The WWAMI School of Medical Education is a collaboration among six universities in
five northwestern states — Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho — and the
University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine.
The University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) offers the Doctor of Medicine program and
a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Pre-Medical Studies. WWAMI enables Alaskan medical
students to begin their medical education in-state, completing the first two years
at UAA before participating in required clinical rotations throughout the five-state
WWAMI region during their third and fourth years.
After their second year, students can complete their clinical training in Alaska or
at regional sites. The WWAMI Medical Program focuses on preparing physicians for primary
care practice and increasing the number of doctors in rural and underserved areas.
The program emphasizes excellence in research and teaching, with faculty committed
to medical education and community health.
WWAMI is a medical school program, not a premedical program. Enrolled students are
dual-enrolled at UAA and UW, completing an 18-month foundational phase that includes
integrated basic and clinical sciences, with early exposure to rural healthcare.
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.
Elaina Mack, a student in the School of Preventive and Therapeutic Sciences, is a dedicated UAA women's basketball player, balancing academics and athletics as she pursues her goal of becoming an athletic trainer.
Recent graduate of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Hannah Bogden, reflects passionately on her two-week kayak expedition from Whittier to Valdez. She was joined by other students and two instructors, with the trip being part of a capstone course for the college’s outdoor leadership program.
Six students in the Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (HPER)’s outdoor leadership program, and two instructors, completed a 14-day kayak capstone expedition.
For Department of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation outdoor leadership graduate Frank Schweers, a passion for exploring the outdoors led to new opportunities to help others visualize the outdoors using geographic information system (GIS) technology. Read more.
Della Keats is a four (4) week, residential program for high school students on the
UAA Anchorage campus. This program is fully funded, including travel, food, and accommodations.
This free, annual WWAMI event offers a full day of speakers, workshops and information
for anyone interested in pursuing a career in medicine. High school students, undergraduates,
college graduates, parents and school counselors 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 numerous 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.
Alaska Trust is a medical school program focused in rural underserved care, with the
hope that physician graduates will return to practice in the rural underserved communities
of Alaska.