The WWAMI School of Medical Education is a collaboration among 6 universities in five
northwestern states (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) and the University
of Washington School of Medicine. The University of Washington School of Medicine
ranked as #1 in the US for Primary Care Education in 2022 by US News & World Report.
Here at UAA, WWAMI is proud to offer both the Doctor of Medicine program in partnership
with the University of Washington, as well as a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in
Pre-Medical Studies to prepare students for medical school.
Academic Programs
This certificate is designed to help students who already have a baccalaureate degree
prepare themselves for medical school and complete their pre-requisite coursework.
With a focus on primary and rural health care, the Alaska WWAMI provides flexibility
as you pursue your career goals with advanced patient care training, electives and
other experiences that help you transition into residency training.
UAA's School of Social Work received a $1.2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to address the need for Alaska social workers in a K-12 setting. The School-Based Social Work Education and Network Development program (SSWEND) aims to graduate a cohort of 31 fellows by 2026 who will increase the amount of school-based mental health service providers in high-needs schools.
Historically, there aren’t many ticks in Alaska and there’s no evidence that the six native species carry harmful pathogens. But factors like climate change and increased travel have created a more hospitable environment for ticks. Micah Hahn with UAA’s Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies is researching the population. “People are always sending ticks to us,” Hahn said. “Anyone in the State who finds a tick on themselves, on their animals, their personal luggage, or on wildlife, can pull it off, put it in a vial and ship it to our state vet. Then we'll take it out, have an entomologist identify it, and enter it into our database.”
Fabrice Evengue is an epidemiologist with the Department of Defence. “I investigate patterns and causes of disease and injury.”. He got his start in public health at UAA, graduating in 2015 with a Master of Public Health in Health Practice.
The Remote Area Medical (RAM) nonprofit clinic recently made its first visit to Alaska, setting up pop-up clinics in Anchorage and Fairbanks to provide free dental, vision, and medical services to those in need. However, RAM faced a challenge when it came to staffing the clinics with dental hygiene volunteers.
"For all those deciding what to do following high school, I encourage you to find your passion, that spark that brings you joy and motivation. If you don’t quite know what you want to do with your life, that is okay. When you find the path that motivates you, take each small step one by one, but don’t stop growing," said MSW student Guy Harris.
Highlights
Research
Researchers at UAA are active in medical studies related to health disparities, cancer
and community engagement. Come back soon to learn more about WWAMI research.
This annual event, co-hosted by Alaska WWAMI and the UAA College of Health, provides
information to anyone interested in pursuing careers in healthcare including medicine.
High school students, undergraduates, and college graduates are invited to attend.
The UW School of Medicine's Service Learning program provides students with opportunities
to hone their skills while addressing the health needs of our underserved communities.
WWAMI offers six Pathways giving students the opportunity to pursue a particular interest
and develop knowledge and skills specifically tailored to working with specific communities
domestically and abroad.
Health Education Summit
