WWAMI Stories and Student Features

Dream of becoming a family physician to become reality soon in Hardin Marie Elwood’s path to medical school and residency has taken her on a long and winding road – and at times, a very rocky one. The non-traditional student and mom of seven kids has demonstrated her resilience and unwavering commitment to securing her […]

Caleb Allred  Caleb has led efforts to improve healthcare access for patients with language barriers, working since 2022 with Seattle Children’s Hospital to streamline scheduling and support shared decision-making in pediatric ENT care. Originally from Rexburg, Idaho, he’s also contributed to global health projects in Ecuador and Chile, served as a Spanish medical interpreter and […]

Caleb Allred of Rexburg, Idaho truly lives and breathes the motto: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” The fourth-year Idaho WWAMI student has immersed himself in every aspect of his medical education. His dedication to improving the lives of others captured the attention of a panel of UW faculty and staff […]

Abigail Petty’s first year of medical school came with an additional layer of joy, excitement and stress: the birth of her daughter, Jane. Now a second-year student in the Idaho WWAMI program, Petty continues to balance motherhood with the requirements of her education.   One of the biggest challenges Petty faces is the emotional toll of […]

A group of Idaho WWAMI students captivated the Western Medical Research Forum (WSMRF) recently with innovative abstracts, earning distinction for their originality and impact in advancing medical research.  Zahraa Alomar, a second-year Idaho WWAMI medical student from Boise (*pictured at right, third from left), received the Student Subspecialty Award at the 2025 American Federation for […]

In honor of Prosthetics and Orthotics Career Awareness Month we are highlighting Master of Prosthetics and Orthotics student, JackRyan O’Neil, who has an interesting background as an adaptive ski instructor and is currently volunteering with the Outdoors for All program.   We asked JackRyan to tell us about himself and his chosen education path.   […]

The Alaska Academy of Family Physicians (AKAFP) recently honored Kristen Lee, MD, as the Family Physician of the Year, recognizing her exceptional dedication to patient care and outstanding contributions to family medicine in Alaska. “I am grateful and humbled by the honor of being selected as the Alaska Family Physician of the Year,” said Dr. […]

“…small anatomical differences can have major effects on speech.” Alaska WWAMI medical student Maille Moriarty recently received the Western Society for Pediatric Research Prolacta Research Award. Moriarty was one of 11 Alaska WWAMI students to present abstracts at the Western Student and Resident Medical Research Forum (WSMRF) January 16 – 18, 2025. Moriarty’s abstract is […]

Paves Own Path in Family Medicine For Katie Baker, growing up in Craig, Alaska, meant watching her father, a dedicated family physician, serve and care for the community she calls home. Now retired, his work left a lasting impression on Baker. “As a little girl, I admired the close-knit relationship my father had with the […]

Isbah Khan of Billings, Montana, can now add the prestigious Edwin E. Osgood Award to her resume. Khan, pictured at right, was recognized for presenting the top-scoring abstract at the Western Student and Resident Medical Research Forum (WSMRF) in Carmel, California. A second-year medical student in the University of Washington School of Medicine’s Montana WWAMI […]