Three Montana WWAMI students received $1,000 scholarships from the Montana Medical Association (MMA) Foundation, supporting their medical education and aspirations to serve patients in Montana.
Isabelle Erickson, Emily Cleveland and Alex Wickens were selected as this year’s scholarship recipients. The Montana Physicians of Tomorrow Scholarships were presented during the MMA’s annual meeting Oct. 2–3, 2026 in Helena.
For Erickson, an E2026 student from Broadview, Montana, the scholarship is both financial support and a meaningful vote of confidence from the state’s medical community.
“Receiving this scholarship shows that Montana’s physicians and medical leaders believe in my abilities and support my desire to serve Montana as a future physician,” Erickson said. “This scholarship also helps relieve the financial burden that comes with receiving a medical education.”
Growing up on her family’s ranch in rural Montana, Erickson saw people close to her navigate serious health challenges, including her grandfather, who recovered from multiple strokes. Those experiences sparked her interest in medicine and eventually led her to volunteer at an assisted living facility and work as a medical assistant at a federally qualified health center.
“Interacting with the patients in the memory care facility was especially meaningful, as it taught me the true value of human connection,” Erickson said. Her work at the health center also gave her firsthand insight into the social and economic barriers that can affect healthcare access.
“These experiences have inspired me to pursue medicine and work toward creating more equitable healthcare for rural and underserved communities across Montana,” she said.
After residency, Erickson plans to return to Montana to practice. She is currently interested in dermatology, anesthesia or surgery.
The MMA Foundation scholarships provide financial support to Montana WWAMI students as they prepare for careers in medicine and consider how they can serve communities across the state.
Erickson said she is grateful to the many people who have supported her path to medicine, including her family, friends, host family, teammates and coaches at Carroll College.