As Idaho WWAMI continues to grow and adapt to the needs of today’s students and the patients they will serve, alumni perspectives offer a grounding reminder of how far medical education has come. Two graduates, separated by a decade but united by shared roots in Idaho WWAMI, recently reflected on what has changed since their […]
Clinical educators from across the region gathered in Idaho Falls, Idaho (November 15, 2025) for the annual Eastern Idaho Educator Conference, an energizing day dedicated to strengthening teaching skills, building supportive learning environments, and celebrating the growing community of Idaho’s medical educators. Vincent Raikhel, M.D., led an inspiring session on reconnecting with one’s passion for […]
Idaho WWAMI is proud to honor four members of its extended WWAMI-ly who were named to the Idaho Business Review’s Idaho 500. This year’s honorees include longtime Boise VA physician-educator Paula Carvalho, M.D., and North Idaho AHEC Director, Liz Bryant, as well as Idaho WWAMI Advisory Board members Skip Oppenheimer and Brian Whitlock. For Dr. […]
Idaho WWAMI is celebrating Assistant Clinical Dean Mary Barinaga, M.D., named to the Idaho Business Review’s Idaho 500, a statewide honor recognizing visionary leaders shaping Idaho’s future. Dr. Barinaga was selected for her years of service to rural communities, her deep commitment to medical education, and her leadership in strengthening Idaho’s physician workforce pipeline. Her […]
Behind every successful Idaho WWAMI medical student is a team of dedicated administrative professionals ensuring clinical education runs smoothly. Each year, the Idaho WWAMI Administrative Impact Award honors those whose behind-the-scenes efforts make every medical student’s rotation and learning experience exceptional. This year’s recipients include: • Kaylie Elliott, Saint Alphonsus Health System • Amanda Junttila, […]
Military service has never been just a duty for Idaho WWAMI second-year medical student Alexander LeBlanc. It’s a calling that continues to shape who he is, and that calling is a family tradition. For LeBlanc, military medicine and medical education are two parts of the same mission: caring for others with skill, integrity, and heart. […]
The Idaho WWAMI community celebrates Dr. Joey Florence, MD, who has been elected as the Idaho Medical Association (IMA) Young Physicians Representative. In this two-year role, she will serve on the IMA Board of Trustees and represent Idaho in the American Medical Association’s Young Physician Section, helping elevate the voice of the state’s next generation […]
For Idaho WWAMI second-year medical student Joseph Pham, joining the military offered something he didn’t expect to find: belonging. Although Pham’s time as a service member is still relatively new, he says the experience has already had a profound impact on his sense of identity and purpose. “As a first-generation American, I often felt like […]
For Dr. Frank Batcha, Idaho WWAMI’s Assistant Clinical Dean, his decision to enlist in the Idaho Army National Guard years ago was a deeply personal calling rooted in family history. “My father was a WWII veteran, coming ashore in Normandy at Omaha Beach and fighting in the hedgerow country in France until he was wounded,” […]
This month, in recognition of Veterans Day, Idaho WWAMI is honoring Dr. Suzanne Allen, whose years of service in the U.S. Air Force helped shape her path as a physician, educator, and leader in medical education. From a military clinic to her current role as Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs at the […]
