MD Class Notes

1953

Gildon Beall, MD ’53, Res. ’60 (internal medicine), writes, “Received the UCLA Mellinkoff Faculty Award in 1993 . Volunteer teacher with MSF and others: Thailand, China, Kenya, Cambodia, Viet Nam, South Africa, Uganda, Ethiopia and India, 2002–2010.”

1956

James Bremner, MD ’56, writes, “Retired psychiatrist, living in Olympia. Health good so far. Of note, in 1956, then-Dean Richard Blandau and I first started the UW Medical School Alumni Association.”

1957

J. Kirk Douglass, MD ’57, Res. ’60 (pediatrics), writes, “Both my wife and I are in relatively good health and enjoying our extended family and friends. Our oversea adventures have been reduced to local ones. We still live in our home, use the stairway, do some yardwork and try and walk for 30 minutes a day. I feel very fortunate to have had the medical training that the UW gave me, as medicine has changed so much since 1957. I pray for good health and strength for those of us still going.”

Manus Kraff, MD ’57, writes, “I retired on September 30, 2021, 60 years after finishing residency (6/31/1961). I am in good health – work out daily, read a book a week, and I’m interested in working in the longevity clinic. I have 5 children, 11 Grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren. Life is great. UW started it all for me. I was still visiting Seattle yearly until COVID – looking to return this year!”

George S. Lavenson Jr., MD ’57, writes, “I am a general, vascular and trauma surgeon who spent 20 years in the Army and 30 years in private practice in the stroke belt of Central California. I am also a Registered Vascular Technologist and noted on scanning carotid arteries, the leading immediate cause of strokes, that it was immediately apparent within one minute whether the carotid was diseased or not. Since asymptomatic carotid stenosis causes 80% of the strokes due to carotid disease, it occurred that finding the silent carotid disease by screening seniors could allow preemptive management and prevention of strokes on a large scale. In spite of my attempts to present and publish this for over 29 years, it has been virtually rejected from consideration. Many breakthrough advances in medicine have come from the trenches of private practice, and I wonder if other UW grads have had this type of experience. I am 91 now and still trying.”

1960

Melvin Freeman, MD ’60, writes, “In 2022, I coauthored the 11th edition of The Ophthalmic Assistant: A Text for Allied and Associated Ophthalmic Personnel (Elsevier). The 10th edition sold over 18,000 copies.”

1961

Rollin W. Oldell Jr., MD ’61, writes, “My wife, Clarice, and I are now living full-time in Kingston, WA, on Puget Sound, where we enjoy sweeping views, fantastic weather, boating and fishing. We live on the water with ample opportunities for boating, occasional dips into the cool waters out our back door and watching the many boats go by. We also enjoy views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker from our living room window with downtown Seattle in the distance. In addition to casting for salmon, we enjoy the other amenities of Kitsap. Bainbridge is not far away, and the nearby surroundings offer opportunities for hiking the numerous trails. All in all, we have an almost ideal life here in Kitsap County.”

C. Gordon Strom, MD ’61, Captain (MC) USN, RET., writes, “After 33+ years in the U.S. Navy and 24+ years as a surveyor with The Joint Commission, I have decided to retire. It has been a rather unique career, something I never envisioned while in medical school. My original goal was to be a pediatrician in Port Angeles, WA. Instead, my path was Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. There have been many clinical and administrative responsibilities that have taken me to over 20 foreign countries and all the U.S. states except Delaware. I am very thankful to the University of Washington that allowed me to become a Doctor. I was a rarity in that I failed biochemistry twice. I am especially thankful to the late Dr. Ted West of the Dept. of Pharmacology, who encouraged me to continue. Also, the many classmate friends especially George M. Hall, Hugh Wang, Bill Foege and Gail Thompson, to name a few. Now, I plan to spend more time with my wife, kids, grand kids and great grand kids. Also, spending more time sailing the good sloop NANGOR on the San Francisco Bay, and just ‘bumming around.’”

1963

Richard Honsinger II, MD ’63, Res. ’69 (internal medicine), writes, “Sorry to miss Reunion. Grandchild wedding more important. Practicing internal medicine and allergy immunology at Los Alamos, New Mexico, since 1969. Still active with three day/week consultative practice, UNM clinical professor, editorial and review boards of major allergy journals, still active on IM and Allergy Association boards. Widowed, five kids, 12 grandkids, eight greats.”

1964

James A. Margolis, MD ’64, writes, “Turned 81, still rowing, skiing, teaching and seeing patients two half-days per week. COVID-19 has had a big impact on patient care — using Zoom and teaching — no direct medical student teaching for several months, have had to do very carefully planned out accommodations for ski patrol first-aid training (candidate is paired with housemate as patient and individual instructor). Did have a recent setback; my usual slow pulse got too slow and had a pacemaker installed. I’m doing well, but can’t row or play golf for another two months — not good for my mental health. Hope everyone is healthy, happy and in good spirits.”

1966

Roger W. Rochat, MD ’66, was the recipient of the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Family Planning. The Society of Family Planning Lifetime Achievement Award, created in 2005, is for individuals and/or teams who have dedicated their careers to advancing the science of abortion and contraception, and have supported others in achieving their own success.

William A. Emerson, MD ’66, writes, “After 32 years in Steamboat Springs, CO, we have sold our properties here and are moving to Nampa, ID, for the summertime to be near our daughter and will spend the winters in Mesa, AZ, near our son. We continue to enjoy good health.”

1967

Tony Komaroff, MD ’67, writes, “I continue as a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and senior physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. I ended my practice in 2015 and now spend all my time on research. With support from NIH, I study two very similar illnesses: long COVID and chronic fatigue syndrome. I am on several NIH and CDC committees overseeing research on these illnesses. I also study human herpesvirus-6A and -6B, which are increasingly being linked to several important diseases.
I have been a generalist in a world of increasing specialization, a generalist physician and generalist investigator. My contribution to research has primarily been to translate clinical observations into physiological explanations and then to bring together specialists from different disciplines to collaborate. Several of the problems I have studied were initially controversial, but I thought they were important and pushed ahead. I would encourage medical students to have the courage of their convictions. My wife, Lydia Villa-Komaroff, and I celebrated our 53rd anniversary in 2023. We are both in good health, with some age-appropriate infirmities. We are both still working, but at a pace throttled down by about 40% compared to most of our professional lives. Friends, music, movies, books, travel and community service round out our non-work lives.”

Robert Jeffers, MD ’67, writes, “We have a grandson currently performing in a major role on Broadway as the son of Harry Potter in ‘Harry Potter and The Cursed Child.’”

Sandra Wolf, on behalf of Bruce J. Wolf, MD ’67, Res. ’71 (ophthalmology), deceased, writes, “Bruce’s time in Alaska with the Public Health Service and private practice following in Fairbanks were a priceless experience bringing eye care to an underserved area. We are so thankful for all he learned at UW. One special memory was a day when Old Raymond took his first flight to Nome, having been finger-counting at two feet after suffering PKC subsequent to TB and corneal scarring that followed. With glasses, his sight was restored, and we watched him travel through the waiting room staring at friends he had never seen in over 75 years. Bruce died when hit by a car about eight years ago.”

1968

John Williams, MD, PhD ’68, writes I am now a Active Emeritus Professor at the University of Michigan after 33 years as Professor of Physiology and Internal Medicine. Twenty one years were spent as Chair of Molecular and Integrative Physiology. I just had my memoir, :The Pancreas and Me: My life as a Biomedical Scientist” published by Maize Books. It is open access and can be found at fulcrum.org/maizebooks. One chapter covers my medical and graduate school experiences at UW. The book shows how medical research and teaching has changed over my sixty year career.

Lyle Griffith, M.S., M.D. ’68, Res. ’74 (urology), writes, “I was honored this summer to be included in the book, A Tribal Manifesto, published by Lawney L. Reyes, a UW graduate and well-known Seattle artist, curator and author, and Theresa Kennedy Johns. They compiled the life stories of more than 50 American Indian tribal members who have made significant contributions to the Indian community. I was born on the reservation at Pine Ridge, SD, and am an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux tribe. During residency in the early 1970’s I spent many hours volunteering in a free clinic for American Indians and Alaskan natives, and then helped to found the Seattle Indian Health Board. I was one of its volunteer doctors and President of the Board of Directors throughout residency. During my many years of urology practice, I continued to be involved in Native American health care issues and received honors several times from the Seattle Indian Health Board as it grew into a nationally recognized organization. I retired in 2018 and now live in Boise, Idaho.”

Lorin L. Lee, MD ’68, writes, “Hello, Class of 1968. Hope you are well. Been retired from OB/GYN for 11 years. My time now is spent with family. We now have three children and nine grandchildren, including a set of 6-year-old triplets. My wife and I are busy also trying to improve our golf skills.”

Peter R. Torelli, MD ’68, writes, “My wife and I have moved from the problems of Belltown, Seattle, to the town 25 miles north in Mukilteo, Washington. Wish we had done so much earlier. Looking forward to our 60th year reunion in 2028.”

David A. Wold, MD ’68, Res. ’72 (ophthalmology), writes, “Retired in beautiful Coeur d’Alene, ID, with three children and eight grandkids in the community. Enjoy tennis and community activities.”

1969

Elizabeth A. Phillips, MD ’69, writes, “I retired as a Hematologist/Oncologist from White Plains Physician Associates at the end of 2021—52 years after graduating from medical school. I am still adjusting, but love looking out the window at the snow and ice instead of going out into it! Jack is still commuting to NYC to teach Latin and the Econ and Law courses he created. He loves the teaching, but not when it’s remote—and the commute is a pain.”

Thomas W. LaGrelius, MD ’69, writes, “Patti and I hope and pray you are healthy and happy, as are we. We spend more time in San Carlos, Sonora, Mexico, now that we have a vacation home there. Thanksgiving week, the family — all 10 of us, including our three children Piper, Mike and Kim, our son-in-law Todd and the four grandchildren Ellen, Nora and the twins, Lydia and Barrett — spent the whole week at the house. We swam in the sea, pool and jacuzzi, sailed, deep-sea fished, kayaked, paddle boarded, danced in the sand, ate turkey flown in from home and celebrated two birthdays (Todd and Patti). We love our home away from home.

Patti has spent much of the past year-and-a-half organizing the Mexico home. She is an amazing contractor, coordinator, administrator, purchaser and friend-maker. I think she knows almost everybody in San Carlos now. Every day, I have a greater appreciation for her amazing talents and skills.

I am still working full-time in the practice and have no plan to retire. I have, however, greatly reduced my commitments to other organizations and causes, focusing on family and practice. I bought an IKON ski pass this year, which should result in doing more skiing with the kids and grandkids.”

1970

Terrance Chinn, MD ’70, writes, “Terrance Chinn, MD and Stanley Harris, MD won the Open Pairs at a local bridge tournament recently. Our partnership began at lunchtime bridge during our first year of medical school. We intermittently do well and consider ourselves lucky and blessed.”

Arno Weiss Jr., MD ’70, writes, “Finished general surgery in 1974. Started head and neck residency in 1974; finished in 1977 and started plastic surgery residency (finished in 1979). Went into practice in Saginaw, Michigan, at St. Luke’s, which became Covenant, and retired in January 2021 due to personal health problems. Ran a free craniofacial cleft palate clinic for 20 years. Really miss my patients and surgery. Do what you love and never look back! My wife of 56 years and I have two doctor daughters and four grandchildren. They’re great!”

Carrie Sylvester, MD ’70, Res. ’81 (pediatric psychiatry), Res. ’83 (psychiatry and behavioral sciences), writes, “I’m semi-retired, doing limited locum tenens mainly in West Coast locations. I particularly enjoyed my time as director of education in child and adolescent psychiatry at Northwestern University. Sorry to miss the reunion. I’m in Melbourne, Australia, visiting one of my brothers who emigrated there over 50 years ago.”

1971

Robert G. Thompson, MD ’71, writes, “I just retired after 45 years of practicing internal medicine and cardiology in downtown Seattle.”

1972

Richard A. Horvitz, MD ’72, writes, “Nothing much new with me. I am still alive and well, still running regularly (on a treadmill in winter, and still on my factory original joints), and still keeping myself busy with reading, following medical and other items on the Internet, and taking care of my wife, things around the house, and our pets (currently two Samoyed dogs, two Pomeranian “puffballs” and six cats: yes, the dogs chase the cats). Due to COVID-19 and other issues, we have not done any traveling recently, nor do we have any plans to do so in the upcoming future. We just stay at home much of the time, take OLLI emeritus education courses (still mostly on Zoom, but starting to be more and more in-person now), and enjoy the company of each other and our pets.”

John V. Stephens, MD ’72, Res. ’80 (rehabilitation medicine), writes, “Still working in independent solo practice to pay taxes and wife’s nursing home bill. Proud to be a Husky. Go Dawgs!”

1973

Patrick J. Walsh, MD ’73, writes, “Sorry for being unable to attend Reunion Weekend. Best wishes to all my fellow 1973 medical school graduates.”

1974

Dan Wiklund, MD ’74, writes, “Clinical Professor Dept. Medicine x 40 years and twice awarded teacher of the year and now after 20 years of doing remote medical mission work in Africa, Asia and India have written a book titled Tapestry of Humanity describing the beauty of the diversity of our world plus a few stories of global health. This book soon available on Amazon.”

1975

Blanche M. Chavers, MD ’75, writes, “I retired from the practice of pediatric nephrology on 1/1/2022. I am now a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine.”

Peter A. Hashisaki, MD ’75, writes, “Still working part-time doing infectious diseases and hospital epidemiology/infection control in Bellevue, Washington. I’ve been going to Malawi since 2011 and just spent a month there during the cholera outbreak. I’ve done tropical medicine in the Amazon and Northern Thailand as well, but I get skinny in those places. I have a granddaughter but am losing my ex-wife to cancer — soon. Otherwise, life is good, and I’d love to hear from any classmates. (Though Tom Wu has been a gem with his Zoom.)”

Paul V. Williams , MD ’75, was elected secretary/treasurer of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in March 2022 and will advance to become president of that professional society in 2024.

1976

Jerris R. Hedges, MD ’76, writes, “After 15 years as dean of the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, I will step down in March 2023. In “retirement,” there will be a bit of travel and the opportunity to continue as multiple principal investigator of my National Institute of Minority Health & Health Disparities grant. Perhaps there will be an opportunity to review a little biomedical engineering.”

Suzanne U. Spencer, MD ’76, writes, “Retired 2008, continued locums until 2016 in family medicine. Daughter also in family medicine, UCSD. Son working for UW. Travel with husband, now 50-year marriage. Live in Bellevue area. Hike in summer, play golf badly all seasons, cross-country ski in winters. Plan on trip with classmates Berdi Safford and John Hruby to a week-long hike in Alps in September. Participated in mRNA vaccine study as phase 1 volunteer. Wish I could still practice medicine, miss it so.”

Jeff Hummel, MD ’76, writes, “I retired from clinical practice in 2015 and am living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where I work remotely about 30% time on population health quality improvement projects through Comagine Health. My main focus right now is adapting population health analytic and reporting tools to dentistry for the management of periodontal disease on a project sponsored by Delta Dental of Washington. Our goal is for dentists to be full partners with primary care in the interdisciplinary management of periodontal disease in diabetes.”

Phyllis Senter, MD ’76, writes, “Despite the sadness of these unprecedented times, I am hopeful there will continue to be movement towards a more compassionate society. During these past four-plus months of ‘sheltering in place,’ I’ve been volunteering for a local organization, ISOCARE, which gives support to people who need to isolate/quarantine — simple but important work. Otherwise, I am happy in retirement, enjoying time with my husband John (also retired) and looking forward to when we can hug our kids/grandkids again! May we all continue to stay safe and be well!”

1977

Robert McFarland, MD ’77, writes, “All but completely retired after 40 years of full-spectrum family medicine, mostly in my hometown. I still do a little teaching at the residency which I helped to start here, and I’m very involved with other aspects of healthcare as the current head of the Idaho WWAMI admissions team and a trustee of our local medical center. I also serve on some other boards. Barb and I enjoy the relative extra time off with outdoor activities and various hobbies. Our two boys have careers in academics and immunology, but both have PhDs and not MDs. I haven’t slowed down enough to get a fair assessment of my life as a whole, but from this vantage it looks pretty good.”

Jennifer A. McDonald, MD ’77, writes, “Still working as a primary care internist, though with more days off and more travel. Will probably finish up completely in 14 months. I am doing the work in converting a tiny van into a camper van for long road trips after I retire. Got lots of National Parks and other sites to see. Picture looks about the same as when I went out to do drive-through COVID-19 tests.”

1978

Jack E. Hickel, MD ’78, Res. ’91 (family medicine), writes, “After spending 15 years doing medicine in Eswatini (Swaziland), Africa, I co-founded the Alaska Sudan Medical Project in 2008 (now the Alaska Health Project South Sudan). We are working in the Fangak region of South Sudan, Africa, probably the most remote, impoverished and neglected region in what is often classified the world’s most failed state. The disease burden is huge, so we built a medical/surgical clinic and a TB clinic. To address the need for fresh water, we have drilled 48 boreholes in over 25 villages. To fight the escalating food insecurity and hunger, we have helped establish over 450 family farms. And, for sustainability, we have trained local people to run these programs. I recently completed a four-day, 42-mile canoe trip into the Sudd swamp to locate where the civil war refugees and flood victims have relocated. We visited 12 villages where people are eating water lilies and have no access to clean water. Local men are currently cutting a path through the swamp vegetation to allow our boat with our drill rig to reach some of the villages. We plan to start drilling boreholes later this month and to start family farms. Please visit ahpss.org to learn more.”

Charles M. Weatherby, MD ’78, writes, “I retired after 41 years of family practice in Tacoma, effective March 31, 2022. My wife retired the following week as an ARNP, so we spent the first few months of retirement traveling the country visiting our three children and six grandchildren.”

Sandra C. Rice, MD ’78, writes, “After a 37-year career in private practice internal medicine, I retired several years ago and was able to fulfill a long-time goal of writing a book to help women better understand the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy after menopause, entitled The Estrogen Question: Know Before You Say “No” to HRT. Beyond that, I have enjoyed having free time to improve my tennis game, garden, and explore the great northwest with my husband in our camper.”

Jean Tsigonis, MD ’78, writes, “I earned a master’s in public health in 2016 and retired in May 2019 from the Tanana Valley Clinic. I am still active in the Alaska Chapter of Family Physicians. I am currently chair of the Physician Wellness Committee at our Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. I have been volunteering at the Literacy Council, teaching English as a second language. I am enjoying being a wife, mom and grandmother after 38 years of Family Medicine.”

1979

Timothy Teusink, MD ’79, Res. ’82 (family medicine), writes, “Living in France, teaching bioethics in several countries around the African and Asian continents. No teaching travel since the confinement, but I keep in touch with international colleagues and doing some teaching via Zoom. Looking forward to live teaching again once things normalize.

Richard A. Mesher, MD ’79, Res. ’83 (neurology), writes, “Hello, classmates! What prompted me to write this was reading the obituary of our anatomy professor, Dan Graney, in the Seattle Times. What a wonderful teacher he was! I’m retired now after practicing clinical neurology for almost 40 years, first at what was then Group Health and then at Virginia Mason in Seattle. My spouse, Cindy, and I have been married for 42 years, and we have three children (the oldest is a cardiac surgeon in Boise after attending the UW School of Medicine and completing a surgery residency at the School) and four wonderful grandchildren. We stay in close touch with our classmates Chris Appleton and Marcia Ko. I am doing some volunteer teaching at the UW and at the Elson S. Floyd School of Medicine at WSU. I also participate in the MAVEN Project, which connects primary care providers to retired specialists for informal consults and advice. If you are a specialist, I suggest you check it out. If you are in Seattle, please feel free to get in touch.”

1980

Robert L. Bridges, MD ’80, writes, “Dr. Stephen Tower (MD ‘83) and I continue to appreciate the international reception of our recently completed study on the neurological effects of arthroprosthetic cobalt toxicity as published in the European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. Late last year and in the early part of this year, both of us were consulted by the staff of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to provide clinical information for a story arc on cobalt toxicity for the character Dr. Richard Webber, which became part of episodes 19–21 this year.”

James W. Steiner, MD ’80, writes, “Still practicing family medicine in sunny Arizona for the last 42 years since graduation. Married to the same gal I met on my clerkship rotation in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1979. We have three wonderful adult children, all gainfully employed as a medical office manager, registered nurse and Jet Blue airline captain. Go Dawgs!”

Frederick E. Harlass, MD ’80, writes, “Happily retired in 2017. Full circle of medicine. Military medicine — USA, USAR, 20 years at Madigan AMC (Tacoma), Basset AMC (Alaska), Blanchfield AMC (Kentucky), Beaumont AMC (Texas), fellowship (MFM Madigan AMC, 1987), residency director (Texas Tech El Paso), chairman (Texas Tech El Paso), and finally private practice (MFM). Great run. Enjoyed the trip. Now a pilot, rescuing dogs and horses in El Paso, Texas.”

1982

Andrew “Andy” Weeks, MD ’82, writes, “I finally retired after 40 years. First career started with full spectrum family practice, including OB. However, I never liked the nights on call. Got boarded in Geriatrics and added that to office practice. 15 years ago I started working as a hospitalist. In 2020 I went to New Zealand and practiced as a hospital based Geriatrician and missed the worst of Covid. My last Hospitalist shift was over the summer, and I did my last day in the nursing home as attending this past Christmas day. Now I am spending lots of time with grand children, traveling, home-improvement, and Stainglass design. Best wishes to all members of the class of 1982!”

Margaret Wacker, MD ’82, writes, “Still working full time plus. I have 2 college age kids plus need to save more for retirement since I had to spend about half years ago when I went through cancer treatment. But, now 10+ years out with no evidence of disease.
Also got my 3rd advanced degree in 2020 (not including my certificate in fiction writing).  My future goal is to work on my writing. My current project is a historical trilogy, based in part on family stories. But, work keeps interfering.”

Robert “Rocky” Kerr, MD ’82, writes, “Out of medical school Dr. Kerr did a rotating internship at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, followed by a year of general medical practice in Red Lodge, Montana. He then completed an internal med residency in Spokane. Before returning to Red Lodge for two years of internal medicine practice. Hearing the siren call of having a more hospital, based practice he completed a second residency in Emergency Medicine in Orlando.  He feels it made him a better doctor but not necessarily a better ER physician as his internal medicine training compelled him to take more time with patients.  He shared he probably would have been a hospitalist if that was a thing back then.  At the time, the best option to work in the hospital with his skill set was in the ER.  Dr. Kerr also has military medicine experience as a Naval Medical officer primarily serving with the Marine Corps, and was deployed into theater for Desert Storm and twice in Iraq.  He and wife, an ICU nurse, have together been to Honduras, Guatemala, and the Dominican Republic for medical missions.  They still volunteer at Union Gospel Union and Providence community clinics in Spokane, WA. Where particularly enjoys working with U of W medical Student and residents from the various programs in Spokane. He helps out on the family ranch in Montana as a ranch hand, loves the outdoors, sailing and is a passible artist who loves to paint and draw.”

Janine Rowley Cooley, MD ’82, Res. ’85 (family medicine), writes, “I retired in 2019 after 35 years as a family doctor in first Bellevue then Redmond. I have never looked back. I am now a pastel artist, grandmother to three, and I can now exercise daily. My mental, spiritual and physical health has never been better.”

Justin P. Smith, MD ’82, Res. ’89 (nuclear medicine), writes, “Diagnostic radiologist and nuclear medicine physician Justin Smith (Bellevue, Washington) was awarded the 2021 Gold Medal by the Washington State Radiology Society (WSRS). Each year, the WSRS board honors a Washington state radiologist, radiation oncologist or clinical medical physicist with a Gold Medal Award, recognizing outstanding service to our profession demonstrated throughout the recipient’s career.”

Margaret Wacker, MD ’82, writes, “At a time when many people consider retirement, I just finished another degree — a master’s in health policy and law from UCSF/UC Hastings. Years of working in public hospitals have made me want to address the system to improve healthcare for all. I’m now working to determine how I can best use this new education in my career.”

Thomas Monk, MD ’82, writes, “I’m still working full-time as a primary care pediatrician on Bainbridge Island, where I have practiced since 1986. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected my family in subtle ways; our daughter was studying in Rabat, Morocco, when the travel ban went into effect and was eventually evacuated by the U.S. State Department along with other students. Since then, she has been staying in her childhood bedroom and working on her senior thesis remotely. My wife has been working remotely from our dining room, our niece moved in with us to be able to shelter more safely, and out of an abundance of caution, I moved into the guest cabin across the driveway from our main house. Our clinic never closed, and I have been adapting well to video virtual visits and swabbing people’s noses in the tent in our back parking lot, all of which proves that old dogs can learn new tricks! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.”

Jonathan K. Porter, MD ’82, writes, “Four years ago, I started an integrative program for individuals with chronic pain at the University of Vermont Medical Center. The group cohort program offers therapies including reiki, acupuncture, culinary medicine, yoga and massage. Outcome measures have shown marked improvements in function and quality of life. The program was an important factor in our designation as an Osher Center for Integrative Health, one of 11 in the U.S. and internationally, joining our colleagues at the University of Washington.”

1983

Joyce M. Berney, MD ’83, writes, “I’m thoroughly enjoying life as a retiree after serving as a primary care physician for 35 years. We’re looking forward to our daughter, her husband and our nearly one-year-old grandson returning to Portland in late August, after completing her pulmonary/critical care fellowship training at UC Davis Medical Center, where I had done my family medicine residency years ago.”

Lynn Marie Oliver, MD ’83, Res. ’96 (family medicine), writes, “Like the rest of the class, somehow ‘elderly’ crept up on us. In deference to this chronologic occurrence, I retired from the UW School of Medicine Dept. of Family Medicine in June. Couldn’t have had a better 33 years — sad to leave the medical students, residents, faculty and patients who enriched my life. Classmate/husband Sam Sharar retired as well, although he chose to be rehired (Dept. of Anesthesia and Pain Medicine) to do some fun and nonclinical things on a part-time basis. We now have more time to spend with daughter Rebecca (MD 2021 ) and son Rudy and his family — wife Alysa and three daughters under the age of two (including twins missed on the initial ultrasound). We live on Bainbridge Island, but are often in the Methow Valley. From Aug.–Sept. 2022, we will be walking several hundred miles across the northern coast of Spain (Camino del Norte) —not our first such adventure, and hopefully not the last!”

Linda Fearn, MD ’83, writes, “Fearn update: After five years of general internal medicine practice, followed by more than 27 years in college health, I retired from clinical practice in 2020. Now I teach part-time for the Idaho WWAMI program and enjoy interacting with the faculty and our remarkable students who help me keep learning about medicine.”

1984

Andrew L. Bennett, MD ’84, writes, “After 15 years of family medicine in Montana and Washington, Judy and I spent 14 years as medical missionaries in Papua New Guinea. We are now retired, doing some part-time and volunteer work around Nampa, ID. Three kids are grown, and two grandkids give us much delight.”

Ken Zafren, MD ’84, writes, “I am happily semiretired. I am still working part-time in the Emergency Department at Stanford University Medical Center, where I am an attending physician and a clinical professor of emergency medicine. I still live in Anchorage and cover the occasional shift in the Emergency Department at the Alaska Native Medical Center, a Level II trauma center. I still serve as the associate medical director for the Himalayan Rescue Association (Nepal). I generally go trekking in the Himalaya three times a year. I was finally able to trek in the Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalaya in Pakistan in the summer of 2022. I have been doing what I love and maintaining a comfortable work-life balance. I would give medical students and recent graduates the same advice I got from John Schilling, the chief of surgery at the University of Washington, in 1983. He told me, “Don’t just go back to Alaska and be an emergency physician. Do something more, like teaching or research.” I have done both and have also worked with underserved populations in Nepal. I’m sorry that I will miss the reunion. You are always welcome to visit me in Anchorage!”

John S. Jarstad, MD ’84, is a professor of ophthalmology at University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. He was appointed co-director of all outpatient surgery in addition to ophthalmology during the recent merger of Tampa General Hospital and USF.

John C. Graham, MD ’84, Res. ’87 (internal medicine), Res. ’89 (neurology), and Jan L. Graham, MD ’84, Res. ’86 (internal medicine), write, “John and Jan Graham, MD, class of 1984, are celebrating their 40th anniversary in August. They are retiring from 25 years of practice in Spokane with Kaiser Permanente, formerly Group Health. John was a founding member of the Spokane GHC Hospitalist group and the clinical chief for 20 years. He served on the board of Washington Permanente Medical Group. Currently, he is running a Hepatitis C program and performing cardiac stress tests with plans to retire later this year.

Jan is retiring from both clinical family practice and administrative work as the medical director of quality for the Spokane region this summer. During COVID-19, she provided care virtually and was pleasantly surprised at the extent that patient care could be effectively performed.

We are looking forward to traveling in the future as well as spending time with family and at our lake cabin. We have three grown sons and four grandchildren.”

Linda Gromko, MD ’84, Res. ’87 (family medicine), writes, “Our family practice provided telephone medicine services beginning in March. Ironically, the pandemic has given me more time to focus on the book I just completed, ‘A Practical Guide for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults.’ I sought input from many colleagues, and one of the surgeons commented, ‘l’ll help. I have some time on my hands!’ See more at www.LindaGromkoMD.com.”

Andrew Faulk, MD ’84, reflects on COVID-19 and the AIDS epidemic in the third edition of his memoir My Epidemic: An AIDS Memoir of One Man’s Struggle as Doctor, Patient and Survivor.

When the COVID-19 outbreak began, Andrew Faulk, MD ’84, felt a shock of déjà vu. In the 1980s, during the height of the AIDS epidemic, he practiced at clinics in San Francisco and Los Angeles, primarily serving patients with AIDS. And the connection went even deeper: Faulk himself was diagnosed with HIV in 1985.

In his memoir, Faulk describes the terrifying early days of seeing patients and friends struck down by a mysterious disease. As a gay, HIV-positive physician, he grieved deeply for his community, and he writes candidly about the emotional burdens of enduring so much loss.

Faulk also compares the AIDS epidemic to today’s COVID-19 response — and offers his insights on how the U.S. can be better prepared for the next pandemic.

“Writing this memoir was a catharsis,” says Faulk. “I’ve come to realize that telling, and listening to, our stories can be a source of healing.” As another path to healing, Faulk generously created the Andrew M. Faulk, MD, Endowed Fund for HIV/AIDS in 2017 to support research at UW Medicine.

1985

George R. Birchfield, MD ’85, writes, “I retired from heme/onc in July 2018. I now practice part-time inpatient hospice medicine for EvergreenHealth in Kirkland. I enjoy medicine again. It took me 40 years to find my medical tribe: hospice and palliative care medicine. A friend and I recently published an article for Conditional Medical Orders, a non-dichotomous variation of DNR orders. I enjoy participating in UWSOM admissions interviews, especially at the WWAMI sites.”

Elaine Thomas, MD ’85, Res. ’88 (internal medicine), Fel. ’92 (virology), writes, “During 26 years on the infectious disease faculty at University of New Mexico, I grew to love the Southwest but always wanted to get back to the Northwest drizzle. With a daughter and grandson in Seattle, it was time. Husband Mark (yep, same ol’ guy) and I panic-shopped for a house during 2021’s pandemic and housing bubble, and I’m back full circle, on UW faculty part-time, taking care of high-acuity HIV patients at Harborview! I’m loving both the work and the free time to garden, hike, bird-watch, thrash at learning the banjo and see new and old friends.”

David M. Koelle, MD ’85, Fel. ’92 (virology), writes, “Still at it in academic infectious diseases at UW with an immunology slant. Privileged to work with great faculty colleagues, staff and trainees.”

1987

Michael McNamara, MD ’87, writes, “Now over 20 years in Anchorage, Alaska, practicing hand, elbow and shoulder surgery. Love Alaska. Two kids (Kirsten and Shannon) are married, Jake not married yet. Kirsten and Jake work in my office with me, a godsend! Joanne cares for my elderly 86-year-old mom. Busy protecting against COVID-19! Still flying Cessna and Super Cubs.”

1988

Peter Angleton, MD ’88, Res. ’89 (internal medicine), writes, “Aloha — sorry to miss the reunion. 39 years! What a long, strange trip it’s been. I’ve been in Boise most of that time practicing emergency medicine. Jan and I have four children scattered about the country, none of them doctors. In June 2018, I downshifted into a new EM job at Kula Hospital in upcountry Maui. It’s EM “lite” — six or seven 24-hour shifts/month with low patient volumes and acuity and limited diagnostics. We send the seriously ill and injured on to the big hospital in Wailuku. Jan and I shuttle back to our permanent home in Idaho for a 2–3 week break about every 3–6 weeks. Wishing everyone well and hoping our paths cross someday. Give a call if in the neighborhood. Cheers, Pete.”

Andrew S. Duxbury, MD ’88 remains on the geriatric medicine faculty at the University of Alabama Birmingham where he has been for nearly a quarter century. He recently published his first book ‘The Accidental Plague Diaries’, a personal journey through the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.

Priscilla H. Valentine, MD ’88, writes, “After 29.5 years practicing as a full-spectrum family physician with OB, including doing Cesareans and postpartum tubal ligations, at Valley Medical Care, a 10-physician and four-nurse practitioner group in Juneau, Alaska, I retired in April 2022. My husband, Wilson, and I remain in Juneau, enjoying the retired life, starting with a three-week vacation to Puerto Penasco, Mexico, on the beaches of the Sea of Cortez. Our three daughters are launched, with the youngest in her third year of culinary school at the CIA in NY.”

1990

A. Patrice Burgess, MD ’90, writes, On Jan 1, 2023, I was selected as the Chief Medical Officer for the Saint Alphonsus Health System based in Boise, Idaho, and part of Trinity Health. I’m the first woman to serve in this position. I’ve held a variety of positions within my health system for the past 25 years. Very grateful to have this opportunity. I’m also fortunate to be able to continue to care for a small panel of patients in my family medicine practice with the support of my partners. In addition, I was also just reelected to my second term on the AMA Council on Medical Service in June, 2023.

Steven R. Alberts, MD ’90, writes, “After six years as deputy director for clinical research in the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, I have stepped down from that role. I continue as chair of medical oncology and interim chair of the Department of Oncology. With a decrease in administrative responsibilities, it is nice to now increase my time seeing patients. It also permits time to begin planning for retirement along the Oregon coast in the next several years.”

1993

Michael F. Jones, MD ’93, PhD, is currently doing cardiac anesthesia in Texas.

Walter Medlin, MD ’93, writes, “Hi to everybody who wasn’t able to make it. This was the first reunion I ever attended for anything, and I was very pleasantly surprised. Highly recommend. Still can’t believe I’m allowed to be a surgeon and how amazing it can be. Weight loss surgery saved my life, and it can save the lives of a lot of your patients. Please get over the stigma and treat it like any other disease. Yes, we can all exercise more and the better, but that’s not effective treatment for most with BMI >30 (ages 14–80!). Look me up if in SLC!”

1994

Nicholas A. Daniels, MD ’94, writes, “My memoir was released in December 2022. In Outbreaks and Pandemics: The Life of a Disease Detective, we learn about the life of a disease detective and explore the important role that disease detectives play in controlling outbreaks and pandemics.”

1996

Christopher L. Knight, MD ’96, Res. ’99 (internal medicine), Chief Res. ’00, has been named governor of the Washington chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the national organization of internists. The Board of Governors is an advisory board to the Board of Regents and implements national projects in addition to being members at the national level.

Dr. Knight is a board-certified internist who currently works as a professor of general internal medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He completed his medical school education and post-doctoral training at the School. Dr. Knight has been a part of many ACP chapter-related and leadership activities. He has been a member of its Executive Council since 2007 and has been an associate/resident liaison since 2011. He became a Fellow of the ACP (FACP) in 2005. Dr. Knight served as a member of the planning committee for the Internal Medicine Meeting in 2018 and 2020.

1997

Haimanot (Monnie) Wasse, MD ’97, Res ’00 (internal medicine), Fel. ’03 (nephrology), was named the Muehrcke Family Professor of Nephrology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Wasse holds an MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine (1997) and an MPH from the University of Washington School of Public Health (1993). She is professor and vice chair of clinical operations and the director of interventional nephrology in the department of medicine at Rush University Medical Center.

Lisa L. Sferra, MD ’97, Res. ’99 (internal medicine), writes, “Caitlin and I hosted an impromptu E-93 class reunion at my house last summer. We had pretty good turnout! I toured the attendees through our new event barn that my son built, and everyone decided we should plan ahead and go big next time…. so put it in the back of your mind now. We want to see you live and in person! My house, the Seattle Farm, has plenty of room, outdoor space for all of us and our families. Happy New Year!”

1999

MeiLan K. Han, MD ’99 is a Professor of Pulmonary medicine at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She does research with and is a spokesperson for the American Lung Association. In conjunction with W.W. Norton, Dr. Han published a book on lung health, Breathing Lessons: A Doctor’s Guide to Lung Health.

2000

Casey N. Isom, MD ’00, Res. ’06 (reconstructive plastic surgery), writes, “I’ve been practicing in Logan Utah since 2006. Jenn and I have 6 children. Anika 22, Max 19, Sophia 15, Isabella 13, Olivia 9, Spencer 6. Life is good and we love hearing about our med school classmates. Come visit and ski with us.”

2001

Bret A. Nicks, MD ’01, writes, “Happy 2022! I just published a book — Standing Naked in the Rain — and it is now available online. It’s about Toby, a beloved Labrador-hound mix, and the laughter, tears and lessons that come from each exciting adventure on his life’s journey. These short stories pay tribute to the unconditional love and unmatched loyalty of our fourlegged family members, reminding us that treasured gifts aren’t always wrapped in a box, and sometimes an old dog can still teach us a few new tricks. Some levity to start out the new year is just what the doctor ordered.”

2004

Julian Cecilio Perez, MD ’04, writes, “Entering my 15th year working for SeaMar CHC in Seattle area. Short hiatus for a sports medicine fellowship in 2016 and now clinical director of MSK services. Married to my wife, Antoinette, for 15 years with a 10-year-old daughter, Solea. Just went through the most demanding time in my professional life (like most of you), serving our country during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am on COVID-19 Clinical Advisory committee for SeaMar. Have a Spanish weekly radio show on 1360 AM El Rey on COVID-19 and fallout from pandemic. Love teaching family medicine and nurse practice residents in our primary care residencies. As a family, we keep traveling, hiking, lake swimming and serving the community. Looking forward to hearing from you all and sharing war stories.”

2005

Allison M. Kelliher, MD ’05, writes, “I am so grateful for the opportunities on the horizon, having transitioned from full-time practice into teaching, research and advocacy. My work has included primary care in Alaska and Arizona and directing a practice-based research network in North Dakota. I am a family and integrative physician, and my experience includes training and providing services as an Alaska Native traditional healer, in addition to other global healing traditions. I have been working to develop curriculum including Indigenizing and decolonizing concepts. I teach at the University of Washington and University of North Dakota, and I am thrilled to announce that I will be affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, where my teaching and research career will continue.”

2009

Meghan E. McGarry, MD ’09, writes, “I was promoted to associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary. I continue to conduct health disparities research in cystic fibrosis, funded by the NIH and CF Foundation.”

2010

Margaret N. Towolawi, MD ’10, Res. ’13 (family medicine) is a lifestyle medicine physician based in the Seattle area. Ayomide and Seyi’s Kitchen is her second children’s book. She is a doctor mama on a mission to get more people — young and old — to eat more plant-based. Ayomide and Seyi’s Kitchen inspires children to develop a love for diverse plant foods at a young age by taking them on a whirlwind alphabet tour. Families are encouraged to try some of the foods mentioned in the book and start getting creative in the kitchen together! Learn more at margarettowolawimd.com.

2011

Preetkamal N. Singh Cheema, MD ’11, PhD, writes “Keeping it local at University of Washington Valley Medical Center, recently appointed as Medical Director of Valley Women’s Healthcare OB GYN!”

2012

Andrew Herstein, MD ’12, writes, “Completed an anesthesiology residency at UW Medicine in June 2020 and will join Pacific Anesthesia at the Swedish Edmonds campus in August.”

Beth Thielen, MD ’12, PhD ’09, writes, “Just started a new position as assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at University of Minnesota. I will be starting a new lab focusing on pathogenesis of respiratory virus, specifically influenza and RSV [respiratory syncytial virus].”

2013

Bridget Marvinsmith, MD ’13, writes, “I’m currently the primary care medical director and family physician at the first value-based care network in northern New England, in Portsmouth, NH. My spouse, Greg, and I have been mostly in the northeast since UWSOM graduation, and welcomed three kids since then, each born in a different state, thanks to my medical training and his military service. We have now settled in the seacoast New Hampshire area and plan to stay. Although we love it here, we miss Seattle, the PNW and our UW friends very much. I am so grateful to be a family physician. I am perhaps most proud of sharing the joys and satisfaction of the field with medical students who have never considered it (sadly common in the medical world of Boston, about an hour away). I daresay I may have opened a few of their eyes to the field and helped a few realize it is right for them. Currently, I am helping to develop the primary care arm of an area health care group that aims to improve access and reduce costs to patients in our under-resourced primary care area of NH, ME and VT. I am still new to the position, but I have hopes that it will be something I am proud of as it grows.”

2014

Derek Weyhrauch, MD ’14, writes, “Completed pediatric cardiology fellowship at the University of Utah and am staying on in an adjunct instructor year with clinical work in pediatric cardiology and research in genomics.”

Brian Iutzi, MD ’14, writes, “I’m currently the medical director for EMS, co-medical director of Ilanka Clinic, SART medical director, ER physician and clinic physician in a small town in Alaska. Training for my sixth marathon. My advice for current medical students and recent graduates: Know your limits. Limits can be pushed for some of us, but make sure to know who you are and push the limits in residency when there is a safety net to know what you are able to do and not.”

2015

Jessica Herrera, MD ’15, shares, “I am a senior physician at Los Angeles Department of Health Services where I oversee infection control and practice primary care with justice involved patients in the LA County Jails. Raising 2 beautiful kids, Alma and Joaquin, with my husband Jose in SoCal.”

2016

Sonia Gill, MD ’16, writes, “I married my medical school sweetheart, Christopher Scodeller (also E-2012, MD ‘16), and we will celebrate our second anniversary on July 21, 2020. We’ve completed our residencies (mine in anesthesiology, Chris’s in emergency medicine) and are moving back home to Seattle! This is our baby, Quinn. She’s four months old. She has her father’s twinkly grey eyes and the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard.”

Kendra Francis, MD ’16, writes, “I was lucky to be able to do all my training in Seattle after graduating from UWSOM. I completed my residency in pediatrics (2019) and fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology (2022) at Seattle Children’s Hospital/UW. I stayed on as faculty in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Seattle Children’s and have a clinical and research focus in inflammatory bowel disease. My husband, Grayson, and I are expecting our first child in 2022.”

2017

Julia C. Middleton, MD ’17, writes, “I graduated OB-GYN residency and returned to practice in Great Falls, Montana.”

2019

Tara Davidson, MD ’19, has been selected to receive the 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award for the Internal Medicine Residency Training program of the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. This honor is awarded to four of the 52 members of the graduating internal medicine class each year and is based on clinical competency, professionalism, scholarly activity and contributions to the residency program.

Dr. Davidson has demonstrated truly outstanding performance during her residency. She has published seven articles, two of them as a first author. However, her skills are not just as a researcher but also as a clinician and educator. Those who have worked with her have noted that she has an impressive clinical maturity, possessing an impressive bedside manner, a tremendous work ethic and the highest level of empathy, is a masterful presenter and creates a safe learning space. She will begin a fellowship in hematology/oncology at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, in July 2022.

2020

Natasha Z.R. Steele, MD ’20, writes, “I just wanted to share a recent article I published in NEJM! It was an immense transformation from the experience of a medical student to that of a patient so quickly after starting residency. It has made me a passionate advocate for amplifying the voices of doctors and medical trainees with disabilities or acute/chronic illnesses, and ultimately, I think I gained more than I lost from the experience. Sending you all my best to Seattle from Stanford!”
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2116289