Introduction
The Idaho WWAMI Program provides medical education and training to students, residents, and practicing physicians throughout the vast state of Idaho. Twenty Idaho WWAMI students complete their first year of medical training at the University of Idaho’s Moscow campus, sharing resources and faculty with the joint program at Washington State University in Pullman. WWAMI, the University of Washington’s regional medical program, allows first year medical students to train in their home state, increasing their familiarity with the healthcare needs of their region and state, and increasing the likelihood that students will select further training or practice opportunities in Idaho, once their training is complete.
After completing their second year of training at the medical school in Seattle, WWAMI students have the opportunity to return and complete their clinical training requirements in Idaho. These clinical rotations are coordinated through the University of Washington School of Medicine WWAMI (Idaho) Office for Clinical Medical Education in Boise. Following receipt of their M.D. degree, University of Washington School of Medicine graduates have the opportunity to apply to the three primary care residencies in Idaho. In addition to these formal training programs, Idaho physicians have opportunities for informal continuing medical education through seminars, programs, consultations, or academic affiliations with the UW School of Medicine through its Idaho WWAMI program.
The WWAMI Medical Program is committed to helping prepare physicians for primary care practice, regardless of eventual sub-specialty selection, and to increasing the number of physicians who choose to practice in rural or underserved areas. There is also a strong commitment to the partnership between excellence in research and teaching in medical education. Cutting-edge research prepares the next generation of doctors to be well informed and at the forefront of clinical medical practice. The WWAMI faculty at the University of Idaho and the clinical faculty for clerkships in Boise, Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Hailey, Idaho Falls, McCall, Meridian, Nampa, Pocatello, Sandpoint and Twin Falls and our rural training communities, are committed to being both dynamic teachers and informed biomedical scholars.
Idaho Track
The Idaho Track makes it possible for medical students to complete all of their third-year clerkship requirements as well as their fourth-year requirements and electives in Idaho. Clerkships are offered in the following Idaho communities; Boise, Caldwell, Coeur d'Alene, Hailey, Idaho Falls, McCall, Meridian, Nampa, Pocatello, Sandpoint and Twin Falls
Housing
Housing is not provided for Idaho Track students while in Idaho. Track students arrange/provide their own housing while in Idaho. Housing is provided by required clerkships to visiting WWAMI students if housing is available. Please refer to department specific websites or E*Value for housing information prior to registering for rotations in Idaho if housing is an issue. There are some rotations in Idaho that do not provide housing. Our office can assist the University of Washington Idaho Clerkship Coordinators with coordination of medical student housing. The office also works with the Idaho Track students and the University of Washington Alumni Office on housing needs when returning to Seattle.
Clinical Electives
WWAMI students can complete many electives in Idaho. The office continues to develop new electives and required electives as student interests grow. Contact the Idaho WWAMI office in Boise for a complete list of available electives within Idaho.
Idaho WWAMI Mini Medical School
The Idaho WWAMI office hosts an annual educational series designed for the general public known as the Mini Medical School. By focusing on a disease, and/or specific body system, classic instruction received by medical students, recent technical advances in medicine and new approaches to patient’s involvement in their own care are discussed. The Idaho WWAMI office does this by collaborating with local preceptors and local hospitals and area specialists.
Seminars in Clinical Medicine
A series of interactive seminars presented by area, regional, and University of Washington physicians is held each Thursday afternoon September through May for all medical students in Boise, Idaho. We schedule lecturers, coordinate topics, and distribute the calendar of events to the medical students and their respective clerkship coordinators.
Support Services
Students in Idaho may receive Career Counseling, residency application support, Match Day guidance, elective scheduling, and personal counseling. The Idaho WWAMI office facilitates student support services.
Programs
Family Medicine Residency Network Family Practice Residency of Idaho - FMRI Rural Training Track - Idaho State University Family Practice Residency Program
Three-year graduate training programs specialized in family medicine training. The Idaho WWAMI office facilitates the relationship between the family medicine residencies through the program directors and the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency Network.
Internal Medicine Residency Program Boise and Seattle
A shared primary care internal medicine residency program with Seattle. We assist in the development of new ambulatory care rotations in Idaho.
Idaho Area Health Education Center (Idaho AHEC)
Idaho AHEC is nonprofit corporation offering organizations, providers, and communities educational and technical support to initiate and/or enhance health and human services to Idaho’s vulnerable populations. The office and the Idaho AHEC office collaborates together to develop new programs focused on medical education.
Idaho Pre-Med Programs
Idaho’s Colleges and University Pre-Med Counselors and Students. Summer primary care shadowing programs and Pre-Med Summit. This office works closely with Idaho’s undergraduate college and university premedical advisors and the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians, matching physicians with interested undergraduate students for a 3-day observational experience during the summer. The Idaho WWAMI office developed an Advisory committee to design and implement the Idaho Pre-Med Summit which takes place every other year. The Summit educates both advisors and students on the specifics of applying to medical school as well as allied health professions.
WRITE
The WRITE Program is a clinical medical education program developed by the University of Washington School of Medicine as a means to help meet the need for rural primary care physicians in the WWAMI region. The success of this unique program is due to the integration of community involvement, continuity of experience and a proven curriculum. A detailed description of this program can be found WRITE website. The WRITE sites in Idaho are located in Hailey, McCall and Sandpoint.
Idaho TRUST
As part of the application process, Idaho WWAMI students can now apply to participate in a focused rural and urban underserved track. The goal of this track, called Idaho TRUST (Targeted Rural Underserved Track), is to allow for a focused medical school experience in rural and urban underserved care, with the eventual goal of returning physicians to practice in the rural and urban underserved areas of Idaho. Idaho TRUST students will have multiple opportunities to experience firsthand the joys and satisfaction of practicing medicine in a rural or urban underserved community. Go to the
UW Medicine WWAMI Trust Program Website.
Contact Information
Assistant Dean and WWAMI Clinical Coordinator - Idaho
Mary Barinaga, M.D.
Barinm@u.washington.edu
208.364.4544
208.334.2344 (fax)
Address
Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program
322 E. Front Street, Suite 442B
Boise, ID 83702
Administrator/Program Operations
Adriana Olivas
idwwami@uw.edu
208.364.4544
Georgette Cunnington
georcunn@uw.edu
208.364.4546
Medical Student Coordinator
Linda Clark
linda.clark4@va.gov
208.422.1000 EXT 1-7642