Why Medical Societies Still Matter

By Nancy L. Belcher, Ph.D., MPA – CEO, King County Medical Society

When crisis strikes—whether it’s a global pandemic or the quiet dismantling of public health infrastructure—medical societies are often the last line of defense and the first to act.

Right now, $12 billion in federal public health funding is being slashed—devastating programs that support vaccine distribution, addiction treatment, suicide prevention, and disease tracking. At the same time, vaccine misinformation is spreading faster than science, public trust is eroding, and frontline healthcare workers are facing burnout, backlash, and resource shortages.

These aren’t abstract problems. They are immediate, dangerous, and life-threatening.

This is why medical societies exist.

At the height of COVID-19, when national systems faltered, the King County Medical Society (KCMS) didn’t wait for orders—we acted. From building PPE pipelines and delivering telehealth technology to compelling insurers into payment parity and getting thousands vaccinated when others were left behind, KCMS responded with urgency, clarity, and heart.

Medical societies aren’t relics. They are critical infrastructure for collective action, physician advocacy, and public protection.

What follows is a detailed account of KCMS’s COVID-19 response—a testament to what’s possible when physicians refuse to wait.

We Built a PPE Manufacturing and Delivery System from Scratch

In the early days of the pandemic, PPE was nearly impossible to find—especially for independent clinics and frontline providers.

So we built our own supply chain.

Partnering with:

• Lighthouse Uniform Company – Seattle-based PPE fabricators

• Outdoor Research – who repurposed their factory lines

• GORE-TEX – who donated industrial-grade safety fabric

We produced tens of thousands of masks and gowns, distributed not only in King County—but across Washington State.

We employed:

• Out-of-work tailors from the Seattle Opera and Ballet

• Refugee tailoring networks

• Students from the Seattle Central College fashion program

Our gear kept doctors safe—and kept medical students in their rotations, when supply shortages nearly halted clinical education.

We Equipped Washington for Telehealth—Fast

When in-person visits shut down, many providers lacked even basic telehealth equipment.

KCMS secured and distributed hundreds of: Webcams, Laptops, Headsets

Thanks to generous donations from Microsoft and Logitech, we delivered these tools statewide—helping practices stay connected to their patients and keeping care accessible during lockdowns.

We Took on Insurers—and Won Telehealth Payment Parity

While providers adapted to virtual care, insurers refused to pay them fairly. KCMS didn’t wait for legislation—we acted. Our advocacy compelled payers to implement telehealth payment parity eight months before Washington passed its state law.

We made sure that doing the right thing—for patients—was also sustainable for healthcare professionals.

We Got Vaccines to Providers Others Left Behind

When vaccines became available, large systems got first access while private practices, dental offices, and unaffiliated providers were unsure of where to get their vaccines. KCMS worked directly with the Washington Department of Health to distribute vaccines statewide. We took on the logistical burden, serving as a “Phase Finder” for King County and beyond.

We ensured that thousands of doctors, dentists, and their staff got vaccinated—many of whom would have been left behind.

And when later vaccine phases opened, we helped patients navigate the confusing registration systems and physically get to their appointments—especially those without reliable internet or transportation.

We Delivered Meals to the Frontline

During the most exhausting months of the pandemic, we coordinated free meal deliveries to hospital teams and frontline clinics. This wasn’t just symbolic—it was real food, at the right time, for healthcare workers in the middle of 12+ hour shifts. We met them with kindness and solidarity.

We Didn’t Just Help. We Responded.

These efforts weren’t bankrolled by large contracts or managed by bureaucracy. They were driven by a small team at KCMS and volunteers, working nights, weekends, and holidays, guided by one mission: show up and deliver.

We were: Sewing, Delivering, Equipping clinics, Pressuring insurers, Coordinating vaccines, Feeding exhausted teams. We made it possible for providers to care for patients—when the system couldn’t.

The Results

• PPE delivered statewide, when hospitals had none

• Telehealth made possible overnight

• Payment policy changed before the legislature acted

• Vaccines administered to thousands others missed

• Medical education kept on track

• Frontline workers fed, supported, and not forgotten