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A Message from Our Executive Director

Dear Friends,

What an inspiring season for WPSR! Our sold-out 2026 Health Justice Benefit brought together 300 health advocates, members, and supporters for an unforgettable evening of generosity, connection, and renewed commitment to a healthy, just, peaceful, and sustainable future. We are deeply grateful to everyone who showed up, stepped up, and helped make the evening such a success—and who continue to make our shared vision possible.

Now is the time to build on that momentum. With the November elections approaching and Washington’s 2027 legislative session on the horizon, the months ahead will bring important opportunities to advance health justice, protect our communities, and shape a more peaceful and sustainable future. Meeting these challenges requires all of us to stay informed, to continue speaking out, to engage our elected officials, to bring others into the movement, and to support the work that turns our shared values into meaningful change.

This is also a time of transition as I prepare to pass the executive director role to new leadership. It has been deeply gratifying to lead WPSR and work alongside such a dedicated and diverse community of advocates, partners, and supporters. As WPSR enters its next chapter, I hope you will stay engaged, deepen your involvement, and help welcome and support the leadership ahead. Our work is too important to let our momentum fade.

Thank you for being part of this community and for everything you do to bring our vision to life.

In peace and health,
Max Savishinsky, Executive Director

A Record-Breaking Night for Health Justice:
WPSR's 2026 Health Justice Benefit

What a night! WPSR’s sold-out 2026 Health Justice Benefit brought together 300 health advocates, members, and supporters for an inspiring evening of community, celebration, and action—and raised an incredible $350,000 to advance WPSR’s work for a healthy, just, peaceful, and sustainable future.

We were honored to hear a powerful keynote address from longtime WPSR leader and recipient of WPSR’s 2026 Dr. Bruce Amundson Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Stephen Bezruchka, whose work on economic inequality and health challenged us to look beyond healthcare and address the social conditions that shape our health. We also celebrated Dr. Tim Dellit, recipient of WPSR’s 2026 Paul Beeson Award, recognizing his extraordinary leadership and commitment to public health and the common good.

Thank you to everyone who made this extraordinary evening possible—and to everyone who is helping WPSR turn the trusted voice of health professionals into action. Your support will fuel our work on the greatest threats to human health: nuclear weapons, climate change, and economic inequity.

The Work Continues: Join Us for What’s Ahead

The incredible energy and generosity at our Health Justice Benefit showed what’s possible when our community comes together. Now, we’re taking that momentum into a critical season: the November elections and the 2027 Washington State legislative session. We are working tirelessly to defeat the three initiatives (I-645, I-001, and I-638) that will appear on our November ballots. These reckless measures - if approved - will repeal Washington’s Millionaires Tax and eliminate over $13 billion in funding for education and healthcare by giving a tax break to the state's richest 1%, and will trample the rights of LGBTQ+ and trans youth. Learn more

The Meaning of WPSR Membership

This is a moment to make your voice count. First and foremost, that means voting in the November election! But is also means being a WPSR member, getting involved as a health advocate, and inviting your colleagues, friends, and family to join you. Together, we can bring the trusted voice of health professionals and community advocates to the decisions that shape the health and well-being of people across Washington. Become a Member Today

Member Spotlight: Danny Low, MD

WPSR Economic Inequity & Health Task Force member receives WSMA Apple Award

At the 2026 WSMA House of Delegates meeting, Dr. Danny Low was honored with WSMA’s 2026 Apple Award for "his sustained advocacy on behalf of Washington’s low-income and immigrant communities, and his advocacy work with medical students and residents.”

Read the press release here.

Danny is a family doctor serving the Renton community. He views medicine as a tool for social justice and is most passionate about addressing racial and socioeconomic inequities that put health out of reach for so many Washingtonians. He is a longstanding Member of the EIH Task Force and continues to demonstrate a deep commitment to practicing advocacy in and outside of the clinic, advancing health upstream through policy change.

New WPSR White Paper on Baby Bonds (Read & Share): The evidence is strong: wealth gaps lead to health gaps. In their White Paper: “Wealth is Health: The Role of Baby Bonds in Disrupting the Racial Wealth & Health Gaps,” Task Force Members Anjum Hajat, Gleb Sych, Josie Tracy, and Magellan Rankin explore the history of racial wealth inequity in WA State and how it continues to perpetuates poor health outcomes today. Through a thorough examination of policy solutions, they conclude that Baby Bonds legislation could be effective in helping us to close these gaps in WA. Missed our White Paper Launch Event? Watch it here!

WPSR says NO 645 and NO Hate in WA State.

I-645 would repeal WA’s brand new Millionaires Tax, cutting $13 billion in funding for education, childcare, early learning, food assistance, health care, and a critical expansion of the Working Families Tax Credit - all to give <1% of Washingtonians a tax cut! I-001 would exacerbate the child and teen mental health crisis by removing long-standing confidentiality protections for school counseling and other medical records, including for victims of child abuse. I-638 threatens negative physical and mental health outcomes for all school-age girls in WA by requiring them to undergo intrusive physical examinations in order to participate in sports.

Help us defeat these dangerous initiatives!

Hear from our Task Force Members:

Aspiring Physician Henry Tan speaks alongside Governor Ferguson at the No 645 campaign launch to share the importance of advocating for the health of the majority rather than tax cuts for the wealthy. Dr. Gleb Sych explains how the Millionaires Tax is critical health legislation.
Health Professional Nicole Casanova outlines just how detrimental I-001 & I-638 would be to child and adolescent health.

WPSR Seattle Children’s Grand Rounds Presentation - Watch Here!

The Economic Inequity & Health Task Force was invited to present as a part of Seattle Children’s Grand Rounds. Task Force Co-Chairs Dr. Charles Mayer and Anya Lewin led an educational session around “Building a Healthier Washington: Investing Upstream in the Health of our Children.”

Learn More About Our Economic Inequity & Health Work

A Win for Renewable Energy in Washington: WPSR was a co-litigant in the legal challenge to Initiative 2066, which sought to limit Washington’s transition away from natural gas. The decision ends a long legal battle and means that Washington can continue to reduce air pollution, expand energy efficiency, lower utility bills, and work to transition buildings away from dangerous methane gas to safer and cleaner electric alternatives. As the state looks to reduce emissions and the harmful health impacts of pollution on our population, we need to transition away from fossil fuels as soon as possible. This win is a step in the right direction. Read this press release about this important legal victory, featuring WPSR Task Force member Dr. Mark Vossler.

Tackling Data Centers: The rapid expansion of hyperscale data centers disproportionately affects communities already burdened by environmental and public health challenges. Meanwhile, many residents say they have little voice in the decisions about projects in their communities. In response, WPSR’s Climate and Health Task Force launched a new Data Center Working Group this summer, which is developing a white paper examining the health implications of data center expansion in Washington.

Making Polluters Pay: Who’s responsible when fossil fuel pollution impacts the health and lives of residents in Washington? Answering that question is at the core of our work as we join up with the Make Polluters Pay campaign in Washington to push for big oil accountability. WPSR is co-hosting a Health Professional Listening Session with 350 Seattle to discuss this work with health professionals and learn how pollution has affected your lives and work. Register now for the October 20th discussion!

Hot Unhealthy Summer: WPSR has long been speaking out about the health harms of extreme heat, and this summer was no different. While the passage of SB 6200 ensures that renters can’t be prevented from installing portable AC in their homes, there’s much more work to be done. The City of Spokane passed a Renters Right to Cooling ordinance, requiring adequate cooling in all rental units. We’ll be taking this fight to the state legislature in 2027. Want to learn more? Watch our recent webinar with Safe and Cool WA where Task Force member Dr. Gordon Wheat presented on the harmful effects of extreme heat.

Learn More About Our Climate & Health Work

Emerging Leaders update: On September 29th, WPSR's ten 2026 Emerging Leaders in Nuclear Abolition reported on their experiences in Hiroshima, Japan this August. VView the recording here. Since returning from Japan, these newly inspired advocates have joined a protest at the gates of the Kitsap-Bangor Base, spoken at the United Nations and WPSR's annual benefit, held an educational event at WSU-Vancouver, and produced a video essay about the experience that you can view here. We will continue to engage and mobilize these new leaders, and we are already planning to return next year with a third cohort. You can help sponsor future emerging leaders by contributing to our 2027 Scholarship Fund.

DC Trip Report: Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program Manager Sean Arent joined another Nuclear Grand Strategy meeting in Washington DC. In these meetings, representatives of different organizations working on nuclear disarmament and arms control met to improve collaboration and plan for increasing grassroots engagement.

Peace Events: WPSR and NWANW were proud to represent our work at the Vancouver Peace and Justice Fair and Tacoma International Day of Peace festival, providing critical information on nuclear weapons advocacy to these peace communities. We want to give particular thanks to our coalition partner, Nuclear Weapons Awareness, for joining us with their display panels from the Hiroshima Peace Museum.

Expanding Radiation Exposure Compensation: WPSR is supporting HR 10115, legislation to improve and expand the recently passed Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. This new expansion would qualify Downwinders from Guam, Hanford, Montana, and more for the same benefits that were recently granted to other communities, while expanding the lifespan of the overall program. Ask your representative to support this bill today: Take Action

Upcoming Events

An Evening with Richard Rhodes
WPSR is proud to announce a special public event of our ongoing book club, the Nuclear Weapons Reading Room, on October 20th. An evening with author Richard Rhodes will feature live in-person Q and A with the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the Making of the Atomic Bomb and Dark Sun: the Making of the Hydrogen Bomb. RSVP for details here.
WPSR Ballot Party | October 26th @ 6:00 - 8:00pm - RSVP
Health is on the Ballot and we need your help to get out the vote. Bring a friend and join us at the WPSR office for a Ballot Party! Gather with others in the WPSR community, discuss what's on the ballot, eat & drink, and ensure that your voice is heard in this very important general election.
“The Housing Monologues” | November 17th @ 6:00 - 7:30pm - Register Now
The Economic Inequity & Health Task Force had the bold and brave idea to put together a performance art piece for this year's Fall housing event. Community members with lived experiences of housing insecurity and homelessness will work with health professionals on the front lines to paint a picture of just how challenging it is to achieve and maintain health without stable housing, and what you can do about it.
Nuclear Weapons Reading Room
Every 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 pm - Registration Required
Northwest Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition Monthly Meeting
Every second Thursday, 6:00-7:30 pm