“It’s that commitment to serving the rural and underserved areas that make WWAMI so unique. There’s no other medical school like this in the country.”

~ Tim Dellit, M.D., interim dean, UWSOM, interim CEO, UW Medicine

The 50th anniversary of WWAMI was celebrated in Idaho earlier this week through the 2023 Idaho WWAMI Legislative Reception and 50th Anniversary Celebration. The event featured WWAMI students faculty and staff, along with visitors such as Idaho Gov. Brad Little, many state legislators and University of Idaho President Scott Green.

This was the first legislative reception since 2019. Governor Brad Little was awarded the inaugural Idaho WWAMI Leadership Award to recognize his support and dedication to Idaho’s healthcare system. The University of Idaho’s President and fellow Vandal alum, Scott Green, introduced the Governor.

Dan Schmidt, M.D., of Moscow, Idaho, was this year’s recipient of the Idaho WWAMI alumni award. He was nominated by previous winners of the award and in his acceptance speech provided current students to “keep an open heart and say thank you” when receiving a compliment or a critique. Here he is with many students:

Guest speakers included MS3 Bryan Jones from Malad, Idaho, who shared his journey to becoming a non-traditional medical student. He described the importance of the generosity of the State of Idaho and scholarships to help support his wife and four daughters while he goes through medical school.

Dr. Dellit told the legislators and other guests, “When you look at what WWAMI has done, and how it has been so incredibly successful, we at the University of Washington are incredibly proud to partner with you and look forward to working with you into the future over the next 50 years as we continue to train the physicians of the future for this great state of Idaho.”