Dr. David Shinstrom, Nominee for the Jefferson Public Service Award.
Contributed by Karen Key Speck
Congratulations to Orcas Island family physician Dr. David Shinstrom who has been nominated for the 2010 Washington State Jefferson Awards for Public Service.
Initiated in 1972 to create a “Nobel Prize” for public service, Seattle’s City Club Jefferson Awards honor ordinary citizens who do extraordinary things for others. Five volunteers from Washington State will receive the State Jefferson Award for their outstanding volunteerism. The winners will be judged by a panel of community leaders and their stories will be told on King5 TV’s Evening Magazine the week of April 5-9.
One winner will represent our state in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Shinstrom has held fast to the beliefs of the “old time country doctor” which include care for all without concern for ability to pay. He makes house calls, participates in mercy flights to take patients for mainland treatments and hospitalization and follows up with direct phone calls to patients and families after hours and when not on call. The doctor mentors medical students and provides a scholarship for local deserving medical students pursuing the field of medicine. Additionally, Shinstrom has waived his fees numerous times over the last few years to assure care for all is available and that his staff is paid.
He combines his love of flight with community service. Dr. Shinstrom is President of Chapter #937 of the Experimental Aircraft Association and he is a volunteer for the Young Eagles and Old Buzzards Programs. His outreach extends beyond the shores of Orcas for he has provided medical care to Nepali citizens in a remote mountain village clinic in the Everest Region of Nepal.
The “Apple A Day” column in the local paper and first aid, bottled water and blood pressure checks at the annual Library Fair are other ways in which Dr. Shinstrom reaches out to our community. He has also received Group Health Cooperative’s Award of Excellence, and Regence Blue Shield’s Clinician Performance Award.
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