For Dr. Kanan Silvas, medicine has always been about community. An Idaho WWAMI alumnus (E11) who grew up in North Idaho, Silvas is now an emergency medicine physician and internal hospitalist at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene where he helps expand clinical training opportunities for students rotating through the emergency department. He also serves as […]
For decades, Idaho WWAMI Assistant Clinical Dean Dr. Mary Barinaga has helped shape the educational experience of Idaho WWAMI medical students. Now, her contributions are being honored with the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Family Medicine Outstanding Clerkship Award for 2024–2025. Dr. Barinaga has played a central role in Idaho WWAMI for years, helping […]
Creating a learning environment where students feel supported, valued, and confident has long been central to Dr. Travis Nielsen’s approach to teaching. That dedication was recently recognized with the Family Medicine Outstanding Clerkship Award for 2024–2025 from the University of Washington School of Medicine. “I have been working with medical students in my clinic for […]
Three Idaho physicians have earned 2026 WRITE Excellence in Teaching Awards for their dedication to teaching and mentoring future physicians through the WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience (WRITE) program. This year’s Idaho recipients are Dr. Michelle Eide of Ketchum, Dr. John Hatzenbuehler of Hailey, and Dr. Jessica Sollstrom of Nampa. Michelle Eide, MD – Ketchum […]
When Dr. Bethaney Fehrenkamp talks about the immune system, her enthusiasm is immediate and unmistakable: “The immune system is everything, everywhere and plays a critical role in proper development,” she says. As a reproduction and developmental immunologist and Clinical Assistant Professor with Idaho WWAMI, Dr. Fehrenkamp has built her career around understanding how the earliest […]
When leaders at Full Circle Health began exploring the idea of a pediatrics residency program in Boise, they weren’t just thinking about training physicians. They were thinking about access. For decades, Idaho has faced a severe shortage of pediatricians. In 2019, a feasibility study led by Dr. Perry Brown revealed just how stark the gap […]
Following the retirement of longtime Assistant Clinical Dean Dr. Frank Batcha, Idaho WWAMI is welcoming a familiar face into the role. John Hatzenbuehler, MD, an alumnus, educator, and rural physician, is now helping to shape the future of medical training across the state. A graduate of the Idaho WWAMI program (E2000), Dr. Hatzenbuehler brings more […]
For Idaho WWAMI fourth-year student Alexis Ericsson, Match Day brought both excitement and relief, marking the next step in a journey shaped by a passion for broad, relationship-centered care. Ericsson, who grew up in Soda Springs, Idaho, matched into family medicine at Full Circle Health in Boise, a program aligned with her goal of becoming […]
Match Day is a defining milestone for Idaho WWAMI fourth-year students, marking the moment when years of training culminate in residency placements across the country. It’s a day filled with anticipation and celebration as students take the next step in their medical careers. For Victor, Idaho resident Kelton Kearsley, that sense of anticipation turned into […]
After nine years as Idaho WWAMI’s Assistant Clinical Dean, and decades of dedicated service to rural medicine and medical education, Dr. Frank Batcha is retiring this month. He leaves behind a legacy defined by mentorship, community connection, and a deep commitment to training the next generation of physicians. Reflecting on his time in the role, […]
