In July, each Foundations Site conducts an in-person orientation program for incoming students. All incoming students are required to be at their Foundations site and participate in orientation before classes begin. Orientation sessions are designed to familiarize you with the School of Medicine’s resources and services to help you onboard into medical school. A detailed schedule of orientation and a link to your site-specific orientation Canvas page will be available in late June.
Foundation Phase classes will begin on July 23, 2026. In September, students will complete a clinical immersion program that focuses on clinical skills practice following their first Foundations course.
Orientation Start Dates & Contacts
| Foundations Site | Program Dates | Contact | Orientation Page | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington/Seattle | TBD between July 13-22, 2026 | Laura Ortiz | somstudentaffairs@uw.edu | Available in mid-late June |
| Washington/Spokane | TBD between July 13-22, 2026 | Sean Collins Deborah Greene | seancoll@uw.edu dg46@uw.edu | Available in mid-late June |
| Wyoming | TBD between July 13-22, 2026 | Natalia Brown April French John Willford | ntugwell@uwyo.edu afrench1@uwyo.edu willford@uwyo.edu | Available in mid-late June |
| Alaska | TBD between July 13-22, 2026 | Nancy Hall | njhall@alaska.edu | Available in mid-late June |
| Montana | TBD between July 13-22, 2026 | Kayla Ouert | kayla.ouert@montana.edu | Available in mid-late June |
| Idaho | TBD between July 13-22, 2026 | Marlane Martonick Whitney Vincent | marlanem@uidaho.edu wvincent@uidaho.edu | Available in mid-late June |
Pre-Orientation Check List
All University of Washington School of Medicine medical students are required to complete a universal list of items prior to the start of orientation. These items will be available for you to view and begin completing in the Admissions portal beginning March 1. Additional requirements maybe added to the checklist over the course of the spring.
Also, be aware that additional Foundations site-specific items may be required from your local university. These site-specific requirements will be listed on your site-specific Orientation Canvas page or you can contact your local site administrator(s) for more information.
Additional Contacts
If you have questions about any of the following areas, additional contacts are provided below:
| Topic | Contact |
|---|---|
| Admissions | uwsomapp@uw.edu |
| Compliance and Immunization | somcompl@uw.edu |
| Computer Requirements | somaltsupport@uw.edu |
| Curriculum | somcurr@uw.edu |
| Disability Resources for Students (DRS) | uwdrs@uw.edu |
| Financial Aid | somfao@uw.edu |
| Health Insurance | adminsa@uw.edu |
| Learning Technology | somaltsupport@uw.edu |
| Student Affairs | somstudentaffairs@uw.edu |
| UW NetID & Email | somaltsupport@uw.edu |