Category: WWAMI Stories and Features

Read feature stories about students, staff and faculty from across the WWAMI region.

Empowering Communities Through Harm Reduction: Alaska WWAMI Student Abigail Crawford Discusses the Narcan Education & Distribution Project

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In Anchorage, Alaska, second-year medical student Abigail Crawford is helping lead an initiative that’s saving lives and reshaping the way people think about opioid overdose. As co-lead of the Narcan Education & Distribution Project at the Anchorage WWAMI site, Crawford works alongside fellow student volunteers to provide free community training and resources focused on opioid […]

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From Lewistown to Miles City: Montana WWAMI Student Encourages Rural High Schoolers to Dream Big

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Third-year Montana WWAMI medical student Alex Wickens knows firsthand how uncertain the path to medicine can feel, especially for students growing up in rural towns. That’s why he’s committed to giving back by visiting high schools across Montana, encouraging students to consider futures in medicine and educating them about the WWAMI program. Wickens, who grew […]

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Stethoscope Ceremony Officially Welcomes Incoming E25 Class in Seattle and Spokane

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The University of Washington School of Medicine warmly welcomed students from the incoming E25 class at the Seattle and Spokane WWAMI sites with the annual Stethoscope Ceremony. This meaningful tradition marks the beginning of medical school for new students, as they receive their first stethoscopes—a symbolic and practical gift from the UW Medicine Alumni Association. […]

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Zhaoyi “Joey” Wang Honored with 2025 CAP Distinguished Medical Student Award

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Zhaoyi “Joey” Wang, a rising fourth-year medical student in Spokane, has been awarded the 2025 College of American Pathologists (CAP) Distinguished Medical Student Award—a national honor given to just one student per medical school who demonstrates exceptional interest, aptitude, and involvement in pathology. “From exploring recreational genetic testing in high school, to shadowing pathologists during […]

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TRUST Program Connects New Alaska WWAMI Students to Rural Communities

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Alaska WWAMI students are reaping the rewards from the Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST). TRUST helps students get hands-on insight into the benefits and challenges of rural practice throughout medical school while building lasting connections in underserved communities. First-year Alaska WWAMI students Mauri Butzke, Yi Chan and Abigail Moffett recently completed their initial TRUST experiences […]

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Idaho WWAMI Medical Student Spotlight: Halle Torgerson

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On June 17, 2025, Idaho WWAMI second-year student Halle Torgerson took the stage at the Governor’s Cup Scholarship Banquet in Boise, sharing her journey from scholarship recipient to future physician. The event brought together state leaders and current scholars. Torgerson received the Governor’s Cup Scholarship as a high school senior after demonstrating a strong commitment […]

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Mentorship in Action: Zoe Thomas and Dr. Sumayyah Khan Bridge Generations in Medicine

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“I realized that as a pre-med student myself, there were lots of questions about preparing for medical school that I couldn’t answer,” says Zoe Thomas, a third-year undergraduate studying neuroscience and bioethics at the University of Washington. “Given how much I learned from others, I wanted to create a space where students could connect directly […]

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Montana WWAMI Showcases Rural Advocacy

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Montana WWAMI was in the spotlight at the annual Rural Medical Educators Conference in Atlanta, Georgia May 20-23, 2025. Montana WWAMI Assistant Clinical Dean Jay S. Erickson, M.D., and third-year medical student Chelsea Koessel, provided presentations on integrating advocacy into the TRUST (Targeted Rural Underserved Track) curriculum. “Advocacy and community engagement are key to successful […]

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