KCMS Community Foundation
Advancing medical education, strengthening the physician workforce, and supporting healthier communities across King County and Washington State.
About the Foundation
The King County Medical Society Community Foundation (KCMS-CF) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to improving community health, supporting medical education, and strengthening the future of healthcare in our community.
Our Work
- Improving community health across King County
- Supporting the next generation of physicians
- Investing in programs that create lasting impact
Mission
The mission of KCMS-CF is to advance charitable, educational, and scientific initiatives that improve healthcare delivery, support medical education, and enhance patient outcomes across King County and Washington State.
What We Do
KCMS Community Foundation collaborates with healthcare organizations, institutions, and community partners to develop and support programs that address critical healthcare needs, advance physician and community education, expand access to care, and strengthen the physician workforce.
Through grant-funded initiatives, educational programs, and community convenings, the Foundation advances clinical knowledge, recognizes excellence in medicine, and supports the next generation of physicians to improve health outcomes across Washington State.
Tax Information
KCMS-CF is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Support Medical Education Grants
The KCMS-CF Medical Education Grant supports medical students in Washington State. Now in its fourth year, the program provides direct financial support to students at the University of Washington (UW), Washington State University (WSU), and Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) during the most demanding years of medical education.
Your support helps ensure that students can focus on their education and their patients.
Ways to Give
- Make a donation to the Medical Education Grant fund
- Give in honor of a colleague, mentor, or loved one
- Establish a named grant (minimum $10,000)
- Include KCMS-CF in your estate planning
Create a Named or Endowed Grant
- Establish a named fund in your name or in honor of someone important to you
- Define the focus or purpose of your grant
- KCMS-CF manages the application and selection process
Questions?
KCMS Community Foundation Board of Directors
Scientists, physicians, and community leaders who contribute their time and expertise to support the Foundation’s mission.
Announcing Our 2025 Medical Student Grant Recipients
Each year, the KCMS Community Foundation awards grants to Washington State medical students who demonstrate leadership, a commitment to community health, and dedication to the future of medicine. These grants are made possible through an endowment created by the generous support of our KCMS members—a lasting investment in the physicians of tomorrow.
Waleed Gharib – “As someone raised in a single-parent low-income household in South King County, this grant means more than words can express. It will help ease the financial burden of medical school as I work toward becoming a physician committed to serving the community that shaped me. My journey is deeply rooted in a mission to address health disparities, including the trauma of gun violence, and to help heal the very neighborhoods I’ve called home all my life.”
Benishia Robinson – “This award encourages me to keep striving and growing toward my goal of becoming a physician for underserved communities. It represents both support and belief in the path I’m pursuing, which means so much to me.”
Hannah Segal – “Thank you so much for the amazing news Words cannot fully express how honored and grateful I am to be a recipient of the King County Medical Society Community Foundation Grant. This grant reaffirms my commitment to advancing health equity and inclusion in medicine, empowering me to work towards a healthcare system where every individual, regardless of their background, has access to patient-centered care.
I am deeply encouraged by KCMS-CF’s dedication to uplifting underrepresented and underserved communities in healthcare and remain committed to carrying that mission forward as I continue my journey to becoming a physician who serves with compassion, culturally responsive care, and advocacy.
Thank you for investing in future physicians like myself who are dedicated to building a more just and inclusive healthcare system for all! Thank you again,
Hannah Segal”
Isha Shrestha – “This award is both an honor and an encouragement to advance equitable, compassionate care. It reminds me that meaningful change in medicine begins with community support.”
ANNOUNCING THE 2024 KCMS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENTS!
The KCMS Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Medical Education Grants. Following a competitive review process with nearly 30 applicants from Washington State’s three medical schools, the Foundation’s Grant Committee selected three outstanding students in recognition of their demonstrated commitment to patient care, community service, and improving access to healthcare.
This year, one student from each medical school was selected based on leadership, service, and dedication to addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities.
KCMS-CF is proud to support these future physicians as they continue their training and contribute to strengthening healthcare in Washington State.
Below, recipients share reflections on their experiences and the impact of this support. The views expressed are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the KCMS Community Foundation.
Salsabeal Alsaedy – “I grew up in the Greater Seattle region and attended the University of Washington, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. I am committed to serving patients holistically, especially those in medically underserved populations. I find all areas of medicine fascinating, but I am interested in internal medicine. This grant provides me with more motivation and confidence, pushing me to strive even harder toward my goals.”
Luis Sanchez – “I am deeply honored to receive the King County Medical Society Community Foundation (KCMS-CF) Grant. As a second-year medical student and the first in my family to graduate from high school and university, this achievement holds special significance for me. My journey from being a first-generation immigrant from Mexico to pursuing a career in medicine has been driven by my personal experiences with healthcare disparities, particularly those faced by migrant farmworkers and underserved communities.
Growing up, my family worked as seasonal migrant farmworkers, and I witnessed firsthand the challenges of accessing quality healthcare. These early experiences ignited my passion for medicine and my commitment to addressing these inequities. My work at Sea Mar Community Health Centers, along with my teaching and volunteer experiences, has further solidified my dedication to serving marginalized populations, including immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community. Receiving this grant is not just a milestone in my education but a validation of my commitment to becoming the first doctor in my family. It empowers me to continue working toward a future where everyone, regardless of their background, has access to the healthcare they need and deserve.”
Gabriela Gomez – “Growing up in an inner city in Los Angeles, CA, I became accustomed to seeing the effects of inequality, poverty, violence, and discrimination that impacted most of my community. From a sense of hopelessness to help, I used my desire to bring change to communities like my own and fueled it into finding resources and opportunities to improve my professional development. Along my journey, I had the fortune to be a part of amazing organizations where I could not only expand my skillset but bring medical care to some of our most vulnerable communities. As a first-generation Latina, I carry my culture with me and use my lived experiences to connect with other like me who dream to become the first doctors in their family. My aspiration as I prepare myself to become a medical doctor is to bring representation and improve access to medical care for marginalized communities. In addition, I want to demonstrate to students, who like me, come from academic institutions with limited resources and poor academic success that entering higher education and professional careers is not just a dream but attainable… With this grant, I now feel less of a burden on budgeting and planning for unexpected emergency and can channel those fears into training to become a well-rounded physician and volunteer with organizations to continue to advocate for increased representation.”