In this issue:
- Regional RUOP Information Sessions
- ICYMI: AOA Mentorship Matching Opportunity
- ICYMI: AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
- Career Advising Tip of the Month
Regional RUOP Information Sessions
Regional RUOP Information Session dates are now scheduled! This is your chance to learn more about the RUOP experience and ask any questions you may have. You can view your region’s info session date and time below, and Zoom information is listed in your Elentra calendar. Additionally, updates will be posted to the E25 Triple I Canvas page, so be sure to check that site to stay on top of future announcements.
MONTANA
November 14th (Friday) from 11:30AM – 12:30 PM Mountain / 10:30 – 11:30 AM Pacific
ALASKA
November 6th (Thursday) from 12:00 – 1:00 PM Alaska / 1:00 – 2:00 PM Pacific
SPOKANE
November 13th (Thursday) from 11:30AM – 12:30 PM Pacific
IDAHO
November 14th (Friday) from 12:00 – 1:00 PM Pacific
WYOMING
Date/Time TBD
SEATTLE
November 12th (Wednesday) from 6:00 – 7:00 PM Pacific
AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship
The UW AOA chapter invites you to apply for the 2026 AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship. UW AOA will be nominating one student from UWSOM-WWAMI to represent the UW chapter at the national selection. The award includes a $7,000 scholarship to support your research, to be conducted over a 2-12-month period (minimum of 240 hours). The research should focus on clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, social science/health services research, leadership, or professionalism.
This opportunity is open to first- and second-year students who do not already have and are not pursuing a PhD. You do not need to be a member of AOA to apply, and the opportunity is open to students at all WWAMI sites. Additional information, including a list of required application components, can be found here.
All application materials must be submitted via email to the members listed below by 11:59 PM PST on December 21, 2025.
Cheri Chambers [cheriliu@uw.edu]
Miranda Li [mli62@uw.edu]
Brian Riley [briley1@uw.edu]
Crystal Tam [crysjt8@uw.edu]
AOA Mentorship Matching Opportunity
Medical school can be challenging—academically, physically, and emotionally. A little wisdom from someone who’s been there can make a big difference. The UW chapter of Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) is offering mentorship between MS4 AOA members and any interested pre-clinical or clinical students across all WWAMI sites.
Whether you’d like guidance on residency choices, research, Step study strategies, or simply how to stay healthy and balanced in med school, an AOA mentor can help.
Sign up to be paired with an MS4 Mentor: Survey Link
Use your UW Google account to access the form. The survey closes Friday, November 14 at 11:59 PM PST.
Matches will be shared in December. Spots are limited, so sign up early!
Questions? Reach out to Heidi Taggart (htaggart@uw.edu) and Armita Norouzi (anorouzi@uw.edu).
Career Advising Student Advisory Board Tip of the Month
This advice is for all students and includes first-generation and BIPOC student lenses.
You’ve now heard about our school’s summer Independent Investigative Inquiry (III) requirement. There are multiple ways to fulfill this requirement.
The Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) is a great way to build up your clinical skills while making a real impact in a local community. RUOP, along with programs like Discovery and Integration and Global Health Immersion Program (GHIP) are valuable no matter which specialty you end up choosing.
If you’re aiming for a very competitive specialty that recommends research, it’s a good idea to do research next summer. Don’t stress if it’s not directly related to your field of interest – that’s pretty common! Residency programs value the experience and your ability to produce meaningful results in different areas of medicine. Research not your jam? No worries! Lots of specialties don’t need it.
Check out the advice from specialty career advisors in the UWSOM Specialty Guides under “Foundations Phase Planning” on how to “Get Engaged with this Specialty” and “Extracurricular Planning.” Wondering where your career path may take you in med school? You can start exploring specialties with interest group events and the Career Advising Video Library.
- Reviewed by MS4 Cara Chapman. Originally written by alum Shanelle Briggs, MD.
We welcome tips and ideas from all students. Please reach out to Career Advising at medadv@uw.edu.
This link will take you to past information for MS1s.