Julia Swanson, MD

I grew up in the close-knit community of Brownsville, Washington and attended Pomona College in Southern California for my undergraduate studies in biology and history. After college, I taught community cooking and gardening classes in Vancouver, Washington before coordinating a program that fosters youth empowerment through cycling in underserved schools within the greater Seattle-Tacoma region.

I attended medical school at Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. I was drawn to WSU for its mission to serve as a leader and advocate for the needs of communities in Washington. Through mentorship of many excellent teachers, I became a better advocate for patients outside of the clinic through community organizing, political lobbying, and leadership within reproductive health and LGBTQI+ health.

After residency, I want to become a full spectrum family physician serving in a rural Washington community. Rural family medicine is where I see myself having the greatest impact on structural barriers to health. First, by providing care to those who are critically underserved. Second, by using my public health background to address community concerns. I am incredibly excited to start that journey here at Valley Family Medicine with my many wonderful co-residents.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outside with my partner, two kids, and our dog Patti. I am a breakfast enthusiast – from pancakes to challah French toast. When I am not in clinic, you can find me at Costco, in the garden, or listening to latin jazz and bossa nova music.