Physicians for a National Health Program Western Washington
Template:TOCnestleft Physicians for a National Health Plan Western Washington, is the Seattle affiliate of Physicians for a National Health Program.
Since 1987, Physicians for a National Health Program has advocated for reform in the U.S. health care system. A large part of our work involves educating health professionals about the benefits of a single-payer system--including fewer administrative costs and affording health insurance for the 46 million Americans who have none. Physicians for a National Health Program is a single issue organization advocating a universal, comprehensive single-payer national health program. PNHP has more than 14,000 members and chapters across the United States.
Our members and physician activists work toward a single-payer national health program in their communities. PNHP organizes rallies, town hall meetings, and debates; coordinates speakers and forum discussions; contributes Op-Eds and articles to the nation's top newspapers, medical journals and magazines; and appears regularly on national television and news programs advocating for a single-payer system.
PNHP is the only organization in the United States dedicated to implementing a single-payer national health program.
The Western Washington Chapter was initiated in the fall of 2005. Our first general meeting was in January 2006 and we have had monthly meetings since that time. We meet at the Swedish/Providence Campus Medical Staff Auditorium the 3rd or 4th Wednesday of the month.[1]
Board of Directors
As of December 2012;[2]
- Jim McDermott, MD, Honorary Chair
- Don Mitchell, MD, President
- Les Pittle, MD, Vice President
- David McLanahan, MD, Coordinator
- Sherry Weinberg, MD, Treasurer
- John Geyman, MD, Past President PNHP
- Seth Armstrong
- Mindy Blaski, MD
- Dana Iorio, ARNP
- Larry Kalb
- George M. Martin, MD
- Kathleen Myers, DDS
- Kathleen Randall, MA
- Marti Schmidt, JD
- Jim Squire, MD
- Nancy Spaeth, RN
- Chris Toal, MPA
Advisors to the Board
- Paul Bigman
- Hugh Foy, MD
7th Annual Public Meeting
The March 3, 2012 7th Physicians for a National Health Program Western Washington Annual Public Meeting featured speakers Quentin Young, MD, National Coordinator for Physicians for a National Health Plan, Amy Goodman, author and the host of Democracy Now!, Teresa Mosqueda, Legislative and Policy Director of the Washington State Labor Council and Chair of the Healthy Washington Coalition, and Representative Jim McDermott, Congressman for the WA 7th CD.
The PNHPWW Board awarded its 2012 John Geyman Health Justice Advocate Award to David Loud, health reform activist who has worked as a hospital worker, union organizer and now is Jim McDermott's staff aide for community outreach. [3]