Match Day marked a pivotal milestone for Alaska WWAMI student Thomas Hanks, who learned he will train in neurosurgery at the University of Washington. Originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, Hanks moved to Anchorage just before starting high school, a transition that helped shape both his personal and professional path. Now, after years of study and […]
Excitement and anticipation quickly turned into celebration on Match Day as Alaska WWAMI fourth-year student Alaina Prince learned where she will begin the next phase of her medical training. Surrounded by classmates and supporters, Prince discovered she matched into obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Missouri in Columbia. A lifelong Alaskan, Prince grew up […]
The room was filled with anticipation as fourth-year Alaska WWAMI student Ben Henderson stood ready to open the envelope that would reveal the next chapter of his medical training. In a moment that marked years of dedication and growth, everything suddenly came into focus. “When I opened my envelope, I felt a wave of relief […]
Long before he ever set foot in Alaska, Dr. Kosta Turchaninov was captivated by stories of the North. As a child, he devoured the adventure novels of Jack London, a fascination that quietly planted the seed for a future in the far north. Dr. Turchaninov began his medical journey in Kazan, Russia, where he completed […]
Against the backdrop of snow-covered peaks in Girdwood, Alaska WWAMI faculty gathered with a shared purpose: strengthening how they teach, assess, and mentor the next generation of physicians. The Alaska WWAMI Educator Development Conference (February 6, 2026) focused on practical strategies educators can apply immediately in clinical settings, with sessions on writing effective letters […]
At the Alaska WWAMI site in Anchorage, a student-led initiative is bringing the power of music into clinical spaces. Music in Medicine, a service-learning group founded by second-year medical students Will Simard and Alyssa Mandich and now co-led with first-year student Yi Chan, aims to create moments of comfort and connection for patients, families and […]
Ten Alaska WWAMI students took the national stage Jan. 15–17, 2026 at the Western Medical Research Conference (WMRC) in Carmel, California, sharing their research with peers and faculty from across the Western United States. WMRC is an annual conference that brings together medical students, residents, and faculty to present scholarly work, exchange ideas, and build […]
From the operating room in Alaska’s Mat-Su Valley to the clinical training of medical students across the state, Iuliana Bobanga, MD, is helping guide the next generation of surgeons. A general and endocrine surgeon with Mat-Su Surgical Associates, Dr. Bobanga also serves as the Clerkship Director for the University of Washington School of Medicine’s […]
Earlier this month, Alaska WWAMI first-year students stepped outside the classroom and into the Blood Bank of Alaska for a behind-the-scenes look at how transfusion medicine supports patients across the Last Frontier. Led by Dr. Megan Ritter, Chief Medical Director of the Blood Bank of Alaska, the tour brought course concepts to life in […]
When Alaska’s physician community honors one of its own, it is for impact that reaches far beyond a single patient. That distinction belongs to Dr. Benjamin Westley, who has been named a 2025 Golden Stethoscope Award recipient by the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association (AHHA). The award recognizes his leadership, innovation, and sustained commitment to […]
