During the poster session (on November 10, 2025), the Alaska WWAMI community paused to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Jan Eugene Whitefield, who passed away on August 23, 2025, at the age of 80 due to complications from Parkinson’s disease. Known as “Bud” to his family and friends and “Dr. Whitefield” to generations […]
Alaska WWAMI recently participated in the Alaska Interior Medical Education Summit (AIMES) in Fairbanks, an event for prospective students exploring both traditional and non-traditional pathways into healthcare and medicine. Attendees ranged from high school students to adults considering a career change, creating an engaging environment full of questions about what medical training in Alaska can […]
After celebrating the remarkable work showcased at this year’s poster presentation (Nov. 10, 2025), the Alaska WWAMI E24 class recognized someone whose guidance helped make those accomplishments possible. Dr. Elizabeth Ferucci, Affiliate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology and physician with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, was presented with the Outstanding Research Mentor Award. […]
Alaska WWAMI second-year medical students impressed faculty, peers, and community members earlier this month (November 10, 2025) as they shared their research at the annual (Triple I) poster presentation in Anchorage. Twenty-six students showcased work that blends classroom science with real-world medical practice, demonstrating how hands-on inquiry strengthens clinical reasoning, sparks creativity, and builds confidence […]
“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 […]
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Mick Edwards is a proud member of the Upper Skagit Tribe, based in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Now a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine’s WWAMI program, Mick is pursuing a path in medicine shaped by a deep commitment to community, culture, and mental health equity. “I […]
For second-year Alaska WWAMI student Laura Aspelund, serving as co-lead of the Baby’s First Friends Service Learning Committee has been one of the most meaningful parts of her medical school journey. Through this program at the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC), student volunteers provide comfort care for newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). […]
In the heart of Anchorage, Alaska, Amanda Beery, MD, is not only providing care for women of all ages; she’s also shaping the next generation of physicians. A full-time OB/GYN and managing partner at Alaska Women’s Health, she is equally proud to call herself an Alaska WWAMI alum and medical educator. Dr. Beery’s earliest inspiration […]
Alaska WWAMI is excited to welcome Nicholas Phelps, MD, as our new Assistant Dean for the Foundations Phase. He began September 1, 2025, after a nationwide search and will transition to being fully on-site at the University of Alaska Anchorage in October. Dr. Phelps brings a wealth of experience from Dell Medical School at the […]
After six years of dedicated leadership as the Assistant Dean for the Foundations Phase at Alaska WWAMI, Kathy Young, MD., is stepping away from her administrative role to return to her first love: teaching. Dr. Young has been a cornerstone of the Alaska WWAMI program, guiding students through the critical early phases of their medical […]
