Read featured stories about UW School of Medicine students, staff and faculty from across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI).
Idaho WWAMI Alumna Dr. Bryn Parker Named Idaho Family Physician of the Year
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 […]
Growing Together in Montana WWAMI: Lars and Chelsey Ponsness
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, […]
Stepping Up to Serve: Montana WWAMI Students Lead NHI Community Clinics
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 […]
From Montana WWAMI to the Heart of Kalispell: Practical Tips for Lifelong Cardiac 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 […]
Montana WWAMI at the Rural Health Policy Institute: Washington, D.C., Feb. 10-12, 2026
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 Build Confidence and Connection in Supporting Struggling Learners
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 […]
From Classroom to Capitol: Camille Massaad Advocates for Idaho WWAMI
On February 17, Idaho WWAMI student Camille Massaad joined fellow student Megan Wong and Idaho WWAMI Assistant Clinical Dean Frank Batcha at the Idaho State Capitol to celebrate WWAMI Idaho Day. Governor Brad Little signed a proclamation recognizing 54 years of public medical education in Idaho, made possible through the partnership between the University of […]
From the Pages of Jack London to Alaska’s Operating Rooms: A Global Journey in Medicine
Long before he ever set foot in Alaska, Dr. Kosta Turchaninov was captivated by stories of the North. As a child, he devoured the adventure novels of Jack London, a fascination that quietly planted the seed for a future in the far north. Dr. Turchaninov began his medical journey in Kazan, Russia, where he completed […]
Alaska WWAMI Educator Conference Connects Faculty in Girdwood
Against the backdrop of snow-covered peaks in Girdwood, Alaska WWAMI faculty gathered with a shared purpose: strengthening how they teach, assess, and mentor the next generation of physicians. The Alaska WWAMI Educator Development Conference (February 6, 2026) focused on practical strategies educators can apply immediately in clinical settings, with sessions on writing effective letters […]
Striking a Chord – Alaska WWAMI Students Bring Music to Hospital Patients
At the Alaska WWAMI site in Anchorage, a student-led initiative is bringing the power of music into clinical spaces. Music in Medicine, a service-learning group founded by second-year medical students Will Simard and Alyssa Mandich and now co-led with first-year student Yi Chan, aims to create moments of comfort and connection for patients, families and […]