For Wesley Simko, the path to medicine began close to home, watching his father care for patients as an emergency room nurse in a critical access hospital. His RUOP experience in Hailey gave him another opportunity to see the difference a physician can make in a rural community. An Idaho WWAMI student, Wesley completed his […]
For Natalie Warr, the desire to become a physician began early—shaped by watching people she loved struggle to access health care and trust the system. Her RUOP rotation gave her the opportunity to turn that early calling into hands-on experience serving an Idaho community. An Idaho WWAMI student and Boise native, Natalie completed her four-week […]
For Karen Sanchez-Reyes, rural medicine is more than a career path—it reflects the community that first inspired her to become a physician. An Idaho WWAMI rising second-year student, Karen completed her four-week Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) rotation at Valor Health in Emmett from June 29 to July 24. The elective gives rising second-year students […]
For Sabrina Allison, caring for others has always been rooted in community. Her RUOP rotation in Orofino offered a chance to build on that commitment while experiencing rural medicine firsthand. An Idaho WWAMI rising second-year student, Sabrina completed her four-week Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) rotation at Clearwater Valley Health from June 29 to July […]
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 now 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 Hope McWilliams, her RUOP rotation in Smelterville was more than an introduction to rural medicine—it was a chance to return to the North Idaho community she calls home. An Idaho WWAMI MS1, Hope spent four weeks at SMC Family Medicine from July 13 to Aug. 7 through the Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP), an […]
For Idaho WWAMI MS1 Grace Benjamin, four weeks in Preston offered a firsthand look at the close connections and continuity of care that make rural medicine unique. Benjamin spent June 29 through July 24 at FCMC Medical Clinic as part of the Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP), a four-week immersion that gives rising second-year medical […]
From June 29 through July 24, Idaho WWAMI MS1 Aiden Niblett immersed himself in rural medicine during his Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) rotation at Two Rivers Medical Clinic in Weiser. A Meridian native, Niblett was eager to learn how rural clinicians address the unique health care needs of their communities. As a fluent Spanish […]
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 […]
