Merchants, tradesmen, teachers, students, parents, real estate agents, restaurant staff, business owners, lawyers, contractors, heavy equipment operators, arborists, consultants, retirees: All of us are likely to have medical issues at some time – hopefully minor, but some will be serious.

Even when our outstanding Orcas Island Fire and Rescue EMTs and Paramedics are involved, their task is to deliver you to the next level of care – ideally, on-island, unless you need to be medically evacuated.

With a UW Neighborhood Clinic on-island, all of us would have access to the remarkable resources of UW Medicine, rated no. 1 in the nation in primary care, family and rural medicine. The University of Washington School of Medicine is also a leader in medical research and education, at the forefront of medicine today.

The world of medicine is increasingly complex and advanced. There is no need for us to be left behind just because we are in a remote, rural location. Right now, we have an opportunity to link our future with one of the leaders in the field.

That’s why it’s so important that as many of us as possible show our support for bringing a UW Neighborhood Clinic to Orcas Island. It’s up to each of us now to do our part by making a donation – whether it’s $5 or $500 – to the “OMF/UW Medicine Fund” at Key Bank or mail it to Orcas Medical Foundation, PO Box 515, Eastsound, WA 98245.

Bob Waunch

Orcas Island