Dr. Jonathan Sugarman, a dedicated advocate for improving health care quality in the state of Washington, passed away earlier this month during an expedition on Mt. Everest.  

Throughout his long and impactful career, Dr. Sugarman served for two decades as the president and CEO of Qualis Health, now known as Comagine, driving positive change in care throughout the region. Trained as a family medicine physician at the University of Washington, Dr. Sugarman served as a clinical professor of Global Health and Family Practice at the University.  

For a time, Dr. Sugarman practiced medicine one night a week at the Seattle Indian Health Board and served as a founding site director for a residency program there. 

“Quality of care for all individuals matters. Leaders like Jonathan Sugarman helped make a difference in moving us closer to a health care system in which everyone receives proper, appropriate and affordable care,” said Dr. Drew Oliveira, the Alliance’s executive director.  

Read Comagine’s remembrance of Dr. Sugarman.