International Privacy Day is recognized on Jan. 28 and WaTech is celebrating Privacy Week this year from Jan. 26 to Jan. 30. Privacy week helps raise awareness about online privacy and reminds us to think about how we share our personal information.
To celebrate and recognize Privacy Week 2026, WaTech’s Office of Data and Privacy Protection (OPDP) is highlighting privacy in healthcare. We’ll revisit core privacy principles and what they look like in practice when working with sensitive health data. OPDP will host webinars and interviews to help you catch up on the latest discussions around healthcare privacy, evolving laws and standards, and emerging technologies.
Presentations
HIPAA Basics – Understanding the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules
January 26, 2026 ｜2–3 p.m.
Katy Ruckle State Chief Privacy Officer - WaTech
Matt King Privacy & Data Protection Manager - WaTech
Sofiya Ahmed Privacy & Data Protection Manager - WaTech
Please join us for the kickoff to Privacy Week 2026! This presentation will cover the origin of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)...read more
Confidentiality and Civil Rights: Privacy Protections for People in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
January 27, 2026 ｜10–11 a.m.
Jacqueline Seitz Deputy Director of Health Privacy - Legal Action Center
This session will explore how health data privacy protects individuals’ civil rights, with a focus on the federal confidentiality protections for substance use disorder treatment records, 42 CFR Part 2...read more
Consumer Health Privacy Issues
January 28, 2026 ｜10–11 a.m.
Jordan Wrigley Senior Technologist - Future of Privacy Forum
Jordan Francis Senior Policy Counsel - Future of Privacy Forum
This session is designed for a professional audience, including attorneys, privacy officers, public employees, tech specialists, and information security experts...read more
Children’s Health Care Privacy
January 29, 2026 ｜10–11 a.m.
Sam Mendez Privacy Officer – Washington State Health Care Authority
Sheila Nishimoto VP Compliance – Coordinated Care
Parents and guardians get broad access to information about their children in many facets of life. In health care, however, the right to access a child’s information depends on the child’s age and the type of care involved...read more
Events
Kahoot! Privacy Quiz
January 30, 2026｜10–10:30 a.m.
Come test your knowledge on privacy as we wrap up Privacy Week with a Kahoot! quiz, hosted by State Chief Privacy Officer Katy Ruckle. It will have a special emphasis on healthcare privacy.
- Meeting link (only for Kahoot! games)
OPDP crossword puzzle challenge
To celebrate Data Privacy Day, OPDP created a crossword puzzle challenge! Check it out and test your knowledge on healthcare privacy!
- Complete the puzzle below by Jan. 30 at 5 p.m.
- When finished, select the menu button at the bottom right and click on the print icon.
- Save your puzzle to PDF and then email your completed puzzle to privacy@watech.wa.gov.
- We will randomly draw a winner from all completed puzzles on Feb. 2 and announce the lucky winner.
If you have any questions, email privacy@watech.wa.gov. Good luck!