The landscape stopped Mikayla Bullman in her tracks not because it was foreign, but because it wasn’t. Rolling grassland, wide sky, communities scattered far from the nearest hospital. “Rural Montana is not all that different,” she would later reflect. “The landscape even looks the same.” This summer, Bullman and fellow Montana WWAMI second-year Lucy Corbett […]
As Montana WWAMI student Ben Held navigates his third year of medical school, he is balancing two significant roles at once: training to become a physician and learning what it means to be a father Held’s path to medicine began with a desire to address one of Montana’s most persistent public health challenges. “My initial […]
Last month, we celebrated a remarkable achievement as 29 Montana WWAMI students crossed the stage at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, officially earning their Doctor of Medicine degrees. Among the graduates were eight Montana WWAMI TRUST scholars, whose medical education included an extended focus on serving rural and underserved communities throughout the state. On May 22, […]
Before joining their classmates at the Physician’s Oath & Hooding Ceremony, Montana WWAMI graduates Verena Lawrence, Jamie Ritter and TRUST scholar Jesi Kennedy (Assiniboine descent) took part in a Traditional Blanket Ceremony recognizing their completion of the Indian Health Pathway. Held on the morning of graduation, the ceremony honors students’ commitment to improving health […]
Four Montana physicians have been honored with WRITE Excellence in Teaching Awards, recognizing their outstanding commitment to mentoring medical students and helping shape the next generation of rural physicians. The annual awards are based on nominations from students participating in the WRITE (WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience) program, a longitudinal rural clerkship that places University […]
When medical educators from across the United Kingdom gathered in Dundee, Scotland, for the UK Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (UKLIC) Conference in April, Montana WWAMI’s approach to building a rural physician workforce was part of the global conversation. Jay Erickson, MD, Montana WWAMI Assistant Clinical Dean delivered the conference keynote presentation, “Reflections on Creating a Physician […]
As Montana lawmakers continue studying possible restrictions on kratom ahead of the 2027 legislative session, Montana WWAMI faculty member Dr. Madeline Turner recently shared a physician’s perspective with a legislative committee helping shape future policy discussions. E25 Montana WWAMI student Mackenzie Bernhardt assisted Turner in preparing key points for the hearing. Dr. Turner, lead WWAMI […]
When attendees gathered in Butte for the Montana Addiction Medicine & Pain Conference, Montana WWAMI student Megan Ogle shared her comprehensive research on kratom, a plant-derived substance that has gained attention for its use in pain management and opioid withdrawal. A third-year medical student and Miles City TRUST Scholar, Ogle explored the complex questions surrounding […]
For Montana WWAMI students, one of the most memorable classroom experiences takes place far from lecture halls and laboratories. Each year, Dr. Colette Kirchhoff welcomes students to Pony Creek Homestead for an Ethnobotany Field Day, an immersive experience that explores the connections between plants, health and the environment. “Plants regenerate our soils, provide oxygen and […]
Energy, innovation, and a shared commitment to teaching excellence defined the 2026 Montana WWAMI Faculty Development Conference at Fairmont Hot Springs in Anaconda. Bringing together educators from across the WWAMI region, the weekend delivered a dynamic mix of ideas, practical tools, and meaningful connection. The conference opened with a forward-looking session on the future of […]
