Episode 3 - Is There a Doctor in the House?

People Powering Change examines the need for medical professional volunteers as hundreds of thousands more Washingtonians go without health insurance in 2026. The state's top medical volunteer recruiter, Christine Lindquist, talks about the challenges and opportunities for licensed medical professional volunteers. Lindquist leads the Washington Healthcare Access Alliance (WHAA).

Additional details:

With massive cuts to healthcare insurance subsidies, Medicaid and even Medicare, licensed medical professionals are needed more than ever to see patients who cannot afford health insurance. Washington State has a malpractice insurance program for licensed medical professionals and retirees that knocks down barriers doctors, nurses, dentists and others face when seeking to volunteer. Episode 3 features Christine Lindquist. We spoke in Tacoma.

Also, our program features an update on the annual Seattle King County Clinic, the annual special free clinic on the grounds of the Seattle Center. where three to four-thousand Washingtonians will line up for needed and critical health services. This year's clinic takes place April 23 to April 26, and more volunteer providers (and others) are needed.

We also visit Lahai Health, the Puget Sound area's largest comprehensive primary care free clinic program. I speak with director Maggie Konstanski at the Lahai dental services site in Lynnwood, WA.

And, as always, you can learn of volunteer opportunities from Companis' Jillian Harmon, matchmaker to service roles in King and Snohomish counties. She'll tell us about non-medical volunteer opportunities. There's something for everyone!

People Powering Change visits the Lynnwood Food Bank and Edmonds Food Bank in Snohomish County to hear how each is faring in food-insecure times. We meet new Companis Program Assistant Meli Cervantes, and hear the latest updates on volunteer opportunities with Companis from Assoc. ED Jillian Harmon!

Episode 1 features the Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush of the Interfaith Alliance, fighting for our democratic values nationally. Then we talk with Chris Langeler of CL Strategic to give us an overview of nonprofit sector in Washington State in the wake of the federal budget bill cuts anticipated to basic human service programs. We also talk with Companis' own Jillian Harmon about a new program starting with the University of Washington School of Social Work, helping their practicum students with placements in a greater variety of nonprofits, and identifying social work supervisors who can support their practicum time. And, we'll tell you how to get involved as a volunteer or as a nonprofit with skilled needs. Thanks for joining us for Episode 1 of People Powering Change, a podcast of Companis.