JJ needs your help to return to residency

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JJ Wampach and 3 others are organizing this fundraiser.

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Hi! I’m JJ. I'm a primary care doctor. I'm part of Seattle's safety net clinic system. I need your help with a mountain of required medical clearance bills keeping me from work. Even just 20 dollars today helps me return to residency and care for patients in need.

This is my story:

I'm in my last year of family medicine residency; I took leave when I was struggling with burnout and severe sleep issues.
Before I can return, I need to overcome massive financial barriers for required medical clearance.
I've launched this go fund me because I need to raise $6000 before 9/23/24, and $30000 total to get myself out of a financial quagmire and back to work.
Even just 20 dollars gets me one step closer to returning to residency. Please, consider donating today.

If you aren't in a position where you can donate, consider visiting savepublichealth.org and sign the petition to help protect safety net clinics on the budgetary chopping block in King County.

My broader story:

Some things about me:

I'm from the Pacific NW. I'm happiest when I'm here, in between that big triangle of Portland, OR, Spokane, WA, and Vancouver BC.
My training is in Seattle. My training is in full spectrum care, both hospital and clinic medicine.
I like community health, I like working in both rural and city communities.
I like what I do. I like the patients I see.
I enjoy the challenges that come with ultrasound, urgent care, and primary care for family members of all ages.
I care about my job, and I need your help to return to caring for people in need.

I work in downtown Seattle in a safety net clinic. I’ve been away six months. I miss my work there. It's fulfilling to try to help folks with limited access to important medical care. I liked being part of a clinic taking care of refugees, unhoused folks, elders; I liked learning about people from all over the world and finding ways to help with their medical needs. I love being a doctor, but I had my own medical needs; addressing these needs proved costly.

I don’t like asking for money. However, I’m writing because I need your help to overcome major financial barriers keeping me out of work. It’s keeping me away from my duties as a clinician and a resident in the Seattle community. Please consider donating to help cover both current and future potential costs to be paid before I can return to residency.

These are costs associated with medical clearance and monitoring for duty fitness, typical to other locations across the country. These aren't fees required by my residency.

These are some of the specifics the money goes towards:

Needed by September 22nd (rescheduled from September 8th): $6000 dollars for a medical evaluation required before I can return to residency.
Monitoring fees required for a doctor living with a disability; both outstanding fees and future costs.
Backrent that built up while seeking help.
Medications and labs.
Primary care and specialist visits.
Helping address some of my spouse's medical bills.
Food, utilities, and other bills.

So why do I need medical clearance?

The truth is I had a hard time over this last year. I was burnt out and having major issues with my sleep. I was worried and I took leave to address my health, to find space to heal. Part of our role as a doctor is to identify when we need assistance and take part proactively. At times there can be a culture of stigma around seeking help in healthcare. I wanted to set an example, to find a safe harbor for providers like myself.

As a field we’re stressed and that stress hit me hard. As a public health doctor, I viewed taking leave as leaning in and doing the right thing. There’s a lot of folks suffering in the caregiver community and any way forward for myself could be a way forward for them.

During that time I continued to work on my skills, passing boards and continuing to study up on advances in medicine. My health is doing a lot better. It's been a journey with high points. As a physician I know many of us struggle to find time to care for ourselves. I'm grateful I found that space.

I'm not sure how to afford the medical clearance required to be a doctor.

I miss my career. I miss doing ultrasounds on pregnant patients and learning more about all the ways ultrasounding help improves our ability to diagnose and treat our patients even outside of pregnancy. I miss talking with my patients about how they're coping with a medication regimen or being there when they open up about how life is really going. I miss the times I get to help them out. I miss facing barriers that vexed myself and my family for so long.

I'm a doctor. When it comes to taking care of ourselves, the financial cost is part of the accountability. Medicine is an expensive field to be in. I’m not from a wealthy family. Costs generally in Seattle are up.

In order to return to residency I need to raise money for medical clearance exams and related fees; these are not fines.

These costs are quite significant, and while I’ve been out there’s no income to cover them.
Some of these costs don't have installment plans, and they could get more expensive.
I need to pay for an out of state exam, the total upfront costs and travel fees are $6000.
In short, I can’t afford to go back to residency, and your donation paves a path forward for one primary care resident in need.

Expenses are piling up, the debt is spiraling. It’s affected our housing security, our ability to afford care, and is a major obstacle to moving forward in my career. We are overwhelmed and are grateful for any support you can offer. We are also grateful for this read.

I love my job and I understand the financial accountability that comes with being a physician. I’m grateful for the friends and family around us who’ve helped us so much. This mountain is tall and the truth of the matter is we need help to climb over it. I very much wish to return to my training and appreciate your support.

That's why I'm launching this gofundme. The $30000 I'm raising covers both my medical needs and meeting my basic needs. I need to raise $6000 by September 22nd, 2024. In short, I need help escaping a quagmire. Please, consider donating today.

Thank you to the artists who made the royalty free music and stock footage. Please see the YouTube video description for attributions and consider donating to these artists today.

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