For Landon Butler, the journey to medicine has included soccer fields, construction sites and a few unexpected turns—but his RUOP rotation brought him exactly where he wanted to be: learning medicine in a rural Idaho community. An Idaho WWAMI student, Landon completed his four-week Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) rotation at St. Mary’s Health in […]
For Colton Campbell, the path to medicine has taken him from finance and real estate to clinical care, international service and recently, rural Idaho where he spent four weeks discovering what it means to care for patients in a close-knit community. An Idaho WWAMI student from Rigby, Colton completed his Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) […]
For Idaho WWAMI student Hope McWilliams, her RUOP rotation in Smelterville was more than an introduction to rural medicine—it was a chance to return to the Northern Idaho community she calls home. Hope spent four weeks at SMC Family Medicine from July 13 to Aug. 7, 2026 under the mentorship of preceptor Jessica Harnisch-Boyd, DO, […]
For Idaho WWAMI student Grace Benjamin of Boise, four weeks in Preston offered a firsthand look at the close connections and continuity of care that make rural medicine unique. Grace spent June 29 through July 24, 2026 at Franklin County Medical Clinic under the mentorship of preceptor Lance Hansen, MD, as part of the Rural […]
From June 29 through July 24, Idaho WWAMI student Aiden Niblett immersed himself in rural medicine during his Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) rotation at Two Rivers Medical Clinic in Weiser. Under the mentorship of preceptor Lore Wootton, MD, Aiden learned how rural clinicians address the unique healthcare needs of their communities. As a fluent […]
Three Idaho physicians have earned 2026 Idaho WWAMI Excellence in Teaching Awards after being nominated by the people who know their impact best: University of Washington School of Medicine students. The annual awards recognize physician preceptors who go above and beyond to educate and mentor medical students during their clinical training across Idaho. This year’s […]
Four Idaho WWAMI physicians earned University of Washington Department of Medicine awards this summer for their outstanding contributions to medical education, mentorship and patient care. Their achievements reflect the exceptional physician educators and leaders who are helping train the next generation of doctors across Idaho and the WWAMI region. Dr. Michael Krug received the 2026 […]
Born in Boise and raised in Kuna, Idaho, Kenya Morales-Luna grew up as the daughter of immigrant parents from Guanajuato, Mexico. From a young age, she often served as an interpreter during her parents’ medical appointments, giving her an early view into the challenges many families face when navigating the U.S. healthcare system. “Through my […]
The Idaho WWAMI program recently welcomed its newest cohort of Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST) scholars during a special luncheon held on the first day of orientation, marking the beginning of their medical education journey. The TRUST program prepares future physicians to serve rural and underserved communities by fostering meaningful, long-term connections throughout medical school. […]
Across the entire country, there are fewer than 8,000 geriatricians caring for more than 58 million Americans over the age of 65. By 2030, that demand is expected to be more than double. In Idaho, where the physician shortage is already the worst in the nation, that gap is even more acute. “We simply do […]
