Read featured stories about UW School of Medicine students, staff and faculty from across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).
Dr. Frank Batcha Reflects on His Time in the Idaho Army National Guard
For Dr. Frank Batcha, Idaho WWAMI’s Assistant Clinical Dean, his decision to enlist in the Idaho Army National Guard years ago was a deeply personal calling rooted in family history. “My father was a WWII veteran, coming ashore in Normandy at Omaha Beach and fighting in the hedgerow country in France until he was wounded,” […]
Honoring Service and Leadership: Dr. Suzanne Allen’s Journey from Air Force Physician to Medical Education Leader
This month, in recognition of Veterans Day, Idaho WWAMI is honoring Dr. Suzanne Allen, whose years of service in the U.S. Air Force helped shape her path as a physician, educator, and leader in medical education. From a military clinic to her current role as Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs at the […]
Honoring WWAMI Student Veterans and Active Service Members
Across the five-state WWAMI region, many medical students bring to their training not only academic excellence but also years of service in the US Armed Forces. This Veterans Day, UWSOM recognizes and celebrates some of these remarkable individuals whose dedication to service continues in the form of compassionate, community-focused care. Brandi Carreau | Wyoming WWAMI […]
Honoring Heritage and Healing: Alaska WWAMI Student Mick Edwards on the Power of Culturally Grounded Care
Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Mick Edwards is a proud member of the Upper Skagit Tribe, based in Sedro-Woolley, Washington. Now a medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine’s WWAMI program, Mick is pursuing a path in medicine shaped by a deep commitment to community, culture, and mental health equity. “I […]
Montana WWAMI Students Create Space for Culturally-Informed Care Through Proyecto SALUD
In Bozeman, Montana, a growing network of medical students, healthcare professionals, and community advocates is coming together to make healthcare more accessible for Spanish-speaking and immigrant families through Proyecto SALUD (”Project Health”)—a series of seasonal health fairs that provide free screenings, resources, and connection to longer-term care. For second-year Montana WWAMI student Barla Beaudoin, the […]
Honoring Indigenous Voices in Medicine | Native American Heritage Month
Buddy Kalani Kumupaʻa Seto-Myers “Aloha mai kākou! ʻO wau ʻo Buddy Kalani Kumupaʻa Seto-Myers. I am Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) and a second-year medical student at the University of Washington School of Medicine.” Though his family’s homelands are in Kaʻū, Hawaiʻi, Buddy grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area as part of the Hawaiian […]
Preceptor Spotlight: Dr. Marjorie Albers Pays It Forward in Miles City
For Dr. Marjorie Albers, family medicine is more than a profession — it’s a way to serve her community. She embodies the spirit of rural medicine, providing full-spectrum care for patients of all ages in Miles City, Montana, while mentoring WWAMI students who are discovering the joys of practicing in small-town settings. A proud WWAMI […]
Montana Pre-Med Summit Inspires the Next Generation of Physicians
Every year, Montana WWAMI, Pre-Med Advisors from Carroll College, Montana State University (MSU) and the University of Montana (UM) join forces to organize a pre-med summit for prospective students interested in learning more about the medical school application process. The 2025 event was held at Missoula College on October 25th. This all-day event attracted over […]
Montana WWAMI Students Gain Global Health Perspective through Mongolia Exchange
Montana WWAMI students Nick Roman and Rebecca Boylan traveled more than 6,000 miles this summer to join an international medical team in rural Mongolia for what became a transformative experience. Through the Mongolia Exchange Program with BioRegions International (BRI), they worked alongside Mongolian providers in clinics, schools, and villages, an experience that reshaped their perspectives […]
Alaska WWAMI’s Brother Francis Footcare Project Inspires Connection Through Care
Alaska WWAMI Student Discusses the Brother Francis Footcare Clinic In Anchorage, Alaska, the Brother Francis Shelter transforms from a place of rest into a space for connection, compassion, and healing as Alaska WWAMI students and community volunteers welcome guests to the Brother Francis Footcare Clinic. The clinic offers free foot care to community members, including […]