID-19 isolation and quarantine centers, creating a safe and trauma-informed space for King County’s most vulnerable populations to recover from COVID-19 and mitigating impacts to regional health systems. She also oversaw implementation of multifaceted COVID-19 vaccination efforts and homelessness response in King County.
Dr. Shim began her scientific career in basic science research, innovating in gene expression technology. While studying global health in medical school at the University of Washington, she was quickly drawn to a profound need to improve equitable access to quality healthcare in underserved settings. She then pursued Master of Public Health at the University of Washington’s Department of Global Health and clinical research fellowship through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studying operations research, implementation science, and innovative ways to deliver quality healthcare and strengthen health systems.
While working in underserved areas of sub-Saharan Africa, she experienced power of collaboration with local communities in building trust and advancing health. Having served vulnerable populations most of her professional career, she believes addressing racial inequities, health disparities, and social determinants of health is critical to improving population health.
In addition to working in public health, Dr. Shim speaks on topics of healthcare access and delivery in resource-limited settings, COVID-19 response, opioid epidemic, and telehealth.
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Ysabella Rivera
My name is Ysa Rivera, and I am a third-year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine. I am lucky to have grown up in the Pacific Northwest, and I find it hard to imagine leaving such a beautiful community!
Prior to medical school, I graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a B.S. in Medical Anthropology and Global Health. During my gap year, I worked as a medical assistant in a pediatric clinic and dialysis center. Along with my studies, I have always had a passion for leadership and mentorship. As a daughter of immigrant parents, I know how important it is for young professionals to see representation of their culture and background. It helps us realize our potential and capabilities and encourages us to dream big.
I currently serve as the E-22 Spokane cohort Medical Student Association president and recently finished my term as the UWSOM Pre-Clinical Chair. I also mentor pre-medical students through the UWSOM URM and AFERM programs and provide support during their application cycles. I am interested in pursuing a career in interventional/diagnostic radiology. I believe that continuing to develop and improve minimally invasive procedures and surgeries with image guidance will help our patients recover faster and achieve great outcomes.
I have also always been in awe of the insight medical imaging provides and the research and technology behind it. Outside of school, I try to spend as much of my free time outdoors as possible. I love snowboarding, biking, swimming, and yoga, and this summer, I am learning how to play tennis and golf!
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Ayana Amaechi I'm an incoming 4th year medical student at UWSOM. I hail from Meridian, Idaho-- about 15 minutes outside of Boise. I hiked and paddle-boarded a lot growing up. These hobbies smoothly transitioned to the University of Utah, where I graduated with an H.B.S. in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Pediatric Clinical Research. After feeling my way through two states with freezing winters, I ended up within UWSOM and enjoyed my Vit D-supplemented winter (if we can even call it winter)!
I decided to expand my 4th year over the next two years to get more involved in research and further establish which patients I enjoy caring for best. I'll remain involved in the Johnson and Johnson Alliance for Inclusion in Medicine and Trainees for Child Injury Prevention, and I am excited to engage with the No One Dies Alone program via GHHS this upcoming year. My interests include injury and violence prevention, civic engagement, geocaching, reading, snagging drinks, and trail running. I'm looking forward to fully planting my feet here and getting the chance to interact with this community in an even more meaningful way.
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New Covid Vaccines Are Coming. Here’s What to Know.Â
Excerpts from The New York Times, by Dani Blum.
The FDA has approved updated Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, targeting the KP.2 strain, which closely matches the current circulating variants. These vaccines should offer protection against infection for several months.
The CDC recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive the updated vaccines. Novavax is awaiting FDA authorization for its updated shot targeting a similar variant.
If you’ve recently had a Covid-19 vaccine or infection, you may need to wait a few months before getting the updated shot. Vaccines typically take one to two weeks to provide protection, which can last for months against severe disease. Those at high risk, like older adults and people with certain health conditions, should get vaccinated as soon as possible. Others may wait until October to align with flu shots.Â
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 AACAP’s 2024 MeetingÂ
The Local Arrangements Committee for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is excited to invite you to the 2024 Annual Meeting, taking place from October 14-19, 2024, at the Seattle Convention Center.
With over 5,000 mental health professionals, countless networking events, and the chance to earn up to 90 CME credits, this event is a premier opportunity for professional growth right in Seattle. As the largest gathering of child and adolescent psychiatrists worldwide, AACAP’s Annual Meeting features leading experts discussing the latest in children’s mental health research and clinical practice.
Explore the Program Schedule for in-person and virtual learning options on key topics like psychopharmacology, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, trauma and aggression in youth, suicide prevention, and preschooler treatment. Can't attend the full week? Take advantage of the special discounted weekend rate for October 18-19.
And for those with connections to medical students or residents, AACAP is offering an incredible opportunity: students and residents can attend the Annual Meeting for FREE by monitoring sessions for just one day. For full details and to register starting August 8, 2024, CLICK HERE or the picture above.Â
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Job posting:Â Urgent Primary Care Opportunity at a State Facility
Rainier Residential Habilitation Center (RHC), near Enumclaw, is a state facility where individuals with developmental disabilities live and receive training for community placement.
This urgent primary care position focuses on providing compassionate, detailed care to individuals with intellectual disabilities, along with behavioral and medical challenges.
For those passionate about patient advocacy and diagnostic challenges, this is an excellent opportunity. The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) offers a competitive salary, excellent state benefits, and a pension plan. Board certification is preferred, and an active Washington State licensure is required. Most staff commute to Buckley, with shared call duties ensuring true time off. Flexible 4- and 5-day schedules are available.
The facility emphasizes quality over quantity in care, supported by in-house specialists in psychiatry, neurology, audiology, podiatry, and clinical pharmacy. Full job posting HERE.
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WSMA Webinar
As we approach the 2025 legislative session, both KCMS and WSMA will prioritize this critical budget issue, recognizing the essential role of the physician community in ensuring success. Two lunch-hour webinars are scheduled for Thursday, September 19, and Thursday, December 12, to provide updates and discuss continued collaboration in these advocacy efforts. Calendar invites will be sent separately, and KCMS encourages your participation in this WSMA event.
September 19
WSMA Medicaid Advocacy Update
Time: Sep 19, 2024 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)Â
Join Zoom Meeting  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81828266482
December 12
WSMA Medicaid Advocacy Update
Time: Dec 12, 2024 12:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85645801252
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