Washington State Orthopaedic Association

Register NOW for the Washington State Orthopaedic Association’s third Regional Educational Outreach Program (REOP)

WSOA REOP
Wednesday, March 24, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30pm
Jointly provided by Seattle Science Foundation and the Washington State Orthopaedic Association

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.

There is no fee for physicians to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar and how to claim CME.

WSOA’s REOP is a six-part series of one-hour webinars designed to provide a regional overview of local orthopaedic surgery concerns, including the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on orthopaedic practice; regulatory and legislative issues affecting orthopaedic medicine in Washington state; and regulatory and compliance updates. Our third REOP event has a focus on the Tri-cities, hosted by WSOA Board Member Dr. Chris Kontogianis, and features the following presentation:

• It’s a Bad Time to Get Sick in America: Impact of Corporate Business on Healthcare, Dr. Christopher Kontogianis
• O for Olympia, O for Optimism, Jim Hedrick
• Starting Practice: What They Didn’t Tell You in Training,  Dr. Jessica M. Kohring

Dr. Christopher Kontogianis is an orthopaedic surgeon in Kennewick, WA and has over 34 years of experience. He is a managing member of Benton Franklin Orthopedic Associates and medical director of High Desert Surgery Center. In his free time, Dr. “K” enjoys skiing, biking, and hiking. He serves on the WSOA board and is also very active with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has a particular interest in medical economics, the future of medicine, and its impact on our country and its future.

Jim Hedrick works as an advocate in state government and consultant on public policy matters. Jim has worked various issues including scope of practice, balance billing, and insurance coverage. Jim has worked in Olympia for over 30 years in the legislative arena with stints in state agencies and the governor’s office and has represented not only health care clients but also has extensive experience in state budgets and taxation, natural resources, higher education, and economic development. Prior to contract lobbying Jim served as Legislative Director, Office of Financial Management; and Acting Legislative Director, Governor’s Office; and Legislative Liaison, Department of Revenue.

Dr. Jessica M. Kohring is an orthopedic surgeon, fellowship-trained in foot and ankle surgery. She specializes in the treatment of all foot and ankle conditions including sports medicine, Dr. Kohring began practicing with Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists in 2019.

After completing her Bachelor of Science degree with honors in Health and Exercise Science at Wake Forest University, Dr. Kohring went on to obtain her medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She then completed her residency training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah and a foot and ankle orthopedic surgery fellowship at the University of Rochester, New York.

Accreditation
Seattle Science Foundation is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Seattle Science Foundation designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Each session is designated for 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

We are excited to announce that we will be holding our first Regional Educational Outreach Program (REOP) virtually next Wednesday, January 27.

WSOA REOP
Wednesday, January 27, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30pm
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

There is no fee for physicians to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

WSOA’s REOP is a six-part series of one-hour webinars designed to provide a regional overview of local orthopaedic surgery concerns, including the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on orthopaedic practice; regulatory and legislative issues affecting orthopaedic medicine in Washington state; and regulatory and compliance updates. Our inaugural REOP event has a focus on Spokane, hosted by WSOA Board Member Dr. Jonathan Keeve, and featuring presentations from Dr. Paul Pottinger and Dr. Neal Shonnard.

Our first meeting will address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and delivering high quality cost efficient care in an outpatient surgery center. With mounting losses of life and diseased patients a lot of hope has been placed on the rapid deployment of vaccines. This very encouraging trend has been countered by reports on more contagious mutations and recurrent waves of lockdowns. These developments have also directly impacted our ability to render effective musculoskeletal care due to resource allocation concerns and contagion reduction efforts. Dr. Pottinger from UW Medicine is a content expert whose expertise was sought by national media outlets from the first emergence of the virus. For the orthopaedic community this provides a unique opportunity to learn about real life practice implications affecting all of us.

Ambulatory surgery centers have become an increasingly well-established alternative for many orthopaedic procedures to hospital-based care. Unfortunately many of these enterprises are under threat of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and by mergers and acquisitions. Dr. Shonnard has been a successful practitioner in a physician-owned ASC space, as well as hospital based surgery, and through his work in national registries has a unique perspective on both threats and opportunities for ASC’s in the current landscape.

We are very much looking forward to this event hosted by WSOA Board Member Dr. Jon Keeve from Spokane, who will provide us a perspective on the current landscape of orthopaedic surgery in eastern Washington.

About Dr. Paul Pottinger:
Dr. Pottinger is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Allergy & Infectious Disease at the University of Washington. He is also Director of UWMC’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and Director of the Infectious Disease Training Program. He directs Montlake’s clinical ID section, ID clinic, antimicrobial stewardship program, and the UW ID fellowship program.

Dr. Pottinger is frequently interviewed by state and national media regarding the current COVID-19 pandemic, https://www.washington.edu/news/uw-in-the-media/coronavirus/.

About Dr. Neal Shonnard:
Dr. Shonnard is a board certified fellowship trained senior spine surgeon in the Proliance Surgeons group. He has a community practice in Puyallup, Washington. He is a founding member of the Washington state spine surgery (Spine SCOAP) and the US Vertebral Compression Fracture Registry (Talosix VCF Registry).

His publications include research articles on orthopedic trauma reconstruction, experimental neurosurgery, Spine Registry outcomes and predictive analytics for spine surgery. Dr. Shonnard has been working together with other interested doctors to assess outcomes of spine care for all patients in Washington state, the USA, and globally.

About WSOA:
The Washington State Orthopaedic Association is a membership-driven organization which represents the interests of orthopaedic surgeons and the patients with musculoskeletal problems whom we treat here in Washington. We are your advocates in Olympia both in the legislature and, sometimes more importantly, in the regulatory arena. We also serve as the “Boots on the Ground” representatives of the AAOS leadership so that the Academy is kept abreast of important issues here in Washington state, and that information about important issues that come up in other states or in Washington, DC is passed on to orthopaedic surgeons here at home.