Read featured stories about UW School of Medicine students, staff and faculty from across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).
Snake River Community Clinic Volunteers
Making a meaningful impact on the lives of others is what drives our Idaho WWAMI students. The volunteers of the Snake River Community Clinic have a passion for delivering quality healthcare to underserved populations in Lewis-Clark Valley and outlying areas. For a quarter century, the nonprofit has offered free medical, limited dental and behavioral healthcare […]
UW School of Medicine Student Outreach Transforms Khmer New Year Celebration
At Watt Dhammacakkaram, a Buddhist temple and cultural center for Seattle’s Cambodian community, this year’s Khmer New Year celebration included something new: free health screenings. The event marked the first time SHIFA (Student Health Initiative for Access), a UW School of Medicine (UWSOM) student-led health outreach group, partnered with the temple to bring care directly […]
Alaska WWAMI student Grace Champion juggles medical school, raising three kids with unstoppable determination
Any parent knows how tough it is going to college while raising a child but imagine raising three young kids while going through medical school. Grace Champion, a fourth year Alaska WWAMI medical student, has proven that she’s a champion at accomplishing both goals. Raised in Palmer, and now living in Anchorage, she credits her […]
Doctor-in-Training & Mother of Seven Marie Elwood: “It Takes Resilience & Commitment”
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 […]
UWSOM Students Named to 2025 Husky 100
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 […]
Idaho WWAMI’s Caleb Allred Receives the 2025 Husky 100 Award
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 […]
Idaho WWAMI Student Abigail Petty Balances Medical School and Motherhood
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 […]
Idaho WWAMI Students Excel in Research at Medical Forum
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 […]
Celebrating Careers in Prosthetics, Orthotics and Pedorthics (POP)
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. […]
Soldotna Doctor Celebrated as Alaska Family Physician of the Year
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. […]