In the heart of Anchorage, Alaska, Amanda Beery, MD, is not only providing care for women of all ages; she’s also shaping the next generation of physicians. A full-time OB/GYN and managing partner at Alaska Women’s Health, she is equally proud to call herself an Alaska WWAMI alum and medical educator.
Dr. Beery’s earliest inspiration came from her mother, who never finished high school but embodied compassion and empathy in everything she did.
That foundation, coupled with an influential high school project on prenatal genetic testing and an early mentorship experience with a local OB/GYN, set her path toward medicine.
WWAMI played a pivotal role in that journey. As a first-generation college graduate, Beery appreciated the program’s unique support.
“The knowledge that my debt burden would be decreased if I followed my dream and returned home to practice was a comfort during school,” she said.
Equally valuable was the ability to stay connected to Alaska throughout her training.
“Without WWAMI, every Alaskan medical student would have to leave the state for education. By the same token, the local clerkships teach medicine the way it is practiced here in the state — away from the academic centers. Still, I think the most value was in the quality of teaching. When students are in a six-week clerkship learning one-on-one with an attending, those students benefit greatly from that focused attention.”
That lesson in hands-on, personal teaching has shaped how she now welcomes students into her own clinic.
“I truly believe the most important role of physician is as an educator,” she explained. “Teaching students is part of the promise we make when we become doctors: that we will share our knowledge with those who follow us is a part of the Hippocratic Oath, and it is incredibly important.”
Watching students learn and grow is among the most rewarding parts of her work.
“I am honored to be a part of their journey,” she said.
Her story embodies the WWAMI mission.