WASHINGTON

BELLINGHAM
Roger Sharf MD, Family Practice and Carrie Dyer PA-C
        Bellingham, WA
        Dr. Sharf and Carrie Dyer are a great FF team.  Not one time has
        my weight been called a reason for a medical problem.  Even when
        I went to discuss fertility and trying to conceive my weight was
        not mentioned as a scapegoat for my not yet conceiving or that
        it may pose any problems.  They both are direct when necessary,
        but not push.  When I was informed by Dr. Sharf that my
        cholesterol levels were a bit high... he did not preach weight
        loss... just sensibility and an effort to improve my current
        diet... he was great!

DES MOINES
Megan Kelly, M.D.
	Highline Women's Clinic 22000 Marine View Dr S Ste 200
	Des Moines, WA 98198 (near South Seattle area)
	206-870-0112
	I haven't gone through a full pregnancy with her, but if I was
	still in Washington, she would be my first choice.  She was my
	ob/gyn for a few years, always had larger gowns, very nice
	nursing staff.  She would discuss my weight when I brought it up
	but she never discussed it when I told her I wanted to get
	pregnant, it was never a factor for her, and I am over 350
	pounds. I went through a miscarriage with her in 2003 and her
	staff was amazing, they called to check on me daily and made me
	feel very supported. -- Jill

KIRKLAND
Thomas Greene, Family Practice
	Totem Lake Family Medicine
	12911 120th Ave NE Ste B-10
	Kirkland, WA 98034
	(425) 899-5200
	I have told Dr. Greene about my feelings of size acceptance and
	an emphasis on health at whatever size and he is in agreement!
	He believes that genetically some people are just going to be
	bigger. He said that we'll work to maintain my health and that
	he would work with me if I ever wanted to lose weight but only
	if I asked. I felt totally comfortable with both him and his
	staff.  -- Kathryn www.angelfire.com/wa2/katsplace

LAKEWOOD
Rachel Dawson, M.D., family medicine
	Lakewood Multicare Clinic
	9332 Bridgeport Way SW
	Lakewood, WA 98499
	253-459-6060
	(Greater Tacoma Area)
	Dr. Dawson is an amazingly sensitive doctor. She does not
	admonish me about my weight. The harshest thing she has ever
	said to me was that sometimes if a woman of size loses some
	weight it can help make her periods more regular and that she
	would like to see me at a lower weight. She doesn't make any
	issues about how much I weigh and she treats me like I am valid.
	She doesn't push diets on me, she listens to what I say and is
	very conscious of what she says so as not to hurt my feelings.
	I've seen her off and  on since I was 12  and I just love her.
	They have large gowns and large blood pressure cuffs. -- CH

MARYSVILLE
Alka Atal-Barrio, M.D., Pediatrics
	Everett Clinic, Marysville Office
	Marysville, Washington
	Dr. Atal-Barrio treats all three of my children, two of whom are
	relatively large in size-- and the other has some minor mental
	health issues.  She deals sensitively with them and is
	completely unflappable.  She has mentioned when appropriate that
	additional weight gain might be nice to avoid, but treats my
	kids as individuals and always provides superb medical care.
	She is a small woman but very empathetic and is a mother
	herself.

Toshiko Magnus, M.D., Internal Medicine
	Everett Clinic, Marysville Office
	Marysville, Washington
	Dr. Magnus has been my doctor for several years and is
	wonderful.  Any time I have mentioned that something in the
	office is not size-friendly, she does something about it (like
	ordering larger exam gowns, a pet peeve of mine).  She is a
	*tiny* woman but has always been accepting of my size and makes
	me feel comfortable.  I have several health issues that are not
	helped by my weight, but she accepts that they existed before I
	became heavy and always deals with the real issue at hand.

REDMOND
Shao Ti Meredith, ARNP
	Family Medicine of Redmond
	8299 161st Avenue NE, Suite 101
	Redmond, Washington 98052
	Phone: 425.881.8813
	We have not discussed my weight.  She has not suggested that
	losing weight could "fix" any problems I've brought to her,
	including asthma and knee pain.  On my first visit the medical
	assistant asked if I wanted to be weighed; after I said no that
	initial time (because I could tell the scale wouldn't go high
	enough!) I haven't been asked again. Shao-Ti assumes I am
	healthy and will stay healthy.  She encourages me to exercise,
	drink water, and take a multivitamin, which I think is what she
	tells everyone. -Jen

SEATTLE
There is a page on the SeaFATtle web site listing fat-friendly local
resources including doctors: http://www.seafattle.org/locallinks.htm#anchor1848182

Stephanie Corpening, midwife 
	Seattle, WA 
	(425)348-7899
	stephmidwife@hotbot.com
	Self referred
	I'm a woman of size and color (African American and ~270 pounds)
	and would welcome, welcome, welcome any woman of size who is
	considering a midwife or homebirth. 

Alan Failor, endocrinologist
        Diabetes Center
        University of Washington medical center
        Seattle Washington
        He had no problem with my size. The office has a stand on
        digital scale with a handrail and they just wrote my weight
        down. His exam room did not have a large pt gown but the
        connected hospital does. I went in with my list of meds and
        goals and he talked to me and listened. He spent over an hour
        with me. I have sleep apnea, gastric reflux, abdominal
        cellulitis, shortness of breath  and weigh over 400 pounds. I
        was expecting a battle and was quite surprised. I did go in says
        I wanted to feel better so I could swim, which is a form of
        exercise i can and like to do. I also brought up diet, I don't
        do that, and he was fine with it. No trying to convince me to
        have weight loss surgery like another doctor I know did. He
        heard my frustration with my high blood sugars and immediately
        switched me to a different med which has been very helpful.
        Explained my sliding scale use of insulin--I make it up--and he
        was fine with that too. I am an RN. He was quite calm and
        non-threatening even tho I was feisty. I told him at the end
        that I had expected a battle, and he was surprised as he deals
        with fat diabetics all the time, as it is the nature of the 
        disease. I recently was in the ER of the Univ of WA medical
        center for several nights and admitted to the hospital for 2
        days. They have large and extra large wheelchairs which will
        accommodate up to 600 pounds and large patient gowns. A special
        bed was ordered for me if I needed surgery. I had a private
        bathroom which was big enough for me and the shower had seats.
        The nurse were all nice. They were busy, but I felt well cared 
        for and safe. Also they had good cable tv. -- Deni* Gereighty RN
        Seattle WA 

Lindy Sue Griffin, DO (Doctor of Osteopathy), General Practice
	1664 Medical-Dental Building
	509 Olive Way
	Seattle, Washington  98101
	(206)623-7940
	(A large woman herself) She doesn't discuss my weight unless I
	bring it up. She's only weighed me once in nine years (the first
	time). She actually listens to you and discusses with you
	anything you don't understand. A warm, friendly, caring woman.
	-- Martha
	Also reported: when a patient had trouble getting on the exam
	table, the doctor purchased one that raises and lowers, and
	"she also called the building management and told them to order
	two large-size wheelchairs for the building." She has a Nurse
	Practitioner who is also fat.  
	*** Dissenting View ***
	She seems to be one of those people who think it's okay to be
	fat as long as you don't actually have any problems. Without
	warning, she told me bluntly that I was diabetic and on the
	verge of death, and immediately started telling me about the
	demanding exercise regimen she EXPECTED me to do ("no
	excuses!"), and the diet she wanted me to start on -- she took
	the American Heart Association diet, and then marked more things
	off of it to make it even more restrictive! I was in shock,
	because I expected an ally; she terrified me, and I never
	returned. Thank goodness I had fat diabetic friends to tell me
	that her approach was unnecessary and outmoded. -- Marty

James McAnnaly, DDS 
	206/284-6705
	Seattle, WA
	My dentist has new chairs with arms which lower flush to the
	chair, allowing patients of nearly any size to be comfortable. I
	told him, "how can I send all my really large friends to you, if
	you don't have chairs which are comfortable for them?" He told
	me, "When you leave today, look in the next room.  I've started
	installing special chairs, which will hold my patients, of any
	size." Sure enough...  I am comfortable, and there are no arms
	to dig into my hips! He is the best, most caring dentist I've
	ever been to, and his staff is incredible.  
	SECOND RECOMMENDATION
	I have been going to Dr. Mac for over 10 years.  In fact, I fly
	up from Los Angeles to have all of my dental work done by him.
	His staff is wonderful and he really is the most caring doctor i
	have ever had. Dr. McAnnaly is more concerned with his patient's
	comfort than the speed at which he can get you out of the
	office. I once was there for a long time, before he was even
	able to start, because the numbing shots were just not working.
	(I'm sure I was being sensitive, as it was a root canal i was
	totally nervous!) He never indicated that he was impatient or
	irritated.  Instead, he would keep coming in and checking, then
	go to another patient, until my mouth was ready. His assistant
	gave me a blanket and just sat and talked calmly to me to help
	me relax.  I have no idea how he does it, but I never feel his
	shots! His lobby chairs are a little tight, but i am never
	really waiting for more then a few minutes (if you wait more
	than 10 minutes, you get a Starbuck gift card) -- They usually
	have me in the back as soon as a walk in. I have NEVER felt
	uncomfortable, awkward or large in his chairs.  The flat arm
	chairs he uses are GENIUS, you can lift them up if you want
	them, otherwise they lay flush with the seat!  I think that
	makes the chairs a bit wider too! There really is no reason why
	he and i would discuss my weight issues. I know he is an intense
	athlete, but i have never felt he judges me. I highly recommend
	Dr. McAnally!

Roberta Sherman, Family Practice, OB/GYN
	Polyclinic 
	509 Olive Way, Seattle, WA  
	(206)624-5026.
	I *heartily* recommend Robbie Sherman. Example of her
	unflappableness: first time I saw her for a GYN visit....she
	calmly acknowledged the presence of gold in my nether region and
	asked, "How shall I proceed?".  To which I replied, as though
	the rings aren't even there...and she did.... Great, empathetic
	lady, about forty...and a HOOT of a sense of humor! -- name
	withheld
	She supports you in your goals and supports health, wellness and
	fitness - not thinness. -- name withheld 

University of Washington medical center
	Seattle, WA
	I was in the emergency room and admitted to the hospital for 2
	days for possible appendicitis. They have large and extra large
	wheelchairs that will accomadate up to 600 pounds and large
	patient gowns. A special bed was ordered for me in case I needed
	surgery. I had a private bathroom which was big enough for me
	and the shower had seats. The nurse were all nice. They were
	busy but I felt well cared and safe. -- Deni* Gereighty, RN

TACOMA
Richard Schroeder, OB-Gyn, higher-risk pregnancy
	Multi Care Obstetrical Group Association (MOGA) 
	near Tacoma General Hospital
	Tacoma, WA  
	253-403-4747
	Dr. Schroeder and most of his office staff have not commented on
	my weight other than to tell me what it is, have never made me
	feel awkward as they scramble to look for "plus sized"
	equipment, as at least the room I use is set up to comfortably
	service me, and never issued any threats over diet or weight
	gain. Their offices include armless chairs, their weight limit
	must be over 300 lbs, because I am, and I feel very secure about
	my pregnancy.  He has a great sense of humor and is very caring.
	His office staff is also very welcoming to small children, and
	my three year old has never been removed from a visit. - M
	Lindblom, koifish at comcast.net