BULLET N PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY | August 2026
Serving our members and community since 1888 www.PCMSWA.org
The Bulletin is a publication of: Pierce County Medical Society 1019 Regents Blvd Ste 202 Fircrest WA 98466 253.572.3667 www.pcmswa.org
CONTENTS August 2026
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President’s Message Blair Campbell, MD
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Pierce County Suicide Prevention Summit September 18, 2026
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department From the desk of Jay Miller, MD
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In Memoriam
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A Call for Nominations!
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Thank you to our sponsors
Resident Event at Cheney Stadium Supporting our Community Residents
Save the Date for Upcoming PCMS Events Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Event 3rd Annual Meet your District Representative 2026 Annual Holiday Event
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Pierce County Medical Society Foundation Scholarships
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Pierce County Medical Society Delegates Needed
2026 Recipients
Represent your colleagues at the WSMA Annual Meeting September 26-27 in Spokane
PRESIDENT’S
Message
Friends and Colleagues, It is with a heavy heart that I write this latest message as president of the Pierce County Medical Society. The Pierce County medical community has suffered an unexpected and tragic loss with the closure of the Community Health Care Family Medicine Residency Program. This is a personal loss for me after having the pleasure of working with the CHC residents for over 10 years as a family physician at the Parkland Community Health Care Clinic. More importantly, this is a distinctly significant loss for the medical community as a whole. The CHC residency program has a been a major pathway for new primary care physicians entering the Pierce County community, providing care for thousands of patients locally. This impacts all of us, in all medical specialties and is obviously a serious setback to our patient community who already wait months to establish care with a primary care provider. It is even more crucial during these challenging times that we work as advocates for physicians in our community: those in practice and those in training to serve alongside us. If you have been wondering "what can I do?" about the many challenges within the current environment, please reach out to us at PCMS. We are actively involved in advocacy for physicians here in Pierce County, and we would love to have each and every one of our members feel included. We want each of you to have a voice in how we make our way forward with positivity and respect for our patients and each other. Sincerely,
Blair Campbell, MD
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Tacoma-Pierce County
Health Department Healthy People in Healthy Communities James “Jay” Miller, MD Tacoma-Pierce County Health Officer
PUBLIC HEALTH IN A CHANGING LANDSCAPE In recent months, headlines on communicable disease outbreaks in the U.S. and abroad have dominated the news. The Andes hantavirus outbreak demonstrated the potential threat of a disease that most physicians had probably never heard of up to that point. The Bundibugyo virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlights the threat Ebola poses in settings with weak health systems. Prior to the 2014-2016 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which caused over 11,000 deaths, most people had not conceived of an outbreak at that scale. The Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreak is already the second-largest in history and continues to grow.
Closer to home, we have seen a resurgence of measles, which the U.S. had eliminated in 2000. The U.S. has already seen over 2,400 measles cases this year, with transmission ongoing. While our measles elimination status has not yet been formally reviewed, it seems clear that measles is once again endemic to the U.S., driven by declines in immunization uptake in the U.S. and other countries. And it would be hard to have missed the news this summer about a historically large cyclosporiasis outbreak in multiple states linked to Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce. This outbreak highlighted weak points in our food safety system. Finally, in June, animal cases of New World screwworm were identified in the U.S., with major animal health and economic implications. Each of these situations stems from many different factors rather than a single explanation. However, taken together, it would be hard not to see these events as evidence of a U.S. public health system in decline. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies have lost dedicated and experienced staff. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) no longer exists. State and local health departments around the country have laid off staff, with more layoffs potentially to come if proposed CDC budget cuts are enacted. The U.S. government as a whole appears less involved than in the past in responding to international outbreaks such as Andes hantavirus and Bundibugyo virus.
Tacoma-Pierce County
Health Department Healthy People in Healthy Communities
Some government actions, such as the proposed plan to send Americans exposed to or infected with Bundibugyo virus to a field hospital in Kenya rather than returning them to U.S. facilities, appear likely to decrease the ability of American humanitarian organizations to respond. The Food and Drug Administration appears to lack the resources and authority to prevent and respond to cyclosporiasis effectively. Even after the presumed outbreak source was identified, the Taylor Farms recall did not identify products by name, making it difficult for businesses and consumers to identify the actual impacted products. While all this probably sounds dispiriting, these problems represent policy choices rather than inevitabilities. We can choose to invest in a strong public health system. We can choose to invest in international cooperation and outbreak response abroad, not only because people everywhere deserve to not die of Ebola but also because communicable diseases do not respect borders. And in the short term and the long term, physicians have a key role to play. As back-toschool approaches, we need your help to stop the slide in immunization uptake. While we often think of measles as affecting children, we need your help to address MMR vaccine coverage in adults as well. And we need your help in making public health visible and valued. Prevention efforts – especially effective ones – often fly below the radar, such as the sterile fly production program that long kept New World screwworm at bay. I want to end by recognizing how physicians and physician organizations have already stepped up in this effort. Amidst the disarray of federal immunization guidance, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Infectious Disease Society of America, and other organizations have ensured that we all have national immunization schedules and guidance to rely on. At a time when we cannot rely on federal agencies in the ways we have in the past, collaborations between local public health agencies, state public health agencies, healthcare organizations, physicians and healthcare workers of all backgrounds become even more crucial.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Healthy People in Healthy Communities
Visit us online: www.tpchd.org
RAINIERS AND RESIDENTS
u g s n t i h n i i s o j y e r a o f r ! u o y k Than
PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
SAVE THE DATE
UPCOMING EVENTS
Health vs. Healthcare: What's the Difference?
August 26, 2026 (Wednesday)
5:30 pm
Join Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) at TRA's Crescent Lounge for an engaging discussion exploring the factors that influence health beyond medical care.
Topics include:
What influences health beyond healthcare? Which factors have the greatest impact on health outcomes? Why does the United States continue to lag behind many other high-income countries in health outcomes? What role can physicians and other clinicians play in improving community health?
Learn more about these important issues and WPSR's work advancing health and social responsibility in medicine.
RSVP today!
View the informational flyer (food and beverages provided)
PCMS 3rd Annual Meet Your District Representatives September 22,
2026 (Tuesday)
— New Date —
Join the Pierce County Medical Society and TRA Medical Imaging for an evening with your state district representatives.
Special guest speaker Question & Answer session 5:30 p.m. – Drinks and snacks 6:00 p.m. – Program begins
Annual Meeting
December 8 2026 (Tuesday)
Woven
Reserve your spot and RSVP Today!
PCMS Annual Holiday Celebration Celebrate the season with your PCMS colleagues at Woven Seafood and Chophouse
5:00 p.m. – Drinks and appetizers 5:30 p.m. – Program begins
Save the Date and Join us! Questions? Contact us at: Tanya@pcmswa.org
Making a Difference: Supporting Local Nonprofits in Pierce County
Supporting Local Nonprofits in Pierce County
P I E R C E
MEDICAL
C O U N T Y
SOCIETY
FOUNDATION
The Pierce County Medical Society Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of this year’s annual community grants. After carefully reviewing 17 outstanding applications, the Foundation selected eight organizations whose work addresses critical health and social needs throughout Pierce County. Every applicant demonstrated a meaningful commitment to improving the lives of our community members, making this year’s selection process especially challenging.
2026 GRANT RECIPIENTS (listed alphabetically) GRANT RECIPIENTS & THEIR IMPACT A Step Ahead – Supports children with developmental delays through specialized programs that promote healthy growth and development. Associated Ministries of Tacoma–Pierce County – Helps individuals and families access essential medical care, transportation, and basic household necessities. Catholic Community Services of Western Washington – Provides housing, shelter, and supportive services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. NW Infant Survival & AIDS Alliance/Perinatal Collaborative of Pierce County – Promotes infant safety by providing safe sleep education and free cribs to families in need. Pierce County Project Access – Connects unsinured and low-income residents with donated specialty medical care. REACH Ministries – Offers education, advocacy, and support services for people living with HIV/AIDS. St. Leo Food Connection – Addresses childhood hunger by providing nutritious meals and food assistance to students and families. The Skoolie Foundation – Improves health and dignity by providing mobile shower services and hygiene supplies to individuals experiencing instability.
PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY FOUNDATION AWARDEES CONT. Throughout the coming issues of the PCMS Bulletin, we will spotlight grant recipients and the important work they are doing in our community. In this issue, we are pleased to feature Associated Ministries of Tacoma-Pierce County and the many ways they are helping Pierce County residents access essential health and support services.
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ASSOCIATED MINISTRIES
The Community Resource Connections Center (CRCC) here at Associated Ministries is a hub of resources not often found in other community programs, which addresses unique barriers to stability and helps individuals and families in Pierce County in their journey to obtain housing or to maintain their housing. We have ensured there are no screening criteria in place that would create a disparate impact on these communities or compromise this program in being truly accessible to all households. We are constantly adapting, growing, and implementing innovative and creative program expansions to meet the specific needs of community members in Pierce County. The CRCC allows struggling individuals and families to get support for the smaller barriers they are facing so that they can find stability. This program provides many resources and services for people in Pierce County, including: support obtaining vital documentation- birth certificates, drivers licenses, and IDs; employment assistance such as uniforms, required equipment, food handler’s cards, and employment license fees (i.e. paying for a C.N.A. certification, nursing licenses, etc.; educational fees for entrance exams/placement exams; screening fees for housing; and medical assistanceobtaining glasses, some medical equipment, and occasionally prescription assistance.
Thanks to continued support from the PCMS Foundation, individuals, and other foundations, we have been able to fulfill many of these needs in house. In 2025 alone, we were fortunate to be able to serve 311 individual households.These households were made up of 557 individuals, including 187 children and 93 seniors!! Many types of assistance we provide through funding from the PCMS Foundation and others have had a direct impact on our clients’ health and well-being, since there is often a close link between someone’s housing stability and their health. The assistance provided through the CRCC has been an important part of helping change the trajectory of the lives of community members in need in Pierce County, and the PCMS Foundation’s continued support has played a huge part in transforming lives and making a difference!! We are so thankful for the Foundation’s continued commitment to the CRCC and to Associated Ministries as a whole, and we look forward to continuing to be a resource that changes the lives of people in need in Pierce County. PCMS Foundation Officers: Charles Weatherby, MD, Larry Larson, DO, and Mark Grubb, MD
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WSMA Annual Meeting/House of Delegates
Represent Pierce County at the
2026 WSMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES ARE YOU INTERESTED IN REPRESENTING YOUR COLLEAGUES AT THE WASHINGTON STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (WSMA) ANNUAL MEETING AND HOUSE OF DELEGATES?
The Pierce County Medical Society (PCMS) is seeking active members to serve as delegates at this year's meeting, taking place September 26–27, 2026, at the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington. Limited delegate stipends are available through PCMS. AS A PCMS DELEGATE, YOU WILL:
IMPORTANT DATES & DETAILS
Represent the interests of clinicians in Pierce County.
To prepare for the meeting, the PCMS Resolution Review Meeting will be held on September 15, 2026. Delegates are encouraged to attend and should RSVP to confirm their participation.
Gather feedback and recommendations from your colleagues on WSMA policy proposals. Collaborate with fellow PCMS delegates to review and discuss proposed resolutions before the House of Delegates meeting. Network with physician leaders from across Washington and help shape the future of organized medicine in our state.
Participation is open to active PCMS members only. WSMA Annual Meeting & House of Delegates is September 26–27, 2026 at the Historic Davenport Hotel in Spokane, Washington.
If you're interested in serving as a PCMS delegate, we'd love to hear from you. Please contact Linda Krause, PCMS Exec. Director at: linda@pcmswa.org by August 31, 2026. Thank you.
N. TIO AC
CON NE CT
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Suicide Prevention Summit and 5K Bridge to Hope
SUPPORT. RN. TA A E K L .
Join Pierce County for the first annual Suicide Prevention Summit and Bridge to HOPE 5K, a free community event bringing together behavioral health professionals, healthcare providers, first responders, educators, community partners, families and residents to learn, connect and take action. The Summit offers opportunities to build suicide prevention skills, access local resources and strengthen connections across our community. Whether you are a professional seeking training, a loved one looking for support, or a community member wanting to stand in solidarity with others, there is a place for you at this event.
EVENT DETAILS Date: September 18, 2026 | Noon - 7 p.m. Location: PenMet Parks Recreation Center | 2524 14th Ave NW, Gig Harbor, 12:00 -7:00 pm 12:00 -4:30 pm Professional Learning Program Certificate of Completion Provided 4:00 -6:00 pm Community Connection & Suicide Prevention Program 6:15 pm Bridge to Hope: 5k walk/run *5:30 pm, pick up pace bib 6:00 pm, Honoring Ceremony and Bead Ceremony
COMMUNITY. CONNECTION. COMPASSION. Together, we can build hope and save lives.
Sponsored by Pierce County Chaired by Pierce County Council Members Robyn Denson (District 7) and Paul Herrera (District 2)
Suicide is a serious but preventable public health issue. To learn more or register for the Summit, click here: Pierce County Summit
In Memoriam Dr. John F. Comfort passed away on June 2, 2026. He was a lifelong resident of Tacoma where he practiced medicine for almost 40 years. He was married to his wife Maggie for 64 years who preceded him in death. He is survived by his 8 children, 20 grandchildren and 40 great grandchildren.... Read Dr. Comfort’s full obituary HERE
Richard (Dick) A. Hoffmeister passed away on April 16 th at his home in Central Point, Oregon, at the age of 93.
Dick was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder and received his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine.... Read Dr. Hoffmeister’s full obituary HERE
Harold Mayer, MD, age 92 of Gig Harbor, WA, died peacefully at home on May 27, 2026.
Harold was born October 15, 1933, to fleeing Romanian immigrant parents Leon and Rebecca (Stivelman) Mayer in Alberta, Alberta Canada. Most of his European family was killed in the Holocaust. The small number that left in.... Read Dr. Mayer’s full obituary HERE
Charles “Del” Delbert Prewitt was born on July 26, 1930, in Twisp, WA, and passed away at his home in Tacoma on July 28, 2026, at the age of 96.
Del was the oldest of four children born to Art and Edna Prewitt. He grew up on the family ranch near Baldy Hill in Twisp, where he developed a lifelong love of ranching, horses, hunting, fishing, and the Methow Valley.... Read Dr. Prewitt’s full obituary HERE
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CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Call for Nominations: Community Service Award We are currently accepting nominations for this year's Community Service Award. Nominate a deserving collegale— or yourself—who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the community.
Know a Community Champion? Help us recognize individuals making a meaningful impact in Pierce County. Send us a name and contact information. Email us at: Linda@PCMSWA.org
Submit to the PCMS Bulletin We welcome article submissions from our members. (Subject to board review)
Calling All Photographers Have a passion for photography? We're seeking images for our Bulletin covers—submit your work today!
Welcome New Pierce County Clinicians Mudassar Ahmad, MD Rami Alhakim, MD Eloy Alibin, MD Kathryn Annand, MD Abdullah Arjomand, MD Ankush Asija, MD Micah Atwood, DO Ran Baik, MD Mengistu Balcha, MD Megan Barnes, MD Ian Bastian, MD Ayele Belachew, MD Hailey Benesch, MD Nick Bennett, DO Joel Bervell, MD Allegra Blomenberg, PA-C Audra Boehm, MD, DDS Sophia Bostwick, DO Alexandra Brennan, MD Christine Broniak, DO Campbell Brown, MD Brent Bubany, MD Elaine Jayne Buckley, MD Vivian Chiang, MD Paul Cho, DO, MHA Emmiline Chou, PA-C Karen Chung, MD Michael-Flynn Cullen, MD Michael Cusack, DO Yinager Dagnaw, MD Frezer Degefa, MD Nicole Delos Santos, MD
Ryne Deyoe, DO Dung Do, DO Kara Ellingson, MD Joshua Genstler, MD James Gilbert, PA-C Arne Gratias, DO Shawna Greenleaf, MD Scott Grogan, DO Daniel Guillory, MD Kimber Guinn Chadwick, PA-C Beth Hapke, MD Jeanette Helgerson, DO Sarah Herwald, PA-C Yeun Hiroi, PA-C Gabrielle Hodgins, MD Elizabeth Horenkamp, MD Jacob Howard, MD Alexandra Howells, DO Amanda Humphrey, MD Kag Iglinski-Benjamin, MD Nwamaka Iloani, DO Kasey Jackson, MD Sean Jarboe, PA-C Alexander Jonson, DO Varun Kasula, DO Jacob Keith, MD Ardeshir Kianercy, DO Michael Kim, MD Teja Kirby, PA-C Britta Kumley, MD Cassandra LaMarche, MD Tessa Lamberton, MD
Michael Leisle, MD Charles Llewellyn, MD Zachary Long, MD Nihar Mahajan, MD Mitchell Maisel, MD Rabia Malik, DO Julianne Meany, MD Blaine Menon, MD Kunal Mishra, DO Lincoln Mitchell, MD Kawthar Mohamed, MD Rubin Moore, MD Suraj Muddasani, MD Alexander Mundell, MD Krystal Nguyen, DO Jimmy Nguyen, MD, MS Gregory O'Connor, MD Justin Pavlovich, MD Sindhu Pokhriyal, MD Shwetha Prabakar, MD Josie Prado, MD Anne Recker, MD Benjamin Roberts, DO Jorge Salazar, MD Jaime Salazar, PA-C Hembashima Sambe, MD Luke Sampson, MD Ivy Sandquist, MD Nikole Shaham, DO Elena Sharma, MD Joseph Shen, MD, MPH
Matiyas Shiferaw, MD Ransherjit Singh, MD Jovanpreet Singh, MD Michelle Skoretz, MD Mosope Soda, MD Rachel Straughn, MD Mehreen Tajammul, MD Bryce Templeman, PA-C Sam Thao, MD Kisha Thayapran, MD John Tomkinson, MD Sean Turner, MD Gemechis Wacho, MD Malsha Walgamage, MD Thilini Walgamage, MD Sukhcharan Walia, MD Lillian Wang, MD Chayce Weaver, MD Christopher Weissman, MD Isaiah Williams, PA-C Bradley Wine, MD Katherine Wingo, MD Matthew Wolf, MD Shannon Wood, MD Jennie Yang, MD Priscilla Yong, MD Sunyoung Yoon, MD Yuki Yoshiyasu, MD Kara Zada, PA-C Elizabeth Zinn, MD Molly Zivkovic, DO
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