Mission

To strengthen and sustain the physician community ​​in Whatcom and San Juan Counties. 

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Who we are

Founded in 1889, the society has grown from the original nine licensed Whatcom County doctors to hundreds of members from both San Juan and Whatcom counties combined. Celebrating over 130 years of advocacy, the society has functioned as a promoter of public health and supporter of pre-medical and continuing medical education and wellness initiatives.

​As a non-profit professional association, we provide free referral services to the community, professional and educational support to our local physicians, and participation in community projects that support the local health and well-being of all the people living in this part of the Pacific Northwest.

Founded​
​1889

Years celebrated
​​136

Physicians
​​​430

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​Statement of Opposition to the Dismantling of Essential Healthcare Programs

1. The Northwest Medical Society, representing over 400 physicians and physician assistants in Whatcom and San Juan Counties, strongly condemns the proposed dismantling and defunding of critical public health organizations. These include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), facing a proposed 44% budget cut, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), slated for a 40% reduction, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among others vital for safeguarding public health, managing disease outbreaks, and advancing medical research. Additionally, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has driven significant workforce reductions within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), cutting 20,000 jobs and consolidating divisions, which threatens the capacity of these agencies to serve rural and underserved communities like ours.  Moreover, the withdrawal from international health organizations like the WHO and cuts to USAID limit our ability to address global health risks that inevitably impact local communities. 
   
   
2. We assert that physicians and advanced practice providers must retain the autonomy to make informed medical decisions in collaboration with their patients and families. Such decisions should be guided by evidence-based medicine and the ethical standards enshrined in the Hippocratic and Osteopathic Oaths, which our physicians and physician assistants uphold. These principles, reaffirmed by respected organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Medical Association (AMA), and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), must remain free from political and commercial influences, ensuring patient care remains the foremost priority.
   
   
3. We firmly believe every individual has a fundamental right to quality, compassionate, affordable, and accessible healthcare. We are deeply alarmed by recent House proposals that could result in millions losing Medicaid coverage by imposing stricter eligibility requirements and increasing financial and administrative burdens on low-income populations. These actions exacerbate health disparities, disproportionately harm vulnerable communities, and undermine the right to life-saving healthcare access. Furthermore, DOGE-led cuts within HHS compound resource constraints for public health programs. We oppose policies that erode this right, including those defunding critical public health organizations, and urge policymakers to prioritize sustained investment in medical research through agencies like the NIH and CDC. Such funding is essential for advancing healthcare, improving patient outcomes, reducing suffering, and addressing emerging health challenges.
   
   

As physician leaders, we are deeply committed to advocating for the health and well-being of all our patients and the diverse communities we serve. We stand united against efforts to erode the legal and institutional foundations that protect public health and pledge to continue fighting for what upholds the professional integrity of our service as clinicians.
 
– Garrett Jeffery, DO, FAAFP, President, NWMS
– Megan Briggs Ellingsen, MD, MPH, Vice President, NWMS

Support the NWMS

​The NWMS has a non-profit 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship through The Chuckanut Health Foundation which allows for tax-deductible donations and grants to support the society's mission.

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NWMS is unified with the WSMA, requiring joint membership in both the county medical society and the WSMA (or the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association, as applicable).

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