Idaho WWAMI is proud to honor four members of its extended WWAMI-ly who were named to the Idaho Business Review’s Idaho 500. This year’s honorees include longtime Boise VA physician-educator Dr. Paula Carvalho and Director of the North Idaho Area Health Center Liz Bryant, as well as Idaho WWAMI Advisory Board members Skip Oppenheimer and Brian Whitlock.
For Dr. Paula Carvalho, who has spent more than three decades at the Boise VA, the recognition underscores the strength of Idaho’s medical education pipeline and the unique role WWAMI has played in shaping it.
“One constant has been the presence of the Idaho WWAMI program and its role in providing medical education in Idaho,” she said.
She noted that as Idaho WWAMI-trained physicians have returned to their home communities to practice, they often pay it forward by mentoring students, an educational cycle she calls essential to strengthening Idaho’s health-care system.
“The other factor that I find very satisfying is the number of Idaho physicians who have sons and daughters in medicine who return to Idaho to practice,” she said.
Dr. Carvalho’s connection to Idaho began when she arrived as a fourth-year UW medical student for a Boise VA clerkship, an experience that inspired her return for residency and ultimately a long career of teaching. Her dedication to opening doors for future physicians has remained a defining theme.
“I opened the ICU at the VA for observerships for undergraduate students who are interested in or pursuing pre-medical training,” she said. “These experiences, and easy access, are very important, and we do not want to limit experiences for those who may become future physicians.”
Liz Bryant was also recognized for her many years of service at the Boise VA and her contributions to
clinical education in Idaho. She described the Idaho 500 recognition as “truly meaningful,” adding that it affirms the collective effort underway to strengthen health care statewide.
“More than an honor, this recognition highlights how essential health care education is to Idaho’s future,” she said. “When people have access to quality care and education, it not only improves individual lives but also builds stronger, more resilient communities.”
Bryant emphasized the pivotal role Idaho WWAMI plays in shaping the next generation of physicians.
“Idaho WWAMI is the backbone of our state’s health care pipeline,” she said.
She adds that training students in Idaho helps them build connections to the communities they will eventually serve, whether in small rural towns or larger urban centers.
Her approach to mentorship and community service is rooted in early experiences directing an intermediate-care facility for adults with intellectual disabilities and later advising aspiring health-profession students. She said those roles taught her the power of “team-based, person-centered care” and the importance of collaborating with students, colleagues, and partners statewide to strengthen Idaho’s health-care future.
Overall, these Idaho Business Review recognitions showcase the breadth of leadership, service, and long-standing commitment that continue to advance Idaho WWAMI’s mission across the state.