Read feature stories about students, staff and faculty from across the WWAMI region.
For first-year Seattle medical student Nick Talley, the path to medicine began long before he ever opened a textbook. Talley spent 20 years on active duty in the US Army, serving as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant—better known as a Green Beret—from October 2002 to October 2022. Stationed with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) […]
Middle of Nowhere Montana By: Courtney Hallock When I first found out I’d be placed in Glasgow, MT I can’t lie – my stomach dropped I tried to maintain a positive outlook “It’ll be fine” “It’s just a short time” In the middle of nowhere MT Next was my “first summer experience” I was […]
This November, Alaska WWAMI is honoring our veterans and the incredible commitment they make to our nation. Among them is Caleb Wagle, a second-year Alaska WWAMI medical student and a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, whose journey blends military service with a dedication to compassionate patient care. Wagle was commissioned in February […]
“My family is from Naknek, a small fishing village in the Bristol Bay region,” shares Laura Aspelund, a second-year medical student with Alaska WWAMI. “My first clinical job was as a medical assistant at the Cama’i Community Health Clinic in Naknek, which directly shaped my path in medicine. The skills and relationships I developed there […]
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 […]
