BULLET N PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY | MARCH 2023
Celebrating 135 years in 2023! 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
PCMS Officers
CONTENT ________________
President C. Blake Perry, MD
Winter 2023
President Elect Julian S. Arroyo, MD
3 President's Message
Secretary/Treasurer Courtney Kennel, DO
4 PCMS Foundation
Immediate Past President Dina C. Titova, MD, PhD
5 Healthcare Careers Academy 7 Executive Director's Message
PCMS Directors
9 Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Neil Batta, MD C. Blair Campbell, MD
12 Mark Your Calendar
H. Matt Davis, MD JT (John) Heffernan, MD
13 Community News
Nicholas Rajacich, MD Camille Samujh, DO
17-18 In Memoriam
Yancey Sloane, MD Z. Roger Wang, MD, PhD Anthony L-T Chen, MD (Ex-Officio)
Executive Director Linda Krause Membership Coordinator Tanya McClain 2
President's Message
Honored to be the 2023 PCMS President C. Blake Perry, MD PCMS President
This year, Pierce County Medical Society will be celebrating 135 years of serving our community. In 1888, nine doctors got together on a warm summer night and formed the Pierce County Medical Society. We have endured the test of time. The Society has changed over the years from having for-profit businesses such as the Placement Service and the College of Medical Education. The advent of mergers and acquisitions has changed the playing field. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter whether you are employed or have a private practice, this is your Medical Society and we are here to serve. Yes, you belong to a great group of physicians and PAs in the Society. We want you to focus on your patients while we support your practice. While we have the standard goals such as increasing membership, we have many pillars to support our mission. To highlight some of our focus areas: Keep physicians in Pierce County Build and support Community Partnerships We are particularly excited about our new partnership with Healthcare Careers Academy and look forward to continuing to grow the relationship. Physician Vitality A big topic but we focus on connecting our members outside of the workplace to help with burnout. Utilize the PCMS Foundation to support the social determinants of health in the County. Advocacy We worked very closely with the WSMA Government Affairs Team during the session to make sure that optometrists cannot do surgical procedures; ARNPs aren’t reimbursed the same as physicians; and naturopaths’ quest to expand their scope of practice to include nonsurgical cosmetic procedures through rulemaking doesn’t happen. When you see an email that says ACTION ALERT please respond. Our collective voice can make a difference on scope issues and others. During my term I am looking forward to staying the course and continuing to support our mission under these pillars, among others; supporting fundraising efforts for the Healthcare Careers Academy; and celebrating our 135th birthday. We are open to other ideas or if there is an issue we need to know about please let us know and we will investigate it and see how we can assist. Thank you again for the honor of becoming the President of the Pierce County Medical Society.
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS! The holiday sharing card campaign & individual donations helped raise over $25,000 for grants to Pierce County non-profits!
donate anytime www.pcmswa.org/pcms-foundation
donations are tax deductible PCMSF is a recognized 501C3
PCMS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HEALTHCARE CAREERS ACADEMY The PCMS Foundation recently delivered an order of scrubs for the students at Mt. Tahoma and Stadium High School who participate in the Heathcare Careers Academy (HCA) program. HCA provides equitable access to high school students to prepare for a wide-range of healthcare careers leading to a family-livable income. The Academy is a unique collaboration of Tacoma Public Schools, the healthcare industry, higher education and nonprofits. The PCMS Foundation has also provided a grant to allow for the purchase of classroom and healthcare-related supplies and equipment and also to support scholarships for students to attend the annual HOSA Future Health Professionals State Conference in Spokane.
For more information on HCA click here Donate to PCMS Foundation here
PIERCE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
Have You Renewed Your PCMS Membership? WE HAVE GONE PAPERLESS NEW THIS YEAR: ON-LINE RENEWAL RENEWAL NOTICES HAVE BEEN EMAILED Questions? Need to update your listing? Contact Tanya McClain, Membership Coordinator tanya@pcmswa.org | 253.572.3667 www.pcmswa.org
PCMS WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Over the past few years, many of you have met and worked with Mary Eversole as the PCMS executive director. She has been bringing you updates in practice, the latest county news and organized numerous Pierce County Medical Society events. She managed and led the PCMS officers and directors and conducted many PCMS board meetings. Mary left the PCMS to pursue a career-advancing position in December 2022. Please join me in thanking Mary Eversole for her time serving the PCMS members, officers of the board and community. Good luck with your current and future endeavors. I am your new executive director at PCMS. I have been a WSMA employee for over 20 years and have managed medical specialty and County societies. I look forward to meeting each of you over the year at our Annual Resident’s Social and at our social events and meetings throughout the year.
In 2023, my focus for Pierce County is to adhere to our mission statement to continue to promote healthy medical practices, collegiality, and the well-being of the public. Pierce County is a robust and vibrant community of physician and physician assistant members who work to enhance the good health and well-being of the residents of Pierce County, which I am honored to serve. Thank you for being a member. Your membership matters and I look forward to seeing you at multiple events this year.
LINDA KRAUSE Executive Director
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“I look forward to meeting each of you over the year...”
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PCPA proudly maintains a 1% patient no show rate!
Anthony Chen, MD Closing My Chapter at TPCHD As we turn the page on the largest health challenges our community has ever faced, I will soon close the chapter on my tenure as Director of Health at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. By now you have likely heard that after 14 years, I will retire by the end of June. Since I made the announcement, I have heard from many of you with well wishes and congratulations. Some of you have questions about what comes next for me and the Health Department. I am looking forward to taking some time off and seeing where my next adventure takes me, but I am not ready for that yet. I am still here for five months, and I am committed to continuing to move our goals forward. I am so proud of all we have accomplished in my time at the Health Department. We have become acknowledged leaders in public health policy and developed creative models to deliver services to our residents as well as people around the state. I became Director in the middle of the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. Responding to disease threats is only one of our important responsibilities. It was important to me personally and professionally to get on the other side of the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic before I retired. 9
These past three years, Washington has had one of the lowest COVID-19 death rates in the country. In Pierce County, we supported more than 1.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine administered. So many of you were directly involved in this response and in the important work of continuing our other services. I am profoundly grateful for you and proud of our work together. When I think back on my time as Director of Health, I am especially proud we: · Led on Smoking and Vaping in Public Place laws and medicine take-back regulations. · Created a healthcare strike team to develop clinical interventions for the top causes of Potentially Preventable Hospitalizations in the two state legislative districts with the highest rates. (continued page 11)
GOT DELEGATES? JOIN YOUR PEERS AT THE WSMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES THIS FALL LIMITED $400 SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
• Collaborate with the PCMS delegation on proposed resolutions and network with colleagues from across the state. • Review the "Official Actions" of the previous House of Delegates and the WSMA ByLaws. • Alert your colleagues that you are a delegate to the WSMA and seek their comments and recommendations on WSMA programs and policies. • Attend in-person meeting September 23-24, 2023. Must be WSMA Active Member to participate. *this activity may be approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit.
To be part of the PCMS delegation contact Linda Krause, Executive Director, linda@pcmswa.org by August 31.
(continued from page 9)
"...Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will still be working, as always, to help protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County. Your help will continue to be essential to that work!"
· Incubated Pierce County’s Accountable Community of Health and spun it off into Elevate Health, which helps lead Tacoma-Pierce County Opioid Task Force. · Received accreditation from the Public Health Accreditation Board, one of 244 accredited health departments in the country and six in the state to meet or exceed the quality standards. We have also led on health equity and Health in All Policies at the local, state and national level. Our continuing work on racial equity and justice will remain at the top of our priorities. So much of our work at the Health Department is thanks to our many partners in healthcare. Our ability to drive public health policy and help protect our community depends on our connections. I announced my retirement early to allow time for the Board of Health to find the best person for this critical role as chief health strategist and health officer for Pierce County. Board Chair Catherine Ushka has already formed a Board committee that will work through the recruitment and hiring process. Over the next five months, I will continue to lead our efforts at the Health Department and continue to be here to work and connect with all of you. After that, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department will still be working, as always, to help protect and improve the health of all people and places in Pierce County. Your help will continue to be essential to that work!
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Mark your calendar 2023 EVENTS
"GROWING YOUR DREAM PRACTICE" April 20, 2023 | 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm | El Gaucho - Tacoma In partnership with Carr Realty, featuring various speakers discussing real estate, financing, legal, design/architecture, accounting and construction - all specifically related to medical practices.
RESIDENTS' ANNUAL SOCIAL August 24, 2023 | 6:00 pm | Cheney Stadium
PCMS ANNUAL MEETING December 2023 | Day and Location TBD Check pcmswa.org for updates or call 253.572.3667 for more info
Community News in Pierce County for March 2023
Patient Safety Awareness Week is March 12-18, 2023 Patient Safety Awareness Week (PSAW) is March 12-18. In recognition, the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) is encouraging the acknowledgment and celebration of efforts to improve safe care throughout healthcare. During Patient safety Awareness week, the WMC will be hosting a variety of webinars. Do you have a good patient safety story to share? Send it to: medical.speakers@wmc.wa.gov
Support Community Health Care with Lunch and some Laughter! Lunch and Laughter Event March 29, 2023 Support Community Health Care with the Pierce County Medical Society and join us at our table March 29th at the Hotel Murano-Bicentennial Pavilion. Doors Open at 11:00 AM. Lunch begins at 11:30 AM. *This event is FREE to PCMS members. The first 8 members who RSVP by March 25th will be at the PCMS table. RSVP today to: Linda@pcmswa.org Laugh your way through lunch and give the gift of health to our patients! For more information and to give the gift of health care, visit Community Heath Care at: https://www.commhealth.org/donate/lunch-and-laughter/ 13
Michael J. McDonough, MD
February 24, 1958 - November 27, 2022
Michael John McDonough, 64, died on November 27, 2022 in his home in University Place, Washington after a long and difficult battle with cancer. Michael was born in Tacoma, Washington on February 24, 1958. He attended St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School through the 8th grade and graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory School in 1976. He went on to receive his Bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and earned his MD from St. Louis University Medical School. Michael did an internal medicine internship in San Francisco at St. Mary's Hospital and did residencies in radiation oncology in San Antonio, at the Ohio State University, and at Wayne State University. He returned to Tacoma in 2001 where he worked as a radiation oncologist with Tacoma Radiation Oncology Centers. He held this position for 20 years until cancer forced his retirement in 2021. Michael was a long-time member of Fircrest Golf Club and was an avid golfer. He loved music, especially jazz, and acquired an extensive record collection. He enjoyed reading and loved to spend time out on Puget Sound on his boat. He enjoyed watching sports and attended all of his son's extracurricular activities. Michael was the epitome of courage and faith in adversity. He will be remembered as a compassionate doctor, a loving husband and father, and a dear friend. Michael is survived by his wife of 27 years, Wendy, and their sons Patrick and Brian. He is also survived by his sister Patricia VanAchte, his brothers Kevin McDonough and Terrence McDonough (Christina), his stepbrother John Dionas (Melinda), his stepmother Elizabeth McDonough, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Thomas McDonough and Avis Vye as well as his nephews Markus VanAchte and Joseph Dionas. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Michael's name to the Tacoma Youth Symphony, St. Charles Borromeo, or a charity of your choice. Published by News Tribune (Tacoma) from Dec. 4 to Dec. 7, 2022
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William B. Jackson, MD
April 29, 1936 - February 4, 2023
William B. Jackson, MD FACR, passed away at home peacefully and unexpectedly in his sleep on Saturday February 4, 2023. Bill was born in 1936 in Oklahoma and was proud of his heritage as an Okie, having worked on oil rigs in his youth. He graduated from Wake Forest School of Medicine in 1964 and took his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. Bill served his country during the Vietnam War and rose to the rank of Captain in the Navy. At a time when very few radiologists were specialists, Bill trained in Nuclear Medicine, the only subspecialty of radiology which existed at the time. Bill was one of the last radiologists in Tacoma who performed both diagnostic and therapeutic radiology before these two fields split in the 1970's. During his long career in Tacoma, Bill developed expertise in the new imaging techniques of ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET scanning. Bill joined Tacoma Radiology in 1972 as the sixth radiologist. He served as President of Tacoma Radiology for 17 years, a record which still stands and will likely never be broken. During his time with TRA, the group grew to more than 100 radiologists and more than 500 employees, becoming one of the largest private radiology groups in the country. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tacoma Radiology, Bill extensively researched the local history of radiology, authoring and publishing a book titled: The First 100 Years -The History of Radiology in South Puget Sound. Bill was president of the Washington State Radiology Society in 1984 and president of the Pierce County Medical Society in their Centennial year in 1988. He served as Chief of Staff at Tacoma General Hospital and of Puget Sound Hospital. Bill was a Fellow of the American College of Radiology, an honor awarded to only 10% of radiologists. He was personally responsible for fluoridation of water in Tacoma which he felt was his duty to the children of Tacoma. Bill was the quintessential people person! He loved his patients, his partners, his clinical colleagues and staff in the hospitals and offices. He was forever seeking out win-win situations which would benefit everyone, but especially his patients. Despite his busy professional career, Bill was an avid athlete, enjoying snow skiing, running and golf. He was a proud member of the Tacoma Country Club. Bill is survived by his wife Donna, 3 children (Steve, Greg and Suzanne), two grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. As Bill often said about himself, "Not bad for a freckled face kid from Oklahoma!" At Bill's request, there will be no memorial service. Donations can be made to any charity of your choice in Bill's memory. Reprinted from News Tribune (Tacoma) Feb. 18, 2023
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