WSOA Letter to Membership

February 19, 2025

 

Dear WSOA members,

Across several meetings in 2024, the WSOA Board of Directors met to discuss the future of the organization and what it should look like moving forward. The WSOA Board encouraged engagement and involvement from the WSOA members on the future of the organization by sending out e-communications and invitations to these virtual meetings.

Some options that were discussed are as follows:

  1. The organization continues with our current model including an in-person annual meeting. This would require others to get involved in attending board meetings and engaging in the leadership of the organization.
  2. The organization takes a scaled back approach focusing on online and social media presence and possibly some webinars.
  3. The organization goes dormant. We would scale down to minimal operations to be reinstated at a later date.

A decision was made on November 13, 2024, that the Washington State Orthopaedic Society would officially enter dormancy, effective immediately.  Simply said, the organization is dependent on participation and interest of the orthopedic community, and after several online meetings, there was minimal engagement. It is now the top priority of the society to maintain AAOS representation for Washington state, with Drs. Kevin MacDonald and Mia Hagen continuing their terms as AAOS councilors.

Should any needs arise for advocacy efforts within Washington state, the list of leadership for the WSOA will continue within their positions for the extended future:

President Greg Brown, MD
Immediate Past President Kevin MacDonald, MD
Vice President Mia Hagen, MD
Secretary/Treasurer Roger Blauvelt, MD
At Large Jonathan Keeve, MD
At Large Chris Kontogianis, MD
At Large Alan Greenwald, MD
At Large Darrin Trask, MD
At Large Jens Chapman, MD
At Large Tom Kennedy, MD
At Large
At Large
At Large

Membership dues and collections will also be paused and on hold at this time. Should you be interested in engaging as a part of the WSOA leadership or know someone who would be willing to serve on the WSOA board of directors, please reach out! We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact our Executive Director, Jena Rehm, at admin@wsoa.org and let her know your thoughts or how you can help.

Sincerely,

Greg Brown, MD

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Next WSOA Video Conference – Nov 13th

Join us!

For the WSOA 2024 Fall Video Conference: November 13, 2024, at 6:00 pm on Zoom

Wednesday, November 13th at 6 pm on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87066612941 

The WSOA Board of Directors would love to have you join us for this round table style video conference regarding the future of the WSOA. We know that our members have valued the collaboration with peers in the field of Orthopaedic medicine that involvement in the WSOA fosters. Here is a list of highlights from our past engagement with the AAOC BOC: Highlights of the WSOA

Please let us know if you are interested in getting more involved or know someone who would be willing to serve on the WSOA board of directors.

If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Jena Rehm, at admin@wsoa.org or 206-956-3621.

Please make plans to attend this important strategy meeting – we hope to see many of you there to discuss the future of the WSOA!

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2024 Update on WSOA

The WSOA Board of Directors met in January to discuss the future of the organization. Some options that were discussed are as follows:

  1. The organization continues with our current model including an in-person annual meeting. This would require someone else taking on the role of president and others getting involved in attending board meetings and engaging in the leadership of the organization.
  2. The organization takes a scaled back approach focusing on online and social media presence and possibly some webinars. Dr. MacDonald would consider staying on as president for one more year in this instance.
  3. The organization goes dormant. We would scale down to minimal operations to be reinstated at a later date.

We know our members value the collaboration with peers that involvement in the WSOA fosters. Here is a list of highlights from our past engagement with the AAOC BOC: Highlights of the WSOA

The decision for the future of the WSOA is an existential consideration and we need you with us! Please let us know if you are interested in getting more involved or know someone who would be willing to serve on the WSOA board of directors.

We will be holding a series of video conferences this year at the following dates/times with the goal of increasing engagement in our organization. Please make time to attend these important strategy meetings:

Wednesday, April 10th at 6 pm on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86749751646
Wednesday, July 10th at 6 pm on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82295680373
Wednesday, November 3rd at 6 pm on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87557343008

We hope to see many of you there to discuss the future of the WSOA.

If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Susanna Barnett, at admin@wsoa.org or 206-956-3652.

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WSOA 2023 Annual Meeting Update

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2023 WSOA Annual Meeting held at the Seattle Science Center! It was great to see everyone again at our first in-person Annual Meeting post-pandemic.

The board would like to thank all of our speakers, attendees and exhibitors who joined us on Saturday, October 28th and made the meeting such a great success. We are grateful for your support!

2023 Annual Meeting at the Seattle Science Foundation
2023 Annual Meeting at the Seattle Science Foundation
Dr. Wayne Johnson Lecture
Dr. Wayne Johnson Lecture
Abstract Competition Winner - Madagan Resident, Patrick Rooney
Abstract Competition Winner – Madagan Resident, Patrick Rooney
Dr. MacDonald - WSOA President
Dr. MacDonald – WSOA President
Congrats to the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award - Dr. Thomas Green
Congrats to the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award – Dr. Thomas Green
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Remembering Dr. Preston J. Phillips

The Washington State Orthopaedic Society mourns the loss of our former President and Board member Preston Phillips, M.D., FAAOS, FAOA, FSRS and JRGOS, who was senselessly killed last week in a mass shooting in his office at St. Francis Hospital, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, along with three other victims while tending to his clinical duties.  The shooter has been identified as a patient of Dr. Phillips who was unhappy with his pain management after back surgery.

Those who were lucky enough to know him during his time in the Pacific Northwest remember Dr. Phillips as an eminently well-regarded Orthopaedic Surgeon. Dr. Phillips practiced in Seattle from 1998 through 2003 at Swedish Medical Center as member of the Seattle Orthopaedic and Fracture Clinic. He was elected as President of the Washington State Orthopaedic Association in 2002, and served his term with distinction until his departure to Tulsa for a new practice opportunity.

Dr. Phillips is fondly remembered literally and figuratively as a gentle giant in our specialty. His story is an all-American story of accomplishment attained through talent, hard work and outstanding character. His all-too sudden loss due to deranged violence sadly ended his shining career and life prematurely.

Born in 1963 in Saginaw, Michigan as one of 9 children, his educational foundations were unique.  Dr. Phillips attained three bachelor’s degrees at Emory from Chemistry, Theology and Organic Chemistry. He completed Medical School at Harvard, followed by his Orthopaedic Internship and Residency at Yale, and fellowship specialty training in Spine surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. He also completed advanced  AO Fracture and Trauma skills, training alongside recognized leaders in their fields. As an Orthopaedic Surgeon he applied his bandwidth serving his patients as a dedicated spine, total joint and fracture surgeon. His focus on unconditional service to his patients was always delivered with wisdom, kindness, and a friendly demeanor. Beyond his practice in Seattle and later Tulsa, Dr. Phillips also applied his knowledge to those in need overseas by regularly serving in the Republic of Togo, West Africa as a volunteer Orthopaedic Surgeon. This volunteer service further reflects the selfless dedication Dr. Phillips routinely applied to his patients- regardless of their problems and station in life. With this knowledge, it is with particular sadness that we try to comprehend the loss of this cherished colleague.

Please consider joining the WSOA in remembrance of Dr. Preston Phillips by donating to the St. Francis Hospital Emergency Fund:

Donate to St. Francis Emergency Fund

With gratitude and condolences,

WSOA Board of Directors

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