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HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE đź©ş
✨ Why become a KCMS Delegate? 🌟
Joining the KCMS Delegate Council is your chance to make a real impact on healthcare policy. With our dedicated lobbyist, James Paribello, we actively engage with local, state, and federal officials to ensure that the voices and needs of physicians are heard.
We are finalizing our resolutions for 2024, and while not all are ready for prime time, here are a few exciting titles:
- Reforming the Prior Authorization Processes
- Establishing the Washington State Commission on Boys and Men
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring for People with Diabetes
- Hospital Pricing and Ensuring Equitable Distribution of Healthcare Funds
- Making Education on Firearm Injury Prevention a Standard Part of the Health Curriculum for WA State High School Students
- Liability Protections and Mentorship Program for Physicians
- Maintaining Medicaid Reimbursement for Audio-Only Telehealth Visits
- Regarding Reducing Climate Impacts of Anesthesia
- Improving Sexual Health in Washington State
- Maintaining Education Requirements for Coroner System
Your participation in the Delegate Council is vital. Reach out for more information at info@kcmsociety.org
✨ We look forward to working with you! 🌟
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Men: We need you to go to the doctor, and to become doctorsBy Daniel Low, MD | President of King County Medical Society
Special to The Seattle Times published July 19, 2024
When June ended, so did Men’s Health month. The rare June article highlighting men’s health typically focused on prostate cancer or heart disease. These are serious issues jeopardizing men’s health, but as a physician whose panel is predominantly made of boys and men, what worries me most about men’s health is the generalized male withdrawal from the health sector. Lonely, apathetic or disinterested men are not seeking care. Men are half as likely as women to maintain routine health screenings, and 33% less likely to visit the doctor at all.
And it’s not just disengaging from health care; men are also disengaging from social life. Fifteen percent of men now report having no close friends, which is worse for one’s health than smoking. Men are similarly disengaging from school. In 1972, when Title IX passed, men were graduating from college 13% more often than women; today, women graduate from college  15% more often than men. Similar graduation rate disparities pervade high school, too.
While social and educational engagement may seem unrelated to health, research repeatedly demonstrates their association with wellness. When boys and men aren’t with friends and aren’t in school, they disproportionately face worse health outcomes, including increased rates of homelessness, drug addiction, incarceration and death.Â
I feel awkward writing about this. Focusing on men’s struggles in the context of gender equality feels misplaced, a narrative violation, particularly given men have always occupied the dominant space in society. It’s especially grating knowing that women’s health research has been consistently underfunded, gender pay gaps persist,  and women and gender-diverse people are frequently and unfairly overlooked for executive-level positions, particularly within medicine.
It’s why when I originally drafted this piece two years ago, I decided against publication; in highlighting the challenges of the privileged, I felt I’d also be unintentionally directing attention away from more marginalized groups. But I believe we can hold two truths at once. We can champion equality for women and gender-diverse people, and recognize that men are struggling.Â
Men’s structural power is not translating into health advantages. In fact, men are dying, on average, five years earlier than women, while simultaneously suffering from significantly worse mental, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders.
Despite many theories, it’s ultimately unclear why this is happening, which is why we should support the growing coalition pushing Washington to create a commission on men and boys; we need to study the root causes of this public health crisis.Â
We also need representation. When young boys are most impressionable, they rarely see themselves in their doctors, as less than 1/3 of pediatricians in Washington are men. For those with mental illness seeking care with a therapist or social worker, it is even less likely to find a male provider in Washington, which is particularly worrisome given the increasing rates of anxiety and depression in boys and men. To be clear, evidence shows female physicians offer equal or better care than male physicians. But if boys and men don’t engage in care, the quality of care offered becomes a moot point.Â
And without intentional efforts, change will not arrive soon. Male medical student matriculants have decreased for eight consecutive years. The view is similar further up the pipeline. I lead a mentorship program for racially and economically underrepresented high school students interested in careers in health care, and since our program’s inception in 2021, we’ve only had one young man graduate.Â
We need proactive, targeted recruitment of men for patient-centered, healing professions like pediatrics, nursing, psychology and social work. This requires incentivizing professionals to mentor; institutions should include mentoring activities as criteria for promotions.Â
Simultaneously, we need to cultivate a new masculinity in our young men that embraces the tenderness and sociability of excellent caregivers. We want our sons, brothers and fathers to be compassionate, active listeners who practice grace. Let’s start by modeling this behavior, and acknowledging the real struggles boys and men are experiencing.Â
Daniel Low, MD is a family medicine physician in Renton and President of KCMS.
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MEMBERS ON THE MOVESpotlight on Dr. Don Ross's Community Health Initiative
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We are excited to share an inspiring initiative led by Dr. Don Ross, a longtime KCMS board member and Delegate Council participant, to improve health outcomes in the Tibetan community of Rumtek, Sikkim.
Project Overview: Dr. Ross and his team focus on eradicating Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections, significantly impacting the Tibetan population's health. This project not only aims to address the immediate health challenges but also seeks to preserve the cultural and spiritual heritage of the Rumtek community.
Key Components:
1. Early Detection and Accessible Treatment:Â The initiative utilizes noninvasive stool diagnostics and a regimen of antibiotics to treat infections effectively and prevent further complications, such as gastritis, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancers.
2. Cultural Sensitivity:Â Intervention strategies were developed in collaboration with Dr. Kunchok Dorjee of Johns Hopkins University, ensuring they are culturally respectful and tailored to the community's needs.
3. Research and Development:Â The insights gained from this project will contribute to academic research, and enable approaches to similar public health challenges.
4. Collaboration and Outreach:Â Dr. Ross's work is a model for integrating medical interventions with community engagement and cultural sensitivity, aiming to create a replicable framework.
You Can Help:Â Your support can contribute to the success of this initiative. Whether through sharing expertise, financial support, or helping spread the word. For more information or to get involved, please contact Dr. Ross at rockvillecentre@gmail.com
Or at: Bodhiseeds c/o Nalandabodhi, 3902 Woodland Park Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103.
Congratulations, Dr. Ross on your amazing work.Â
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Welcome Our New Team Member, Kenton Harrell
We are pleased to welcome Kenton Harrell to the King County Medical Society. Kenton steps into the role previously held by Shurlon Brathwaite, who is pursuing graduate studies.
About Kenton: Kenton has a diverse background in business management and graphic design, with skills in project management, IT, web design, and copywriting. His professional experience spans estate planning, legal documentation, program coordination, and research management.
Interests and Goals: Kenton is passionate about aiding recovery from addiction and improving access to government assistance programs. He is particularly interested in opiate addiction research.
Why KCMS? Kenton is dedicated to making a positive impact and is excited to work with all of you to enhance healthcare in our community. You can reach Kenton at Kharrell@kcmsociety.orgÂ
Please join us in welcoming Kenton Harrell to KCMS!
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Exciting News About: KCMS Foundation Grants
Our Underrepresented in Medicine (URiM) Grant is back for its second year, and we’re have over two dozen incredible applicants from all three medical schools in Washington State! 🌟 WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS SOON🌟Â
The KCMS Community Foundation (KCMS-CF), a 501(c)3 entity, is dedicated to supporting URiM medical students. At KCMS-CF, we believe that diversity and inclusion in medicine are crucial to promoting health equity and creating better health and security for all.
✨ Why Donate? Your contribution, big or small, can shape a diverse and inclusive healthcare future!
Pay It Forward: Remember your own journey? Now’s your chance to help the next generation of doctors!🔹 Every Dollar Counts🔹
The KCMS-CF Grant Committee reviews applications from medical students attending the University of WA, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, and WA State University medical schools. We consider factors like financial need, personal statement, academic achievement, community involvement, and public service to select one candidate per school per year to receive a grant.
💡 How to Donate? Click the link below. It’s quick, easy, and life-changing. 🎓
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The AMA’s 2024—25 Strategic PlanÂ
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Gun violence is a public health issue
The U.S. Surgeon General declared gun violence a public health crisis. Many narratives immediately pushed back that this isn’t public health’s lane.
At KCMS we believe that gun violence is absolutely in the purview of public health. And until society accepts it as such, we will continue to lose tens of thousands of Americans annually, leaving behind massive ripples in the community. Thankfully, momentum is changing.
Click the link below to read the full article from Your Local Epidemiologist.
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