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 […]
Dr. Kimiko “Koko” Bravo Returns to Juneau as a Psychiatrist and WWAMI Preceptor For Dr. Kimiko “Koko” Bravo, coming home to Juneau, Alaska, isn’t just about practicing medicine — it’s about giving back to the community that shaped her. A proud Alaska WWAMI graduate, Dr. Bravo has returned to her hometown as a psychiatrist with […]
Dr. Alexander von Hafften Champions Education and Training across Alaska Alaska’s mental health challenges are among the most pressing in the nation — and so is the shortage of psychiatrists to address them. Through education and training, Alaska WWAMI is working to strengthen the state’s psychiatric workforce and expand access to care. “Alaska’s need for […]
Guiding the Next Generation of Surgeons in Idaho At Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, Idaho, Dr. Sheev Dattani combines surgical precision with a genuine passion for mentorship. A board-certified minimally invasive and robotic colorectal surgeon, he leads one of the region’s highest-volume robotic surgery programs and serves as site director for surgical education. […]
Medical student Riley Hayes follows his mother’s path to medicine Family, faculty, and friends gathered last month in Moscow, Idaho, to celebrate Idaho WWAMI’s entering class of 2025 as they received their white coats, an enduring symbol of compassion, trust, and service in medicine. For first-year Idaho WWAMI medical student Riley Hayes, the moment carried […]
When Dr. Casey Glenn set out to become a physician, his goal was always to return to Idaho. Now, as an emergency medicine physician at Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene, he’s doing exactly that, caring for the communities that helped shape him. “While completing my medical education, it became increasingly apparent to me that Idaho […]
When Lessly Tapia Torres was a child, she was diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy. Her mother was told there were few options for follow-up care because of their immigration status. For Lessly, that moment was formative. “I remember watching my mom fight for me, while seeing other families struggle in the clinic,” she recalls. “It opened […]
