I like to start each new year with a (very) short jump into the Sound. Polar bear plunges are organized across the world and across our country on the morning of January first – from the Atlantic, to the Great Lakes, to the Pacific. In years past folks would be packed shoulder to shoulder on the beach, waiting for a whistle to prompt a mad dash into salty water. Of course, this year we are socially distanced and challenged to safely partake in any of our traditions – but I still recommend a frigid welcome of 2021 as a way to wash off the past year and start anew.  

This year our Foundation for Health Care Quality tradition of convening and collaborating will take place over the internet – via Zoom, teams, and email – and will hopefully transition through the year to in-person as we regain that ability in our Washington State.   

• January is the start of our workgroups on Cervical Cancer Screening, Opioid Prescribing in Older Adults, Telehealth, and Total Knee and Total Hip Replacement. These are open to all participants – and the public at large. See information to join the conversation here. 
• We continue to convene monthly workgroups on improving the diagnostic process, addressing stigma and bias, and fostering psychological safety. Stay tuned for information on the diagnostic process webinar series.  

• Join the safe table for health equity professionals and community leaders involved in addressing stigma and bias in healthcare on Thursday, January 28th from noon-1:30 p.m.  
• Day two and day three of our virtual forums on clinical outcomes assessment for general surgery and for spine surgery will take place on Friday, January 15, 2021 and Friday, January 29, 2021. More information here.  

We would also love to invite you to join our January webinars: 

• Identifying Health Disparities, Striving for Health Equity 
  Wednesday, January 13 | 12:00 – 1:30 
  Register here
  Join the Bree Collaborative and Michael Garrett, Principal, Total Health Management and Inclusive Benefits Practice at Mercer, to learn strategies we can all use to build diversity, equity and inclusion into the fabric of our organizations and systems. Explore how bringing visibility to the issues of structural racism and implicit bias is vital to improving business performance, the patient experience, and health disparities. 
• From Impossible to Implementation: Mobilizing Collective Action Around Social Determinants of Health 
  Thursday, January 21 | 11:00 – 12:30  
  Register here
  Join Bree Collaborative and Washington Health Alliance for the first of a four-part “Framework for Action” webinar series sponsored by Cambia Grove. Hear from national and local leaders to learn about specific steps we can all take to collectively impact the social and moral determinants of health. Sara Singleton, Principal at Leavitt Partners, LLC, and advisor to the National Alliance to Impact Social Determinants of Health (NASDOH) will share lessons learned and resources from their multi-sector partnerships. Alison Poulsen, Executive Director of Better Health Together, will discuss local partnerships they have made to collectively address the root cause of social need.