Greetings and happy new year! I am honored to serve as the chair of the Washington State Board of Massage. In this role, it is important for me to ensure a collaborative work environment between board members and the public.

Thank you for taking the time to read the Board of Massage’s newsletter. The newsletter’s goal is to be a valuable communication tool to keep all licensed massage therapists informed and up to date. To achieve this goal, we welcome your feedback and input.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust us into a new world of challenges. Whether you are a healthcare provider or a consumer, it has disrupted our lives in ways we never could have imagined. These are challenging times, and we hope that everyone is taking care of themselves and staying as safe as possible.

The Board of Massage has had many important projects in the past several years. I’m happy to say in 2020 we were able to complete a large rules project that updates our educational programs along with making other important clarifications for practicing LMTs. The new rules are the result of three years of collaborative work between the Board, Department and Washington’s massage community. Thanks to all who gave us thoughtful comments and insights during the process. The final version will be effective Sept 1, 2021.

We are all grateful to serve the state of Washington as we continue to uphold the board’s and department’s mission and dedication to protecting and improving the health of all Washingtonians.