As Alaska’s medical school, the WWAMI program prepares Alaskan residents to be the future physicians and surgeons for our state.
doctor of medicine (m.d.)
In partnership with the University of Washington School of Medicine, UAA is the Alaska regional site for WWAMI School of Medicine, a collaborative, high-quality medical school with a focus on community health care that has trained more than 500 physicians and surgeons since 1971. Spend your first 18 months of the program at UAA, taking foundational courses and learning basic clinical skills in local clinics and hospitals. After this you’ll begin your clinical years, which you can choose to spend in clinics and hospitals across Alaska or throughout the five-state WWAMI region. All students are required to spend a minimum of eight to 12 weeks in Seattle at University of Washington hospitals.
WHY CHOOSE doctor of medicine AT UAA?
Engage in active learning in small groups with expert faculty. Alaska WWAMI provides a greater focus on independent, life-long learning skills you’ll need to collaborate, grow and succeed in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
Train in Alaska with over 200 Alaska physicians and surgeons preparing you to work in Alaskan communities. Unique Special Programs throughout the State from Utqiagvik to Unalaska to prepare you to work with rural and underserved communities
Learn from local expert faculty and physicians across multiple specialties with a small number of students to faculty ratio.
WWAMI is housed in the Health Sciences building with state of the art anatomy and simulation labs as well as a classroom with advanced teaching technologies. In close proximity to other health programs allowing Interprofessional educational opportunities.
NEWS & Stories
Division of Population Health Sciences Associate Professor Dr. Britteny Howell recently published two new studies that investigates the relationship between aging and mental health. Her research seeks to explore gaps in existing literature about how the experience of aging is shape by factors like social context, culture, activities, beliefs, environment, and more.
In January 2026, students from the College of Health showcased their public health research at the Alaska Public Health Association Summit’s annual poster session. Their projects spanned topics ranging from food security to environmental contamination, contributing valuable insights that help shape the evolving conversation around Alaska’s public health landscape.
Dr. Corrie Whitmore, an associate professor in the Division of Population Health Sciences, and her team at UAA’s Center for Behavioral Health Research and Services are celebrating the recent publication of a new article. The paper, which was published in the Dec. 2025 issue of Nursing for Women’s Health, offers a framework and actionable strategies for nurses to improve communication and patient experience in discussions around substance use and contraception.
School of Social Work Assistant Professor Amana Mbise and ISER Research Assistant Professor Nathan West are exploring the relationships that Black barbershops play in men's health. Their community-based research prioritizes the lived experiences of the men they talk to, and is revealing how barbershops function not just as grooming spaces, but as social and cultural hubs.
Philippe Amstislavski, a scientist with a passion for sustainable innovation, is pioneering the use of mycelium insulation to help Alaska’s remote communities combat extreme cold and climate change.
Message from the ASSISTANT DEAN
Thank you for your interest in the WWAMI School of Medical Education. This decentralized medical education program through the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) combines the strengths and talents of Universities across a 5 state region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) to train physicians and surgeons in their own states initially and then across the 5 state region. If you are Alaskan and interested in serving your local Alaskan community we would be delighted to hear from you.
-Nicholas Phelps, Ph.D., Assistant Dean and Term Associate Professor, UAA WWAMI School of Medical Education and Foundations Assistant Dean, UW School of Medicine
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Contact Us
Phone: (907) 786-4789
Email: uaa_wwami@alaska.edu
University of Alaska Anchorage
Health Sciences Building
3795 Piper Street, Suite 301
Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
Mailing Address
Alaska WWAMI
3211 Providence Drive, HSB 301
Anchorage, Alaska, 99508
