Bookmark & ShareHealth Technology Clinical Committee
A key component of the HTA program is the use of an independent committee of eleven practicing health care professionals to use the technology assessment reports on the strength of evidence to make coverage decisions. Authorizing legislation requires the Health Care Authority (HCA) Administrator to appoint eleven committee members that include six practicing physicians and five other practicing licensed health professionals who use health technology in their scope of practice. At least two members of the committee must have professional experience treating women, children, elderly persons, and people with diverse ethnic and racial background. See RCW 70.14.090. Committee members cannot work for one of the participating state agencies or have a substantial financial conflict of interest, such as an interest in a health technology company, including the holding of stock options, or the receipt of honoraria or consultant moneys, membership requirements (e.g. confidentiality).
The eleven appointed members bring a diverse set of experience, clinical expertise, practice specialties, advanced education, and knowledge of using evidence in health care. The members are:
C. Craige Blackmore, MD, MPH
Dr. Blackmore is the Scientific Director of the Center for Healthcare Solutions at Virginia Mason
Medical Center and is an Affiliate Professor of Radiology at the University of Washington. His
research interests include cost-effectiveness and outcomes analysis of radiology imaging studies
and evidence-based use of imaging. His work has focused on imaging in spine trauma and pelvic
fractures. Blackmore received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of
Medicine and Dentistry in 1990; and a master’s in public health from the University of Washington
in 1997, through the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program. He completed a Diagnostic
Radiology residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Dr. Blackmore is a co-editor for the
text: Evidence Based Imaging: Optimizing Imaging for Patient Care, and has published over 50
articles in peer-reviewed journals. He has also served on the Editorial Boards of the journals
Academic Radiology, AJR, and the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Blackmore has
delivered numerous lectures on evidence based imaging in the US and Europe.
Brian R. Budenholzer, MD, FAAFP
Brian Budenholzer is a family physician in Spokane, Washington. He graduated from the University of
Southern California - School of Medicine in 1980 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor
society. He trained as a family physician in Charleston, SC. He has been honored as a fellow of
the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Budenholzer continues to embrace the joy of giving
medical care to families – from birth to old age including an active practice of prenatal care and
delivering babies. Dr. Budenholzer is trained in evidence-based medicine and provides evidence-based
medicine expertise in his work for Group Health. He began his medical career providing medical care
to Navajo Indians serving with the Indian Health Service in New Mexico. He joined Group Health in
1986 and has been their regional director of Clinical Enhancement and Development since 1994. He
has been an evidence-based medicine section editor for two medical journals. When not practicing
medicine Dr. Budenholzer loves to ski, travel and spend time with his wife and children. This year
he is thrilled that his daughter’s high school won the Washington state 4A boy’s basketball
championship.
Jay Klarnet, MD, MS
Dr. Klarnet is a medical oncologist practicing with Multicare Medical Center in Tacoma, WA. Dr.
Klarnet has been in practice since 1990. His interests include immunology and stem cell therapy.
Dr. Klarnet is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Puget Sound
Oncology Consortium (PSOC).
Louise Kaplan, RN, MN, PhD, ARNP
Dr. Kaplan, Family Nurse Practitioner has a full time appointment as an Assistant Professor at
Washington State University, Vancouver, WA; and is an affiliate Assistant Professor at the
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Dr. Kaplan has been a family nurse practitioner since
1981; and maintains a part time practice at The Clinic in Elma, WA. Dr. Kaplan is a member of the
Washington State Nurses Association’s Legislative and Health Policy Council; a pro team member
of the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission; participates on the Consortium
Advisory Committee; Health Care Authority’s Prescription Drug Program; and serves on the Thurston
County Community Health Task Force.
Megan Morris, M.S., CCC-SLP
Ms. Morris is a Speech and Language Pathologist for the University of Washington Medical Center,
Seattle, and at Good Samaritan Hospital, Puyallup, WA. She is also seeking her PhD in
Rehabilitation Science from the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Ms. Morris has been in
practice since 2005. Ms. Morris is a member of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
Michael Myint, MD, MS
Dr. Myint is a Physician at Polyclinic, Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, WA; and the Medical
Director of Epidemiology and Infection Control at Swedish Medical Center. Dr. Myint is also an
associate clinical instructor for the University of Washington, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer
Research Center, and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Dr. Myint has been in practice
since 2003. Dr. Myint is a member of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA);
American College of Physicians; Infectious Disease Society of America, Washington State Medical
Association, King County Healthcare Coalition – Infectious Disease sub-group member; and
Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Carson E. Odegard, DC, MPH
Dr. Odegard is a Chiropractor and Director at the Odegard Chiropractic Clinic, Kirkland
Professional Center in Kirkland, WA. Dr. Odegard has been in practice since 1980. He is a
member of the Washington State Public Health Association; American Academy of Spine Physicians;
American Public Health Association; Foundation for Chiropractic Education and Research; and the
American Chiropractic Association.
Richard C. Phillips, MD, MS, MPH, FACS
Dr. Phillips is cardio-thoracic surgeon with board certifications in both General and
Thoracic surgery. He received undergraduate and Medical Degrees from Stanford University and
completed training in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford University Hospital
and University of Colorado Medical Center. After 20 years of private practice in predominantly
cardiac surgery, Dr. Phillips began part-time clinical practice in 2000 while enrolled in
graduate studies at the University of Washington, earning graduate degrees in Public Health
(MPH) and Medical Informatics (MS). With strong interests in Patient Safety and Outcomes
Research and with experience and training in evidence-based medicine, Dr. Phillips has been a
management committee member of the Washington Clinical Outcome Assessment Program since its
inception in 1996. With strong interests and skills in data management and analyses, Dr.
Phillips works actively to promote transparency of healthcare information and to advocate for
healthcare consumers.
Michelle Simon, PhD, ND
Dr. Simon is a naturopathic physician in private practice at the Seattle Healing Arts Center in
Seattle, WA. She has been practicing since 2002. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is co-director of the Communities in Need /
Integrated Care Options Project (CIN/ICO), which is in collaboration with the Washington Association
of Naturopathic Physicians (WANP). She is a member of the WANP and the American Association of
Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).
Michael Souter, MB, Ch-B, DA, FRCA
Dr. Souter is an Anesthesiologist at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA, and a Medical
Co-director of Neurosurgical Critical Care at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA. He is also
an Associate Professor in the departments of Anesthesiology and Neurological Surgery for the
University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Dr. Souter has practiced in the United States since 2001.
Dr. Souter is a member of Washington State Society of Anesthesiologist; American Society of
Anesthesiologists; Society of Critical Care Medicine; International Anesthesia Research Society;
and the Society for Technology in Anesthesia.
Christopher J. Standaert, MD
Dr. Standaert is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, specializing in non-operative
spine care and neuro-musculoskeletal rehabilitation with UW Sports and Spine Physicians at
Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Dr. Standaert is also a clinical associate professor
in the departments of Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, and
Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Dr. Standaert graduated
from Harvard Medical School and completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
at the University of Washington followed by a fellowship in spine and musculoskeletal medicine
in West Springfield, MA. Dr. Standaert has been in practice since 1996. Dr. Standaert
currently serves on the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council for the Department of Health
and Human Services and is a member of the American Academy of Neuromuscular and
Electrodiagnostic Medicine; American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation;
American Medical Association; and the North American Spine Society. He has a strong
interest in the advancement of effective clinical practice for spine and musculolskeletal
disorders and frequently writes and speaks on related topics.
History of Documents:
Committee Chair and Vice Chair Announcement (62.5 KB)
Committee Selection Announcement (1.2 MB)
