OLYMPIA — Gov. Bob Ferguson on Monday signed Senate Bill 5185 into law, creating a pilot program to help internationally trained doctors become fully licensed to practice in Washington. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-Seattle) and with a House companion sponsored by Rep. Julia Reed (D-Seattle), addresses healthcare workforce shortages — particularly in primary care — by making it easier for qualified international medical graduates already living and working in Washington to continue practicing medicine. “Washington is taking an important step to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare,” Saldaña said. “This bill recognizes the training and experience of international medical graduates and creates a strong, reliable pathway for them to serve communities that need care ...
Read MoreAbout Rebecca
Sen. Rebecca Saldaña represents Washington state’s 37th Legislative District, which includes parts of South Seattle, Renton, Madrona, the Central District, Leschi, Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Rainier Valley, and Bryn Mawr-Skyway. A proud Chicana of Mexican and German heritage, Saldaña grew up in Seattle’s Delridge neighborhood. Her upbringing, shaped by economic and environmental challenges, instilled a deep commitment to conservation, resilience, and justice.
Her father, a Mexican immigrant and former farmworker who became a machinist, worked in Georgetown near one of Seattle’s largest polluters. Her mother, a social worker, came from a family of Midwest farmers. These experiences fueled Saldaña’s determination to advocate for communities disproportionately affected by environmental and social injustices.
Read Rebecca’s full biography here.
