Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County (HSSA)

HSSA Announces Awards for its 2023 “Access to Care” Grants

SPOKANE, WA – The Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County has announced its 2023 recipients if its annual Access to Care grants who will receive a total funding of $471,400. These awardees participate in a competitive process whose applicants submitted proposals totaling over $1.3 million.
The Community-Minded Enterprises will receive $75,000 for a Behavioral Health Clinic at its downtown location and will address substance abuse recovery, and will create self-sufficiency through third-party awards.
Joya Child & Family Development will receive $68,400 for its Family Resource Center to hire a Family Resource Coordinator to increase early intervention for infants and toddlers.
The Hispanic Business Professional Association (HBPA) will receive $50,000 for its Esperanza (HOPE) that will support 100-150 Hispanics and Latinos to connect to health, mental health, food and other services who have not been receiving these services due to language barriers and housing instability.
Maddie’s Place Pediatric Transitional Care Facility will receive $95,000 to increase the space for the number of infants who suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS). Hospitals have had to reduce the time addicted new mothers and babies stay and there were no places for the babies who need specialized care provided at Maddie’s Place. This new facility is only the fourth in the nation to provide these important services.
Partners with Families and Children Children’s Advocacy Center will receive $85,500 in 2023 to help it continue to meet the growing needs of our community’s most vulnerable population, children who are victims of physical and/or sexual abuse.
HSSA will grant Passages Family Support $67,500 to be used toward the purchase of a used RV to deliver behavioral services into the community with Certified Peer Counselors.
Spokane Prescription Assistance Network (SPAN) will receive $30,000. It is one of the most cost-effective programs HSSA funds with a 27 to 1 return on investment. SPAN provides free and lost-cost prescriptions to patients who otherwise cannot afford them.
“HSSA’s mission includes increasing access to care through innovative and collaborative health care delivery in the County, in addition to funding scientific research and infrastructure to grow the life sciences industry in Spokane,” said Jason Thackston, HSSA Board Chair.
HSSA’s grant competition helps to meet one of its strategic goals to increase access to health delivery services in Spokane County for at risk populations and represents a fund of about 15 percent of annual revenues designated for this purpose.
“To date HSSA has awarded approximately $4.5 million in this category, providing resources to those organizations in our County who do the important work with people who might otherwise not receive health care services, and HSSA’s Access to Care grant program also helps decrease costs while improving health care services,” Thackston said.
HSSA’s other strategic initiative is to increase local health sciences research and the infrastructure that supports it and designates 75 percent of its revenues for that purpose. In the latter case, the grants are open year-round for proposals at any time, and HSSA has invested over $8 million in health science research and infrastructure grants to date. HSSA was successful in achieving reauthorization for 15 years by the legislature, thanks to state and local legislative leadership and local partners, Thackston said.
Together with its Access to Care grants, the organization estimates that it has created over 500 jobs and over $100 million in total economic activity. This includes over $ 70 million in extramural federal grant funding to Spokane. More information about all HSSA grants may be found at www.hssaspokane.org.

Sincere thanks to the Spokane County Commissioners for yesterday unanimously passing an ordinance that extends the deferral of .02 percent of county-wide sales & use tax from the state to support HSSA in its mission for 15 years. No increase in taxes.

Our WSU Steve Gleason Institute of Neuroscience will love this, and likely already knows of it. Research is the key to innovative research from which new treatments and cures are derived. Let's continue to support health and life sciences research here in Spokane and elsewhere.

From Brain Waves to Real-Time Text Messaging For people who have lost the ability to speak due to a severe disability, they want to get the words out. They just can’t physically do it. But in our digital age, there is now a fascinating way to…

Alex M. Jackson, Alison Poulsen Appointed to HSSA Board of Directors

The Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County announced that two new members recently were appointed to its Board.

Alex M. Jackson, Senior Vice President, Inland Northwest Region, MultiCare Health System, and Alison Poulsen, Executive Director, Better Health Together have both been appointed by Governor Jay Inslee to four year terms.

Alex Jackson has worked in the health care industry for 25 years, first in Oregon and now Washington. He has held a variety of leadership roles including as a hospital Chief Executive as well as a medical group President. He now leads the MultiCare Health System Inland Northwest Region that includes Deaconess Medical Center and Valley hospitals, as well as a 300-person medical group, Rockwood Clinic. With an annual revenue of $700 million and 4,000 employees, MultiCare Inland Northwest is celebrating five years of meeting the health care needs in the region. See www.multicare.org.

Allison Poulsen moved from Seattle to Spokane in 2014 to join Better Health Together, established by Empire Health Foundation, to lead a team of problem solvers committed to radically improving the region’s health. Better Health Together is a community-based non-profit organization serving seven counties, including Spokane. BHT advocates for policies centered on accountability, accessibility, and affordability. It disrupts the status quo by facilitating conversations and partnerships that level the playing field for community health throughout its region. Alison has led several non-profits in the northwest including NPower NW, Seattle Works, Volunteer Works and the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce. She currently as a board member of the Washington State School Employee Benefit Board and Washington’s 211 Board. See www.betterhealthtogether.org.


About HSSA’s Board:

HSSA Board members include Jason Thackston, Board Chair, Senior VP, Chief Strategy & Clean Air Officer, Avista Corp.; Daryll DeWald, Ph.D, VP WSU Health Sciences and Chancellor, WSU Spokane; Allison Glasunow, Ph,D & Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP; Alex Jackson, Senior VP & CEO, Northwest Region, MultiCare Health Systems; Kevin Oldenburg, Ph.D. CEO/President, 2nd Sight Bioscience; Alison Poulsen, Executive Director, Better Health Together; Darryl Potyk, M.D., UW/GU Regional Director of Medical Education; David J. Vachon, Ph.D, CEO/Founder, Iasis Molecular Sciences, and Francisco Velazquez, M.D., Director, Spokane Regional Health District.

For More Information: The mission of HSSA is to invest funds to create and support a nationally competitive health sciences research cluster in Spokane County, and to increase access to health care. HSSA works collaboratively with community partners to catalyze higher education research and the health sciences industry to lead to higher wage jobs, long-term sustainability and economic diversification. For more information, visit our website at www.hssaspokane.org, or contact Susan Ashe, Executive Director, at 509.995.8356 or [email protected].

Wow! What a difference this could make.

UK scientists test lab-grown blood in first in-human trial UK researchers and the National Health Service Blood and Transplant have created blood in a laboratory and are testing the blood in a first-in-human clinical trial, with two UK patients given tiny doses to determine how it functions inside a person's body. The trial's success could mean the technolo...

Erin Williams Hueter New HSSA Executive Director

The Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County announced that it has hired Erin Williams Hueter as its Executive Director, effective January 1, 2023. She replaces Susan Ashe who has served in this role since the organization was created.

“We are extremely pleased that Erin will be joining HSSA and will provide strategic leadership that, with our Board, will lead us into our next phase of operation,” said Jason Thackston, HSSA Board Chair. “Erin has an outstanding reputation in her career as the Inland Northwest Director of Lutheran Community Services Northwest.”

Williams Hueter has been working in human services and violence prevention since the mid-1990s, and has been involved in the innovative training recovery work at Lutheran Commumnity Services Northwest, most recently as its Director. She has a bachelor’s of arts degree from Pacific University, with a major in Social Work. She is a graduate of the Leadership Spokane program, and has received many honors for achievements in her field.

“The HSSA Board also is very grateful for Susan Ashe’s incredible commitment to HSSA since its inception and to our greater Spokane community,” said Thackston. “Her contributions to Spokane are numerous throughout her career in both private and public organizations, and the community has been served well. Susan has set a strong foundation for HSSA and we are confident that Erin will continue that great work.”

During her tenure, HSSA has invested nearly $14 million in research to both private and academic companies and institutions, and supported innovative and affordable health care in Spokane County. HSSA has created hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, assisted bringing over $50 million dollars of extramural funding (new dollars to our local economy), and created over $100 million in total economic activity. In addition, HSSA assists start-up health and life sciences companies with grant-writing funds.

Erin Williams Hueter was hired after a search conducted by both HSSA Board and community members. The Search Committee was led by Attorney Nancy Isserlis, former HSSA Board Chair, David Vachon, CEO/Founder, Iasis Molecular Sciences and Dr. Francisco Velázquez, Spokane Regional Health District Director, both members of the HSSA Board; and, Kim Pearman-Gillman, Senior Vice President, Numerica Credit Union, and Marcelo Morales, CEO/President, Allele Diagnostics and current Chair of Greater Spokane Incorporated, both community leaders.

Questions may be referred to Susan Ashe at [email protected].


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HSSA BOARD MEMBERS

HSSA Board members include Jason Thackston, Board Chair, Senior VP, Chief Strategy & Clean Energy Officer, Avista Corp.; Daryll DeWald, Ph.D., VP WSU Health Sciences and Chancellor, WSU Spokane; Allison Glasunow, Ph.D. & Counsel, Perkins Coie LLP; Alex Jackson, Senior VP & CEO, Northwest Region, MultiCare Health Systems; Kevin Oldenburg, Ph.D. CEO/President, 2nd Sight Bioscience; Alison Poulsen, Executive Director, Better Health Together; Darryl Potyk, M.D., UW/GU Regional Director of Medical Education; David J. Vachon, Ph.D., CEO/Founder, Iasis Molecular Sciences, and Francisco Velazquez, M.D., Director, Spokane Regional Health District.

Copyright © 2022 Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA), All rights reserved.
You are receiving this e-newsletter because you have expressed interest in the HSSA or you are an important person

The HSSA Board will convene a Special Board meeting Monday, October 31, 2022, 11 AM via Zoom.
The sole purpose of this meeting is to take action to appoint a new Executive Director.
If you wish to join the meeting, contact [email protected].

Here’s a reminder for HSSA’s Oct. 26th Board meeting at 3 PM.
We will meet in the Hemmingson Center on the Gonzaga University campus in HEMM 316 (3rd Floor, Loyola Dining Room. HSSA Board meetings are open to the public.

Thankful to President Biden for signing the reauthorization for the SBIR/STTR program, which would have expired Sept. 30th (last Friday). Big sigh of relief. The program will not expire for three more years. HSSA matches SBIR/STTR health/life sciences grants for up to $500,000. Thanks to the President and Congress for understanding how critical this program is to finding and funding health/life sciences and technology solutions for our citizens and to grow our economies.

HSSA announced its annual Access to Care grants with up to $475,000 available for non-profit and other organizations in 2023.
Details at

HSSA - Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane HSSA was established by the Washington legislature to promote bioscience-based economic development in Spokane County, and to advance new therapies and procedures to combat disease and to promote public health.

Wow! Congratulations to Roger Nyhus who just sold his business, Nyhus Communications, Seattle to Spokane's own highly regarded dh (formerly Desautel Hege) Communications. Super person who will doextremely well in his new position. As noted by me and many others, communications/PR people never "really" retire!

Seattle PR executive Roger Nyhus nominated for ambassadorship - Puget Sound Business Journal Earlier this year, the Seattle business and civic leader sold his business of nearly three decades and listed for sale his home on Capitol Hill. Here's where he could be headed next.

The September 21, 2022 HSSA Board meeting has been canceled. It will be rescheduled in October and we will provide the details of the meeting at our earliest convenience.

Two HSSA Board members among many others were introduced at yesterday’s great opening of the new UW/GU medical school. Beautiful building and terrific addition to Spokane! Dr. Darryl Potyk and Dr. Francisco Velázquez, thanks for your service to our community!

The Life Science Washington Institute (LSWI) is bringing its excellent SBIR/STTR training to Spokane. Its Part II class will be here on Sept 15th, and will be held in person/hybrid at the WSU Innovation Building (120 N Pine St) in Spokane. Richard Giersch is the esteemed presenter and you won't find many better than him.

Big Pharma turns its attrention to Diversity,
Equity and Inclusion and it's showing results.

The top 10 Big Pharmas for their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in 2022 Pharma’s reputation may have soared amid the pandemic, but that came with a brighter spotlight on diversity, equity and inclusion issues. In recent years, pharma has been trying to incorporate DEI more deeply into its corporate psyche. Long accused of paying lip service to DEI issues, the rise of ...

HSSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION OPEN
Only 15 days left to send in your letter of interest and resume to [email protected] to be considered for the Executive Director position! Wonderful opportunity! To learn more about the position go to

HSSA - Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane HSSA was established by the Washington legislature to promote bioscience-based economic development in Spokane County, and to advance new therapies and procedures to combat disease and to promote public health.

Congratulations to Rui Costa, new CEO of the Allen Institute! Come see all we are doing
in Spokane related to brain research and the work of the Steve Gleason Institute of Neuroscience!
Welcome!

Allen Institute names new leader after yearlong search Rui Costa is taking over for longtime CEO Allan Jones, who announced in January plans to step down but remain on the institute's board.

Everyone should pay attention to what's happening to our state's hospital systems, including Providence and MultiCare in Spokane.

Washington state hospitals lost nearly $1B in first quarter, survey finds - Puget Sound Business Journal To prevent service reductions and closures, the state Legislature set up an $8 million emergency relief fund, but it may not be enough, a trade group says.

Looks like rocky times for Seattle tech companies. How are we doing in our region?
Unless I missed it, I did not note any health IT or medical-related tech
companies, at least in this article.

These Seattle-area tech companies have laid off employees in recent months Last year, local startups pursued ambitious growth plans as investors showered them with record-shattering amounts of venture capital. This year's been starkly different.

The life science economy in Seattle is still strong and growing.

Oxford Properties Group says new Seattle tower mostly full - Puget Sound Business Journal The 10-story tower is home to mostly homegrown life science companies.

July 18, 2022

Health Sciences & Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION OPEN

The Health Sciences and Services Authority (HSSA) of Spokane County seeks a full-time Executive Director to lead the organization. The position reports to a nine-person board of directors, three each of whom are appointed by the Washington State Governor, the Spokane County Commissioners and the City of Spokane Mayor.

The Executive Director represents and advocates for the organization to support its mission to invest in grants for health and life sciences innovative research that helps grow the industry and improve the local economy.

Skills include organizational leadership and management experience, excellent communicator/advocate, project management, computer competency, good relations with community, state and regional leaders, health/life science industry relationships and experience, and with government elected officials and staff. This person must be a self-motivated and passionate about HSSA’s mission.

Interested applicants should respond with a cover letter and resume e-mailed to [email protected] by August 18, 2022. HSSA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

HSSA was created in 2007 for 15 years by the Washington State Legislature, authorized in 2008 by the
Spokane County Commissioners, and began operating in 2009. To date it has in invested $8 million in research grants that brought to Spokane $50 million in extramural funding and over $100 million in economic activity. In addition, HSSA has spent nearly $4 million to fund organizations that increase access to health care for certain populations, and to reduce costs. HSSA’s overhead remains under 10 percent.

HSSA’s long-time Executive Director Susan Ashe is retiring. A Search Committee led by former Board Chair and attorney Nancy Isserlis has been formed. Ashe will likely be with HSSA until fall after a successor is found. More information about the search process will be forthcoming.
See more on this story at

HSSA - Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane

The HSSA Board will meet Wednesday, June 15th at 3 PM. The meeting is in the WSU Academic Building, 5th Floor Conference Room 501. See the Agenda at www.hssaspokane.org website in Agendas/Minutes. HSSA meetings are open to the public.

HSSA - Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane HSSA was established by the Washington legislature to promote bioscience-based economic development in Spokane County, and to advance new therapies and procedures to combat disease and to promote public health.

Spokane's Selkirk Pharma, an injectable drugs fill-finish manufacturer, has constructed a new site in Airway Heights and is currently qualifying its first manuacturing line for both commercial and clinical trial drugs, with production starting in early 2023. The company has announced construction of two new additional filling lines with production starting in 2025. Selkirk's CEO is Patrick Haffey, and its Vice President and Head of Commercial Operations is John Bertagnolli

The new Washington State R&D and Manufacturing Tax Incentive Program (SB 5901) passed by the state legislature this year would allow companies to defer (and then waive) up to $400,000 (per project) of sales and use tax associated with building, expanding, or renovating qualified R&D and/or manufacturing facilities in all counties except King, Snohomish, and Pierce. The state sales and use tax rate is 6.5 percent; local sales and use tax rates vary from 0.5 to 3.9 percent, depending on the location.

Penny and Phil Knight of Nike fame, just donated $75 MILLION to Stanford University for the study of Brain Resilience in cases of altzheimers, Parkinson’s and other related diseases. Congratulations! Phil needs to learn about WSU Spokane’s Steve Gleason Institute of Neuroscience which focuses on similar diseases beginning with ALS.

Join us for an exciting event!!

Health Sciences & Services Authority of Spokane County (HSSA) HSSA invests funds to grow public and private biosciences research capacity in Spokane County and improve our economy.

HSSA was pleased to help Dr. Hosseinabad with her research, and wish her the best.

EWU Faculty Researcher Awarded Grant From HSSA of Spokane County - InsideEWU Research will benefit children who are impacted by cleft palate and need speech therapy to learn how to properly pronounce sounds.

Great team — more than in this picture — representing Spokane life sciences at LSW Innovation NW in Seattle this week.

Big 8-story life science development to begin construction soon near Seattle Space Needle.

With longtime Seattle McDonald's closed, construction of life science project to start soon, says Lincoln Property Co. exec - Puget Sound Business Journal Demand for new life sciences lab space is skyrocketing. At the end of last year, life sciences companies were seeking 1.2 million square feet of lab space. This project seeks to fill some of that need.

Great article in today’s Spokesman-Review about Phase 1 of the WSU Steve Gleason Institute of Neuroscience, including HSSA sharing the idea with Lisa Brown when she was Chancellor, to working with Daryll DeWald who ran with the idea, to providing funding for this phase of the project on East Sprague!! Congratulations to WSU and everyone associated with the Gleason Institute. And special recognition and thanks to Spokane’s own Steve Gleason.

Sacajawea students see new perspective at Gleason Institute By Jim AllenTHE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW Last week, teacher Kim Taylor and her

Life science property realty development remains hot in Seattle region.

Life sciences developer pays $127M for large Seattle block at Denny and Dexter - Puget Sound Business Journal The new owner is seeking permits to demolish the Downtown Spirits and a shuttered motel on the 1.6-acre property across the street from Denny Park.

Dr. Paul Ramsey has served the University of Washington Medicine as CEO and the entire region with his talent and vision for many years, and we thank him for his dedicated service. In addition, under his watch, the WWAMI program has had a strong relationship training new docs in Spokane for nearly 50 years, and we now see the new UW/GU School of Medicine in Spokane wrapping up construction at the Health Peninsula. Thank you for your leadership and vision.

University of Washington Medicine CEO Paul Ramsey to retire after 25 years - Puget Sound Business Journal

Human Brain Compresses Working Memories into Low-Res ‘Summaries’ You have probably done it already a few times today. Paused to remember a password, a shopping list, a phone number, or maybe the score to last night’s ballgame. The ability to store and recall nee…

Seattle health care organizations complete restructure plan, forming Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center - Puget Sound Business Journal The plan was originally publicized in July, and also includes UW Medicine and Seattle Children’s.

Leen Kawas launches investment firm for biotech.

Former Athira CEO Leen Kawas launches biotech investment firm Leen Kawas, the former CEO of Athira Pharma, is launching a firm called Propel Bio Partners.

Biden maps next steps for Cancer Moonshot program President Joe Biden announced the next steps for the revived Cancer Moonshot program aimed at halving the number of cancer deaths in the next 25 years and enhancing quality of life for those who have cancer or have recovered from the disease. Steps include efforts by the FDA to cut morbidity and mor...

Cancer sucks! We see this posted on social media and elsewhere. Here's the
latest on President Biden's Cancer Moonshot efforts.

Biden maps next steps for Cancer Moonshot program President Joe Biden announced the next steps for the revived Cancer Moonshot program aimed at halving the number of cancer deaths in the next 25 years and enhancing quality of life for those who have cancer or have recovered from the disease. Steps include efforts by the FDA to cut morbidity and mor...

Here are some important life science events for you to note in your calendar.
o Life Science Innovation Northwest, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, April 20-21
o BIO International Convention, June 13-16, San Diego, CA
o LSW East-West Summit, June 29-30, WSU Spokane campus (HSSA is a co-sponsor)
o Washington State Life Science Summit, October 21