Governor’s Corner
Cathrine Wheeler, MD FACP
As the leaves turn and the days grow crisp (and short!), fall invites us to reflect, reconnect, and re-engage—both in our personal lives and professional journeys. I’m hoping to reconnect with many of you at our Chapter Meeting at Bell Harbor on November 7th! We are exploring a new format this year with one in-person day on Friday (including Jeopardy!) and a second virtual day on Saturday. Our amazing course chairs have put together a fantastic program, but we need your help with our story slam and award nominations! Please see links below to send us your stories and recommend colleagues for chapter awards, and *of course* register for the meeting.
In this issue, we highlight meaningful ways physicians can stay involved and inspired at every stage of their career. From volunteering opportunities that enrich global and local communities, to updates on critical health policy advocacy, to the power of mentorship in shaping the next generation of internists, there’s something for everyone. You’ll also find practical insights from the teaching frontlines to help navigate common challenges in medical education.
Wherever this season finds you—whether embracing change, deepening your practice, or guiding future colleagues—we hope these stories offer encouragement and a renewed sense of community.
Thanks!
Cathrine Wheeler, Governor || Washington Chapter – American College of Physicians
2026 Annual Chapter Meeting Registration Open!
November 6th: In-Person at Bell Harbor International Conference Center (Virtual Available)
Our 2026 Annual Meeting Co-Chairs Sheida Aalami, MD and Ahmed Salahudeen, MD are excited to welcome you back for one day at Bell Harbor for our 2026 annual meeting, and one day in-person to live stream from the Initai Foundation. Virtual option is available for both days.
On November 7th, we will be in-person at Bell Harbor International Conference Center including the same engaging content in plenary sessions, workshops, our annual Doctors Dilemma competition, posters and abstract presentations, an awards reception, and time to network with other fellow physicians. This program will be offered hybrid so if you cannot make it in-person, you can still hop on virtually.
November 7th: In-Person at Seattle Initai Foundation – Watch Live Stream (Virtual Available)
On November 7th, we will be virtual only for all and will still provide the same plenary sessions and innovative workshops concurrently across different breakout rooms, our annual business meeting and abstract presentations. However, we are hosting an in-person Day 2 watch party in downtown Seattle at the Inatai Foundation’s beautiful office Rainier Tower office (also with a great view of Elliott Bay!) The Inatai Foundation is generously letting us use their space to gather. A sign-up will be sent out to all attendees if they want to attend the Seattle Watch Party – so register for the meeting first and you’ll receive the watch party information afterward.
Chapter Awards Nominations Are Open!
It’s that time of year again – to recognize the outstanding efforts of Internists in our state! We need your nominations for the following awards:
- Washington ACP Internist of the Year
- Washington ACP Community Service Award
- Washington ACP Chapter Service Award
- Washington ACP Golden Apple Award
- Washington ACP Full-time Faculty Clinician-Educator of the Year
- Washington ACP Hospitalist of the Year
Please take a few minutes to tell us who is deserving of a recognition award from their colleagues.
The deadline for submitting your nomination is October 15th, 2026. Awards will be presented at the Washington Chapter ACP Annual Meeting, on November 6, 2026 at Bell Harbor International Conference Center.
Volunteer for a Committee or Council!
Volunteers are the heart of the ACP Washington Chapter, and we invite you to get involved! Whether your interests include advocacy, membership engagement, wellness, communications, mentoring students and residents, or helping shape chapter programming, there are opportunities to contribute at every career stage. Serving as a volunteer is a rewarding way to connect with colleagues across the state, develop leadership skills, and make a meaningful impact on the future of internal medicine in Washington. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities or joining a committee, we’d love to hear from you.
Interested in volunteering? Click below to learn about current opportunities and find the right fit for your interests and availability. We welcome physicians, residents, fellows, and medical students from across Washington.
Apply to be a Well-Being Champion!
American College of Physicians National has the Well-being Champion curriculum – a free member-exclusive program designed to help internal medicine physicians, trainees, and future physicians lead meaningful change and foster cultures of well-being.
We are looking for another Well-being Champion to represent our chapter!
This on-demand learning series provides practical tools, leadership strategies, and evidence-based approaches to improve physician well-being in your workplace, training program, or professional community. Whether you want to advocate for system-level improvements or support peers more effectively, the curriculum equips you with skills you can apply immediately. CME and MOC credit are available.
What You’ll Learn
- How to develop leadership skills as a Well-being Champion
- Practical tools to promote professional fulfillment and reduce burnout
- Strategies to design data-driven well-being initiatives
- How to apply quality improvement frameworks to support physician well-being
By completing this curriculum, you can play an important role in advancing a culture of well-being in internal medicine. Interested in applying? Email Governor Cathrine Wheeler.
Joey Parker’s Teaching Corner
One of the concepts I have been experimenting with is for the learner to try before being taught. In times past, I have usually instructed learners to read and study certain text prior to engaging in board review questions. While this strategy does have its advantages, there is ample literature that by struggling through a concept prior to formal teaching or studying can “prime” the brain to encode information when it’s finally taught. To bring this to the classroom, try this idea – first give a quiz to your learners. I have done this with antibiotics, COPD and asthma treatment strategies, and hyponatremia. Immediately following this, give a lecture on the same topic, and then have the learner take the quiz again. Immediately the learner understands the topic better and can self-assess in a quick way. This “try before taught” strategy can be a unique way in which learners can pick up new topics and learn in a fun and efficient way.
