The Western Association of Physicians (WAP) is a regional health association of academic physician-scientists founded in 1955 by Robert Williams, the Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Washington, and other eminent physicians with the aim of establishing a western society analogous to the Association of American Physicians. Its mission is to encourage interest in academic medicine; to foster and celebrate excellence; to encourage collaboration among members; to mentor junior faculty, residents, fellows and medical students; and to invite leading authorities to speak on topics intended to extend biomedical knowledge and improve patient care.