King County Medical Society Leadership
Volunteer physicians leading the voice of medicine in King County
KCMS officers and district trustees generously contribute their time and expertise to guide the Society’s work in advocacy, education, and community engagement. Through their leadership, KCMS advances physician priorities, strengthens the profession, and supports healthier communities across King County.
AMISH J. DAVE, MD, MPH
President
Amish's Bio
Dr. Dave is a rheumatologist at Virginia Mason Medical Center practicing in Seattle and Bainbridge Island. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Arts in Russian and Eastern European History and a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Neuroscience. He completed his medical degree at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine and his internship and residency in internal medicine at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. Dr. Dave completed his rheumatology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and his Master’s in Public Health at T.H. Chan Harvard School of Public Health.
Dr. Dave is ABIM-board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. He is co-chair of Proudly VM at Virginia Mason. He sits on the Board of the Humanity in Action Foundation and is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians, Washington State Medical Association, Washington Rheumatology Alliance. Dr. Dave is passionate about medical education, rural outreach for rheumatologic care, health equity and social determinants of health.
MONA KATHURIA, DO
Vice President
Mona's Bio
Dr. Mona Kathuria is an Internal Medicine and Palliative Care physician with Kaiser Permanente Washington Medical Group. She is the Medical Director of the Advanced Care at Home Program and the North Seattle Hospice and Palliative Care team’s lead physician.
Dr. Kathuria attended Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine in New Jersey and completed her training in Internal Medicine at Drexel University/MCP Hahnemann Hospital in Philadelphia. She practiced as a hospitalist for many years in private practice and at academic universities, including in leadership positions as Associate Program Director of Hospitalist Medicine. Dr. Kathuria completed a fellowship in palliative medicine and hospice at Mount Sinai/Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. Dr. Kathuia was a Hospice Medical Director, Director of Palliative Care, and Associate Program Director of a Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Albert Einstein Medical Center in New York. Dr. Kathuria is active in local medical societies and has participated in numerous presentations and publications. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Dr. Kathuria’s interests include teaching, advocating for underserved communities, palliative medicine, end-of-life care, and promoting wellness and preventing burnout within the medical profession. She enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest by taking hikes with her husband and toddler, skiing, baking, and journaling in her free time.
DANIEL H. LOW, MD
Past President
Daniel's Bio
Danny Low is a family medicine physician at HealthPoint in Renton. He grew up in Kirkland, WA and attended Pomona College, where he played baseball and studied anthropology, before earning his MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine. He completed residency at Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency in Seattle.
Danny views medicine as a tool for social justice and is most passionate about racial and socioeconomic inequities in healthcare, health policy, medical education and cross-cultural and end-of-life issues. Danny loves the practice of medicine because of the powerful human connections it permits; he is daily inspired by his patients’ courage, resilience, and zest for life.
MICHELLE TERRY, MD
Secretary
Michelle's Bio
Dr. Terry is a board certified pediatrician, clinical professor, and an associate director of medical student education in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She received her MD from Baylor College of Medicine and completed her pediatrics residency at the University of Washington. Dr. Terry is a general medicine attending physician at Seattle Children’s. Her clinical interests include medical education, medical regulation, and advocacy. Dr. Terry is also the director of the pre-matriculation program for entering medical students at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
MARK R. LEVY, MD
Treasurer
Mark's Bio
Mark Levy attended the University of Michigan both as an undergraduate and for medical school. Mark graduated in 1980 and started a family practice residency at what was then a UCLA affiliated San Bernardino County Medical Center. He was Chief Resident and stayed on as part of the faculty before moving to Washington state in 1984. Dr. Levy now practices at Virginia Mason- Issaquah.
Dr. Levy’s goals for King County Medical Society are to see the Society become an active voice for social change that improves the health and well-being of our entire community and also plays a leading role in improving the quality of medical care in our community by supporting individual physician’s practices through education, legal advice and initiatives to prevent provider burnout.
Trustees
RAJNEET S. LAMBA, MD
Rajneet's Bio
Rajneet Lamba, MD was born in south King County and attended the University of Washington completing his undergraduate studies cum laude in neurobiology. He completed his medical doctorate at the Albert Einstein Medical College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. He supplemented his medical education with programs in social medicine and medical Spanish and completed elective coursework in tropical medicine and rural medicine. He completed Internal Medicine residency at the UCLA affiliated Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and West Los Angeles VA program. He has held an assistant clinical professorship at Western University of Osteopathic Sciences focusing on the clinical education of medical students and has also worked with medical students and family medicine residents from the University of Washington.
He has used these broad exposures and experiences in different hospitals and practices to advocate for QI and practice improvement, most recently working on improving Cerner based PowerPlans at his main practice site of Evergreen Health in Kirkland. Dr. Lamba is currently chairing the society’s outreach program and working closely with executive director Nancy Belcher to create grant opportunities for local students through the King County Medical Society Community Foundation. In the coming years, Dr. Lamba would like to see physicians continue to maintain the sanctity of the deeply personal patient-doctor relationship. He feels that with the trend toward employed practice and consolidation in the delivery of health care, this goal will require collaboration with other healthcare stakeholders and at times may lead to contention.
Dr. Lamba has happily made a home in the community with his wife and 2 young children. He enjoys spending his time off with them at the swimming pool, on the bike paths, visiting local parks and children’s museums and trying out new healthy recipes at home. He is looking forward to developing new interests with his children like skiing.
NATALIE FULLER, MD
Natallie's Bio
Natalie Fuller is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Washington. A Seattle native, she completed her preclinical coursework at the UW Spokane campus before returning to Seattle for her clerkship rotations. Natalie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Washington in 2020. She will continue her training as a psychiatry resident in July of 2025.
Since the start of medical school, Natalie has been deeply committed to health advocacy, finding fulfillment in mentoring fellow students and fostering their interest in physician advocacy. She has been actively involved with the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) for the past four years, during which she authored two successful resolutions, represented her school in the WSMA House of Delegates, and served as Chair of the WSMA Medical Student Section.
Passionate about health equity and expanding access to mental healthcare, Natalie currently serves on the Government Relations Committee of the Washington State Psychiatric Association. She has also represented her medical school as a delegate to the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association. As a member of the King County Medical Society Board of Trustees, she looks forward to increasing engagement from physician trainees and improving healthcare in the greater Seattle area.
KEVIN JOHNSON, MD
Kevin's Bio
Dr. Johnson is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is one of approximately eleven board certified Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Specialists in Washington State. Dr. Johnson has had a full-time Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology / Infertility practice since 1991. Dr. Johnson is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and completed his residency training in OB/GYN at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. Dr. Johnson completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Johnson is a former Board President of King County Medical Society, and has maintained relationships with the WSMA, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Reproductive Surgeons, Reproductive Endocrinologists, and the Seattle Gynecological Society societies. He is a nationally recognized expert in endometriosis and has given presentations at medical conferences and symposia across the country. In addition, Dr. Johnson has served on Swedish Hospital Medical Center’s Surgery Laparoscopy Committee, Laser Advisory Committee, and the Minimally Invasive Surgery Committee.
TERESA M. GIROLAMI, MD
Teresa's Bio
Teresa is the founder and CEO of Bel-Red Internal Medicine, PLLC. She is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, she has been practicing private practice in Redmond since 1991 after she finished her residency at the University of Illinois at Mercy Hospital.
Teresa is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Tacoma, where she attended Stadium High School and the University of Washington. She later spent time at the University of Guadalajara working in rural villages clinics and attended New York Medical College.
She has been an active member of the King County Medical Society, being a delegate, member of the Board of Trustees, being elected Secretary/Treasurer and this year elected President. Teresa has participated at the state level, presenting resolutions and serving on the reference committee for the WSMA.
Teresa co-founded Sound Weight Solutions, a company that provided obesity solutions to Microsoft, Starbucks, Costco, Seattle Children’s, Evergreen Hospital, and Overlake Hospital. She was President and CEO. She lectured around the state to physicians on the topic of weight management. Teresa is adjunct clinical professor at the PNWU (Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences) .
In her spare time Teresa has won four National Squash Championship titles, competing at the highest amateur level in the USA. She also competes in tennis and golf tournaments and enjoys snow skiing with her husband and three children.
ELLEN PASSLOFF, MD, FAAP
Ellen's Bio
Dr Ellen Passloff has been practicing General Pediatrics in the Greater Seattle Area since 1993. Dr Passloff was born and raised in New York City, where her father had a Private Internal Medicine Practice . She is a graduate of Yale University, from which she graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors in Biology. Dr. Passloff obtained her Medical Degree at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Passloff completed her Residency at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, now known as Seattle Children’s Hospital. Dr. Passloff continues to attend weekly Grand Rounds at Seattle Children’s, and she continues to hold Community Physician Privileges. She serves on the Grand Round steering committee at Seattle Children’s and she also volunteers at the Stanley Stamm Children’s Hospital Camp.
Dr. Passloff is Board Certified in General Pediatrics, and she has been awarded the honor of being one of “Seattle’s Top Doctors” in the past. Dr. Passloff speaks French fluently, and is proficient in Medical Spanish. Dr. Passloff thoroughly enjoys caring for families from very diverse backgrounds and ethnicities.
One of Dr. Passloff’s greatest joys is caring for the children of her former patients who are now young adults!
RICHARD KANER, MD
Richard's Bio
Dr. Kaner is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician who helped start and run the Overlake Senior Health Center (1999-2012) in affiliation with Overlake Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Kaner has a separate concurrent Internal Medicine practice, Bellevue Medical Partners PLCC (BMP), a direct-care practice (2002-present). In October 2012, Dr. Kaner left the Senior Health Center and has continued to practice general internal medicine and geriatrics at BMP.
Outside of work Dr. Kaner enjoys gardening, pickleball and cycling/spin for exercise, and loves being “pop-pop” to his 3 year-old granddaughter.
ERIN BAUER, MD
Erin's Bio
Dr. Bauer is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology and primarily practices at Virginia Mason in Seattle and in Federal Way. She graduated from Claremont McKenna College with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and completed her medical degree at the George Washington University with internship and residency at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles and a Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California Los Angeles.
Dr. Bauer has an interest in medical education and is a core faculty member for the Internal Medicine Residency program at Virginia Mason. Dr. Bauer is a member of the American College of Rheumatology, American College of Physicians, Washington State Medical Association and Washington Rheumatology Alliance.
MATTHEW GRIERSON, MD
Matthew's Bio
Dr. Matthew J. Grierson is a Physiatrist with a subspecialty in Sports Medicine. Dr. Grierson’s journey in becoming an experienced, actively involved physiatrist, began with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Dance at the University of Utah. Fueled by a passion for movement, Dr. Grierson earned his MD from Boston University, followed by his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington as Chief Resident.
With his previous experience in dance, and the many injuries that commonly ensue dance, Dr. Grierson spends much of his clinical time aiding performing artists in the Seattle area, diagnosing and treating a vast array of musculoskeletal injuries. Along with Dr. Nancy Kadel, MD, Dr. Grierson runs the Seattle Clinic for Performing Artists where they put their experience to use helping performing artists regain functionality from musculoskeletal injuries.
Playing an active role in his community, Dr. Grierson is passionate about grassroot change in healthcare policy. This passion has led him to pursue shaping healthcare policy in collaboration with the American Medical Association, Washington State Medical Association, and now the King County Medical Society. Dr. Grierson enjoys spending time outdoors hiking or skiing as well as spending time indoors baking desserts.
BOB GEISE, MD
Bob's Bio
Awarded the prestigious title of “Top Doctors” by Seattle Magazine in 2023, Dr. Geise is dual board-certified in Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine. He is committed to delivering exceptional, evidence-based medical care tailored to meet each patient’s needs. Dr. Geise’s approach to healthcare is patient-centric. He aims to craft personalized care plans.
Dr. Geise attended the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, VA, completed a residency at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC, followed by a fellowship in allergy and infectious disease at the University of Washington and an internship at George Washington University Medical Center.
Dr. Geise enjoys quality time with his family. An avid traveler, he also stays active through hiking and biking and dedicates time to being involved in his local community and schools
MEGHA RAO, MD
Megha's Bio
Dr. Megha Rao graduated from medical school at Rajiv Gandhi Health Sciences University in India and moved to the United States in 2006 with an interest in learning about a developed country’s healthcare system and practicing evidence-based medicine.
At the University of Texas, Arlington, Dr. Rao earned a Master’s in Healthcare Administration and subsequently completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami. Following graduation, she served as Medical Director at Sea-Mar, a Community Health Center in Tacoma, WA, focusing on providing equitable care to the underserved, specifically the Hispanic population and homeless in Pierce County. Dr. Rao led the Medication Management and Safety Committee at Sea-Mar and worked on a Quality Improvement project focused on chronic pain management that improved the prescribing trend across the organization.
Currently, Dr. Rao serves as a Physician and Section Head at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, Issaquah Medical Center is a current member of the Optum quality board meetings and the Issaquah Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs committee. Dr. Rao is passionate about making a meaningful impact on her patients, community, and healthcare tribe. As the gatekeeper of medicine, Dr. Rao enjoys witnessing patients’ wins and challenges firsthand and believes that working with KCMS will provide an opportunity to bring forth worthwhile patient challenges and transcend their care beyond clinical rooms. Nothing gives Dr. Rao more joy in medicine than when patients heal by feeling heard and seen. Dr. Rao has a young family full of energy and leads an active social life enjoying traveling, biking, and reading together.
DONALD J. ROSS, MD
Donald's Bio
Donald J. Ross, MD is a practicing Psychiatrist (Therapist) in Seattle, WA. Dr. Ross graduated from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Long School of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the International Psychoanalytic Association and a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Washington. Dr. Ross enjoys reading and studying music, philosophy, and spiritual works.
Dr. Ross likes to stay active in the academic community by presenting papers (recently: “On Not Being Able to Play”), participating in panel discussions, and preparing future studies.
MANDEEP WALIA, MD
Mandeep's Bio
Dr. Mandeep Walia is a native to the Washington area and received her BA in psychology with a focus on neuroscience from the UW. Post-graduation she taught Indian dance to underprivileged children for the City of Seattle. She then attended Kasturba Medical College in India and completed her residency in internal medicine from the University at Buffalo. Dr. Walia works in acute and post-acute care medicine in and around the greater Seattle area. In her spare time, Dr. Walia loves to spend time with her three rambunctious boys and her husband, is passionate about community service, and teaching east Indian dance to children.
SARA PAUK, MD
Sara's Bio
Dr. Sara J. Pauk is an OB/GYN at University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center. She received her undergraduate degree in Classics and Philosophy from Santa Clara University and her MD from Weill Cornell Medical College. She completed her residency at the University of Washington before joining the clinical faculty in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Pauk is passionate about reproductive rights, resident education, and fostering meaningful connections with her patients. She has advocated for women’s health and equitable patient care at the state and national level as the Washington Section Junior Fellow Chair for the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Her work at the institutional level includes creating a resident curriculum on complex vulvovaginitis and revising the language on patient intake forms to be more inclusive. In her free time, Dr. Pauk enjoys hiking, crosswording, spending time with family, and cultivating her indoor jungle.
Dhaval Desai, MD, MPH
Komal's Bio
Dhaval Desai is a dedicated father, husband, son, and doctor. In his work as a caregiver and a colleague, he places a priority on the well-being of both the patient and the healthcare provider. His commitment to fostering and advocating for humanity in medicine inspired him to write a personal narrative of his experience as a frontline physician during the COVID-19 pandemic, Burning Out on the Covid Front Lines: A Doctor’s Memoir of Fatherhood, Race and Perseverance in the Pandemic. Along with sharing the story of his own struggles as a leader and healer during a time of intense pressure and uncertainty for countless doctors, nurses, and hospital workers, Dr. Desai calls attention to ongoing issues plaguing the healthcare system, including health inequality, racial injustice, an emphasis on metrics over compassion in treatment, and the alarming rate of burnout and suicide among healthcare professionals.
Growing up in Atlanta, Georgia, Dhaval always wanted to be a doctor. From a young age, he felt a calling to help people. By his own account, he was an average pre-med student but persisted in following his passion. After completing his undergraduate studies at Emory University, he was accepted to medical school at the American University of the Caribbean on the beautiful island of St. Maarten. From there, he went to New York City, where he performed his clinical rotations at various community hospitals. He completed his residency at Wright State University School in Dayton, Ohio, earning board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.
In 2012, Dr. Desai joined the staff of Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital, where he currently serves as the Director of Hospital Medicine. He also works as a Pediatric Hospitalist at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. In addition, he mentors other physicians and contributes to optimizing hospital operations as Assistant Professor of Medicine and Distinguished Physician at Emory’s School of Medicine.
At age nine, Dhaval was diagnosed with vitiligo, a progressive condition affecting pigmentation. The clash between his white skin and Indian name sometimes raises questions about his ethnicity from patients. While it can be distracting, experiencing comments about his physical appearance has made Dr. Desai more sensitive to how devoted doctors and nurses are subjected to being judged and stereotyped—whether for speaking with an accent, wearing a hijab, or their skin color—by the people entrusted to their care, and how patients are also vulnerable to being stigmatized by healthcare professionals for the same reasons. To overcome biases and harmful misunderstandings on both sides, Dr. Desai stresses the practice of empathy and honest communication in healthcare. Towards that goal, he has been a part of numerous committees and outreach programs that include Human Experience and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Recently, his focus has been on community messaging and education regarding COVID-19 and future pandemics, as well as outreach to underserved and minority communities.
Dr. Desai is the husband to another physician and the father to two young children, a daughter and a son. His son, a “pandemic baby,” was born two weeks before the country was shut down in 2020. At 14 months old, his son had two episodes of severe respiratory distress that spurred his being rushed to the emergency room. As a parent with a sick child, Dr. Desai lost his rationality as a physician and desperately needed to hear both the truth and words of reassurance from his son’s pediatrician. Months later, his mother had a serious health scare, requiring her to be helicoptered across the city for a possible procedure for a severe stroke. Fortunately, his mother did not need the surgery, and his son is thriving. Both experiences have strengthened his advocacy for the patient and his belief that medicine is fundamentally about the human experience.
As a hospital leader and physician, Dr. Desai continually puts his passion for healing and caring into practice. He firmly believes that the medical community must place a priority on empathy and compassion—not only to ensure that patients get the best possible care but also to support the wellness of frontline healthcare workers. In his conviction, incorporating humanism into medicine is vital to the future success of our nation’s healthcare system.
KOMAL PATIL-SISODIA, MD
Komal's Bio
Dr. Patil-Sisodia is an endocrinologist and physician leader at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, WA. She is the Executive Medical Director of Medical Specialties and Ambulatory Quality Officer for EvergreenHealth Medical Group. She also sits on the Washington Health Alliance Quality Improvement Committee.
Dr. Patil-Sisodia graduated from a combined Bachelor of Science/MD program through Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Albany Medical College. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, & Metabolism at LAC + USC Keck School of Medicine. She is triple board-certified in Endocrinology, Obesity Medicine, and Internal Medicine. Before returning to the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Patil-Sisodia was an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of Maryland. She is passionate about improving metabolic health in the community.