Olympia, WA – On July 14, 2023, the Washington Medical Commission (WMC) announced the appointment of a new Executive Director, Kyle S. Karinen. Although he is new to the position, Mr. Karinen is a familiar face to the WMC. He has been the commission’s Supervising Staff Attorney since 2018 and with the Department of Health since 2011.
 

“I take great pride in the work we do at the commission to protect the public and license good practitioners. The importance of medical regulation is often unseen but it’s the cornerstone of ensuring safe and healthy communities in Washington. I am thankful for Melanie’s work. She paved the way for me to continue WMC efforts leading state medical boards as a champion of ethics and innovation. I look forward to working with staff, stakeholders, and other agencies in the spirit of transparency that Melanie developed,” said Karinen.

Melanie de Leon was the Executive Director of the WMC for the last nine years and throughout the most historically challenging time in health care, the COVID-19 pandemic. Her leadership also saw the modernization of the WMC’s work on a allegations of sexual misconduct, streamlining and shortening the turnaround time for applications, and the conversion of WMC’s work to paperless formats.

“Kyle has been a resource for the commission on complex cases for several years. We have leaned on his insight and skillful communication on complicated issues. He has been the linchpin of the legal unit and will be an effective director. I look forward to seeing how he grows the commission even further and feel confident passing the flag to him,” said de Leon.  
 

When Ms. de Leon announced her plans to retire the WMC began a nationwide search for the new Executive Director that garnered many qualified applicants. However, commissioners were united in stating that Mr. Karinen was clearly the best candidate. He officially steps into the role on September 1, 2023.

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The Washington Medical Commission promotes patient safety and enhances the integrity of the medical profession through licensing, rule-making, discipline, and education. Learn more about the commission at wmc.wa.gov. Follow the WMC on Facebook and Twitter.