WWAMI Stories and Student Features

The room was filled with anticipation as fourth-year Alaska WWAMI student Ben Henderson stood ready to open the envelope that would reveal the next chapter of his medical training. In a moment that marked years of dedication and growth, everything suddenly came into focus. “When I opened my envelope, I felt a wave of relief […]

Each March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder that early detection saves lives. While screening and prevention efforts have made real progress, new trends are reshaping who is most affected by colorectal cancer—and why staying up to date on screening has never been more important.  According to Dr. Sheev Dattani, a board-certified minimally […]

  For Idaho WWAMI alumna Taylor Simmons, MD, training close to home helped launch a career dedicated to rural family medicine and serving Idaho communities. From the beginning, she knew Idaho WWAMI was where she hoped to train. “I remember feeling incredibly excited and hopeful interviewing, as Idaho WWAMI was by far my first choice […]

Governor Brad Little proclaimed Feb. 17th as WWAMI Day in Idaho, recognizing the program’s longstanding role in strengthening healthcare across the state. The designation set the stage for a day of celebration at the Idaho State Capitol, where students, physicians and supporters highlighted Idaho WWAMI’s impact on communities across the Gem State. The observance also […]

Growing up in the small town of Elk City, Idaho, Bryn Parker, MD, saw firsthand how important it is for communities to have access to trusted local physicians. That commitment  to caring for patients and mentoring future doctors has earned her recognition as the 2026 Idaho Family Physician of the Year by the Idaho Academy […]

Medical school demands focus, resilience, and long hours. For Lars and Chelsey Ponsness, it also means navigating that challenge together within Montana WWAMI. Their relationship has grown alongside their training, shaped as much by shared study sessions and clinical rotations as by the intentional time they protect outside of medicine. After long days in clinic, […]

For first-year Montana WWAMI students Joe Wadhams and Tatjana Groenewald, leading the Neighborhood Health Initiative (NHI) medical clinics at the Bozeman Homeward Point Shelter is more than a leadership role. It is a meaningful way to care for neighbors experiencing homelessness while growing into the physicians they hope to become. The Montana WWAMI Neighborhood Health […]

  February was American Heart Month, a reminder to focus on habits every day that protect one of our most vital organs. For Joseph Krezowski, MD, a cardiologist at Logan Health in Kalispell and a proud Montana WWAMI alum, heart health is both personal and professional. Dr. Krezowski grew up in Great Falls and attended […]

Every year, the National Rural Health Policy Institute hosts physicians, nurses, medical and nursing students, hospital administrators and rural health policy experts to gather at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. to explore and contribute to the key policy issues affecting rural health in the nation. This year, Montana WWAMI Assistant Clinical Dean/Physician Educator Dr. Jay […]

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 […]