62
Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business • July 2017
WSU Tri-Cities dean outlines goals for rural medicine, global experiences BY TRI-CITIES AREA JOURNAL OF BUSINESS STAFF
It may be two years before Washington State University Tri-Cities has medical students, but Farion Williams, the new associate dean of medicine for that campus, is ramping up for students who will spend their final two years in the region. “The Tri-Cities is in a very unique position in Washington state, with its variety of health care providers and professionals, its opportunities with organizations like the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and its potential for providing rural healthcare in eastern Washington and underrepresented communities,” Williams said in a
release. “I’m excited to be a part of getting the new Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine up and running, and I’m excited to join the team at WSU Tri-Cities.” Williams began his new role June 26. He plans to identify and train faculty and help to establish the curriculum. He also plans to meet with local physicians and representatives from medical providers to gain an understanding of the region’s health care climate. A graduate of the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio, Williams completed his residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center where he served as the program’s chief resident in his final year. He began his first
ORCHARD HILLS MEDICAL BUILDING 509-628-9333
705 Gage Blvd., Richland
RARE MEDICAL OFFICE VACANCIES IN SOUTH RICHLAND!
AVAILABLE SPACES: Suite 100 - Move-in ready!
• 1,652 square feet on the first floor with large admin/reception room • Upscale medical office with oversized waiting room w/ passive lighting • Private doctor's office w/full bathroom • 2 exam rooms + sterile room • Separate doctor/staff entrance and reserved parking spaces 2016 lease rate $19.50/sq. ft. + NNN!
Suite 101 - Move-in ready!
• 1,218 square feet on the first floor with large admin/reception room • Private doctor's office • 2 exam rooms w/ sinks • Utility/kitchen room • Separate doctor/staff entrance and reserved parking spaces 2016 lease rate $18.50/sq. ft. + NNN!
Suite 200 - Now Available!
• 4,620 square feet on second floor (entire floor!) • Upscale waiting room with large admin/reception area • 3 doctor’s offices, 1 practice manager’s office and 1 office manager’s office • 8 exam rooms, 1 proceedure room and 1 lab room • Separate staff/patient/lab ADA restrooms • File/computer server room • Reserved parking spaces • Perfect for family or specialty practice 2017 lease rate $18.00/sq. ft. + NNN! Professionally managed by RAB Keystone, LLC. Contact Rob Bill, CPM® , 509-628-9333, rkbill2540@juno.com
practice through the University of Texas Medical Branch in Dickinson, Texas. Following his time at UTMB, he became the associate residency director for family medicine Farion Williams at the Baylor WSU Tri-Cities College of Medicine, and most recently served at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, where he held many roles, including residency program director and assistant dean for graduate medical education. Williams’ medical resúme includes extensive experience serving and developing programs for rural and underserved populations – a focus he said he looks forward to continuing at WSU. “The mission of Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is really important because there are many communities that lack resources for health care, and when access is limited, care is limited,” he said. “Once students have opportunities to train in rural communities, they are more likely to want to practice in rural communities, which is
why it’s crucial that we establish those opportunities here in Washington state. I think it is very forward-thinking that WSU is focusing their program to help address this issue.” In addition to his work stateside, Williams said he’d like to offer a study abroad opportunity that he has been a part of for several years at the University of Illinois. Through the program, medical students travel to Christian Medical College in India where they provide medical care, work with local physicians and learn about how the health care system works within the country. “The study abroad program gives students an opportunity to experience the healthcare systems in another country, how health care is delivered, how different national policies affect the way healthcare is delivered, and how the populations are different,” he said. “Students see that a lot of good can be done with limited resources and develop a perspective of compassion and empathy for people.” Williams worked with the department of family medicine faculty at the medical college in India to help them gain accreditation for their residency program through the Medical Council of India in March 2017.
CLOTHING, From page 60 “It was a neat concept and fit really well with what we are trying to do at BlankSpace. We try to promote local, so it was super cohesive. It also brings traffic to our store. Whenever a new tank top design comes out, people will come out looking for it. They’ve just responded well,” she said. Denslow soon will partner with local service businesses and restaurants wanting to print co-branded shirts with the Love the Tri logo. Richland’s Frost Me Sweet team soon will represent the TriCities with its very own customized shirts, he said. The first trucker hats came out right before the Water Follies last year. “They sold some trucker hats and a couple of the shirts,” Denslow said. “It was a very soft launch, because I didn’t put it on social media. A few of my friends over the next couple of weeks wore the hats, went to concerts, went to difference places, and they sent me those photos.” Last August, he created the website and Facebook page. “I basically said, ‘This is what I am doing. Let’s see what happens,’” Denslow said. “It got shared a whole bunch of times. It got a bunch of likes. Now, I’ve got over 2,800 page likes on Facebook. I post to Instagram as well.” Last October, he organized the first Love the Tri release party at BlankSpace. Since then he’s sold hundreds of hats and shirts, he said. Denslow is not afraid of taking on big challenges. He opened the HomeStreet Kennewick branch in 2013 after working in the mortgage industry for more than 14 years. He is a Tri-City native and passionate
believer of giving back to his community. “I have been involved with Water Follies for several years. I have been president three times. I guess I was ready for a new challenge as a way to give back,” he said. When asked what he loves most about the Tri-Cities, he said, “It’s the people.” “We have a lot of pride within the community and hopefully it expands beyond that if people can look at what I did and motivate them to figure out a way to give back then it’s self-perpetuating. That is what pushes me to keep doing what I am doing,” Denslow said. “It’s going faster than I would have expected. The first few months you go through a series where you would get a whole bunch of orders and a whole bunch of likes, then it would slow down...then it kind of snowballed from there,” he said. “The original trucker hat I almost can’t keep in stock. More businesses have been wanting to sign up as resellers.” Denslow said he wants to let the brand grow organically, but said he hopes to come out with new designs on a regular basis and host quarterly release parties to announce which nonprofit will benefit from the donations. Denslow said he gets jitters before a big release. “You design all this stuff and you just have no idea. My biggest concern is if people would like it. My friends would wear it regardless but you have no idea how other people will react to your designs,” he said. “I never considered designing my own clothing line, but it’s been fun.” Find Love the Tri online: lovethetri. com, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest.