From rural clinics to cutting-edge clinical science, Idaho WWAMI medical students took center stage in November, showcasing research that’s shaping the future of patient care across the Northwest.
The second-year Idaho WWAMI students gathered for the Research Symposium to present a wide range of projects reflecting both scientific rigor and a deep commitment to improving health in communities across Idaho and the WWAMI region.
From clinical outcomes and discovery-driven investigations to rural and community-based projects, the symposium highlighted how Idaho’s future physicians are using research to tackle real-world health challenges.
Students shared posters and presentations spanning topics such as patient outcomes, access to care, public health interventions, and new approaches to diagnosis and treatment. The event also provided a forum for students to explain their work to peers and faculty, strengthening skills in scientific communication, collaboration, and evidence-based thinking: core tools for their future careers as physicians.
This year’s symposium concluded with awards recognizing exceptional research across four major categories:
- Scholarship of Discovery Award – McKenna Karsten
- Community-Based Research Award – Abigail Ellison
- RUOP (Rural Underserved Opportunities Program) Project Award – Shawn Justesen
- Clinical Outcome-Based Research Award – Chase Crandall
Faculty reviewers also named a group of Honorable Mentions for outstanding work in each category, recognizing both the quality of the research and its potential impact:
- Outstanding Clinical Outcome-Based Research – Amanda Lee and Sayujya Timilsena
- Outstanding RUOP Project Award – Jeff Mitchell and Nicholas Thorpe
- Outstanding Community-Based Research Award – Sophia Stewart and Hannah Hardin
- Outstanding Scholarship of Discovery Award – Sebastian Svoboda-Powell and Joshua Bogren
These projects are the result of months of dedicated work, completed during the summer between the first and second years of medical school, when students pursue research aligning with their interests and the needs of the communities they serve.
