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 […]
Last week, we shared in the joy and pride as 21 graduating Alaska WWAMI students crossed the stage at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, officially earning their titles: Doctor of Medicine. On May 22, 2026, we celebrated the Alaska WWAMI graduating Class of 2026 during the Physician’s Oath and Hooding Ceremony. The graduates are part of […]
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 […]
In communities across Alaska, medical education often depends on physicians who are willing to teach, mentor, and model compassionate care in real-world settings. This year, one of those educators is being recognized for his impact. Dr. Don Schneider, a Juneau-based family medicine physician at Valley Medical Care, is the recipient of the WRITE Excellence in […]
The first lessons Briana Martin-Villa learned about health didn’t come from a classroom. They came from long days in orchards, working alongside her mother and twin brother as their family migrated between California’s Central Valley and Eastern Washington following seasonal harvests. There, she saw the realities many farmworkers face: physical strain, pesticide exposure and illnesses […]
Montana WWAMI faculty gathered in Missoula last month for an evening of connection and practical skill-building during a Faculty Development Session sponsored by the Center for Learning and Innovation in Medical Education (CLIME). The focus was a familiar and often challenging topic: working with struggling learners. Chris Jons, MD, Montana WWAMI Missoula Track Director, acknowledged that […]
Against the backdrop of snow-covered peaks in Girdwood, Alaska WWAMI faculty gathered with a shared purpose: strengthening how they teach, assess, and mentor the next generation of physicians. The Alaska WWAMI Educator Development Conference (February 6, 2026) focused on practical strategies educators can apply immediately in clinical settings, with sessions on writing effective letters […]
On a busy autumn day at the University of Washington’s Seattle campus, nearly 70 students from Federal Way High School stepped into the world of healthcare—listening to heartbeats, testing reflexes, and asking big-picture questions about their futures. The experience was part of Healthcare Explorers Day, a hands-on outreach event organized through the Family Medicine Interest […]
