Marja Lia Haflinger, DO

Hello! I grew up on Vashon Island, Washington where I spent my time riding horses and later rowing on the local crew team. I attended the University of Washington for my undergraduate degree, where I earned a B.A. in Communications. After graduation, I worked in human resources before deciding to pursue a career in medicine. I attended Seattle University to complete my prerequisite coursework while working as a teacher’s assistant at an elementary school. Next, I worked first as a phlebotomist in an urgent care clinic and then as a medical assistant at a dermatology clinic. 

I completed medical school at Pacific Northwest University in Yakima, Washington. During my time in Yakima, I primarily worked with rural and underserved populations. Through these experiences, I developed an appreciation for family medicine, seeing the broad scope of skills that family medicine physicians must have as well as the relationships they develop with their patients.

Within family medicine, I especially enjoy caring for patients of all ages — “from womb to tomb,” as one of my mentors described it — as well as women’s health, sports medicine, and dermatology. While I loved living in Yakima, my husband and I missed the west side of the mountains and are excited to move back home for my residency and once again be surrounded by the lush, green environment and the rain.

Outside of medicine, I like spending time with my family and my dog, Hawkeye (named after Hawkeye Pierce from MASH), as well as reading and cross-country skiing.