Franciscan Medical Clinic at St. Joseph

07/26/2025

Fibroids affect up to 80% of women, yet many suffer in silence thinking these symptoms are just part of being a woman. The truth is, effective treatments are available that can dramatically improve your quality of life.

Don't let fibroid symptoms control your life. Learn about your options at vmfh.org/fibroids.

07/25/2025

"Why gynecology? As you may guess, I get asked this question often. My friends, my family and even my patients will ask "Why", sometimes in the middle of their pelvic exam!

For me, gynecology (and specifically minimally invasive GYN surgery) was a perfect intersection of three things that bring me joy in medicine. I get to take care of patients across a spectrum of ages - teens through the postmenopausal transition and beyond. I get to interact with patients during a uniquely personal moment -- whether it is pelvic pain, abnormal bleeding, fibroids, gender dysphoria or fertility issues, we work together to individualize their care plan. And last, as a surgeon, I often get to help fix a "problem" with my hands to improve my patients' quality of life.

Each day at Virginia Mason Medical Center, I am fortunate to meet incredible people who have chosen to trust me with their private story during their quest to feel better. Our team - nurses, medical assistants, and surgical fellows all work collaboratively to make their experiences positive. We offer the most technologically advanced procedures such as office hysteroscopy and all types of robotic and laparoscopic surgeries. For fibroid awareness month, we're particularly excited to now offer Sonata: an incisionless, uterine-sparing fibroid ablation technique with excellent outcomes and very quick recovery."

I am lucky to call VMFH home and am proud to have a chance to positively impact patients' lives at a pivotal time in their lives as a minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon (MIGS).

Megan Loring, MD
Virginia Mason Medical Center

Learn more about Uterine Fibroids at https://ow.ly/Io5q50WsKgU

07/24/2025

The Boeing Classic, a PGA TOUR Champions event, will celebrate its 20th anniversary Aug. 4-10, 2025, at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge. Founded in 2005, the Boeing Classic has become a Pacific Northwest tradition, drawing spectators across the region to witness world-class golf and raise funds for life-saving research at Benaroya Research Institute, a part of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

Learn more about the fan experience, participating golf legends and more at the link below!

Boeing Classic tournament surpasses $10M raised for local charities, including Benaroya Research Institute, celebrates 20th anniversary.

07/23/2025

Come see the PGA Tour Champions play in the Boeing Classic from August 8-10. Single day passes start at $20. Purchase tickets today!

Learn more: https://www.boeingclassic.com/tickets/ticket-information/

07/23/2025

Three Virginia Mason Franciscan Health hospitals have once again been awarded a prestigious three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the highest rating possible in cardiac surgery.

St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, and St. Michael Medical Center in Silverdale, have all been awarded three-stars. Each of the three hospitals are recognized for excellence in a distinct type of heart surgery.

Virginia Mason Medical Center earned a three-star rating from STS for its patient care and outcomes in aortic valve replacement (AVR) combined with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The three-star rating places Virginia Mason Medical Center among the elite for AVR+CABG surgery in the United States and Canada. Historically, approximately 4%–7% of participants receive the three-star rating for AVR+CABG surgery.

St. Michael Medical Center received a three-star rating for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures. Approximately 21% of participants receive the three-star rating for isolated CABG surgery, placing St. Michael Medical Center among the elite for heart bypass surgery.

St. Joseph Medical Center earned a three-star rating from STS for its patient care and outcomes in mitral valve replacement and repair (MVRR) surgery. Historically, approximately 11% of participants receive the three-star rating for MVRR surgery, also placing it among the elite.

St. Joseph Medical Center and St. Michael Medical Center also received three-stars for multiprocedural cardiac surgery. To determine this distinction, researchers evaluated patients in North America who had heart surgery over three years. They tracked different types of surgeries, including bypass surgery (CABG), valve replacements (AVR, MVR), and valve repairs (MVVR), sometimes done together. The measurement helps identify the best-performing heart surgery programs in the U.S. and Canada.

These exceptional ratings reflect the skill, dedication and collaborative excellence of our cardiac surgery teams across all three hospitals. When patients need heart surgery, they can trust that Virginia Mason Franciscan Health delivers world-class care with outcomes that rank among the very best in North America.

07/21/2025

What a special weekend at our St. Joseph Medical Center NICU reunion! Families who received care in our NICU came together for an afternoon of celebration at a local baseball game.

It was incredible to see former NICU patients now running around, laughing, and enjoying face painting and balloon animals. The BBQ buffet gave families time to reconnect and share their journeys with our NICU team.

These reunions remind us why we do what we do. Seeing healthy, thriving children who once needed our specialized care brings so much joy to our hearts. Thank you to all the families who joined us for this wonderful celebration!

07/16/2025

"I chose gynecology as a speciality in part due to the personal nature of working with the reproductive organs. When people are having trouble with their uterus or ovaries it can be incredibly distressing and life disrupting. For example – studies show that patients dealing with abnormal uterine bleeding due to fibroids have a worse quality of life compared to patients coping with diabetes, hypertension or breast cancer. Unfortunately patients often suffer for years before discovering that what they are experiencing is not normal.

Every fibroid uterus is different and I love working with patients to understand their exact situation and treatment options based on the size, number and location of fibroids. I did a 2 year fellowship in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery to master the broad array of uterine sparing and minimally invasive treatment options so that I can offer customized treatment plans. Patients are sometimes told their only option is a hysterectomy or offered a large abdominal incision when they could be eligible for a uterine sparing procedure or a laparoscopic small incision approach. Walking a patient through their options, discussing their reproductive life plans, their symptoms and their values to determine the best choice and then seeing the incredible improvement in their quality of life after treatment is my favorite part of this job.

I’m thrilled that we now offer transcervical radiofrequency ablation of fibroids here at Virginia Mason Medical Center as an incisionless option for fibroid treatment so that I can help patients get back to living their lives as soon as possible."

Elena Wagner, MD, FACOG, Associate Program Director
Virginia Mason Medical Center

Learn more about Uterine Fibroids at vmfh.org/fibroids

07/15/2025

Surprise visits can be the best medicine! Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh recently made some very special stops at Virginia Mason Medical Center, bringing smiles and unforgettable moments to patients and staff.

Read about these heartwarming visits and see how sports heroes can make a real difference in the healing process.

Bob Bissett, 57, said today was a day he will never forget. Cal Raleigh, a catcher for the Seattle Mariners, walked into his hospital room, his face lit up with joy.

07/15/2025

Congratulations to the home run king Cal Raleigh! We are so excited for you and your family.

We’re proud of our partnership with this amazing athlete who brings the same dedication to community health that he shows on the field.

Well done, Cal!

07/14/2025

Good luck to our Virginia Mason Franciscan Health spokesperson Cal Raleigh as he heads to MLB All-Star Week!

We're incredibly proud to have Cal representing both the Seattle Mariners and our healthcare mission on baseball's biggest stage.

Enjoy every moment of this well-deserved honor, Cal! We'll be cheering you on!

07/12/2025

Knowledge is power when it comes to breast health. Take a few minutes to complete our free Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and learn about your personal risk factors.

This simple, confidential assessment helps you understand your risk level and provides personalized recommendations for screening and prevention. Early detection saves lives, and understanding your risk is the first step toward taking control of your breast health.

Complete your assessment today: https://ow.ly/mybB50WmsV7