WWAMI students prepare for rural underserved opportunities with skills workshop

by Vicki Nechodomu  |   

  • IV manikin arms set up along tables in the skills lab
    IV trainer arms are laid out in the simulation lab in the Health Sciences Building in preparation for the MS1 Skills Workshop organized for and hosted by Alaska WWAMI Medical students on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu / UAA College of Health)
  • Dr. Young demonstrating IVs on manikins
    Dr. Kathy Young, assistant dean of the Alaska WWAMI School of Medical Education, instructs first-year medical students on starting an IV at the MS1 Skills Workshop hosted by WWAMI students on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu / UAA College of Health)
  • suturing instruction
    WWAMI E16 Dr. Alex Davis looks on as first-year medical students learn suturing skills at the MS1 Skills Workshop organized by WWAMI students on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu / UAA College of Health)
  • closeup of sutur skin
    First year WWAMI medical student Aline Wilson prepares to suture a simulated wound at the MS1 Skills Workshop organized by WWAMI students on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu / UAA College of Health)
  • suturing instruction
    WWAMI E16 Dr. Dr Alex Davis coaches first year WWAMI medical student  to suture a simulated wound at the MS1 Skills Workshop organized by WWAMI students on March 30, 2023. Davis is in her final year at the Alaska Family Medicine Residency Program.  (Vicki Nechodomu / UAA College of Health)
  • two students practice starting an IV on a trainer arm
    Alaska WWAMI Medical students Landon Basner and Michael Kaden-Hoffmam practice starting IVs on a trainer arm at the MS1 Skills Workshop on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu/  UAA College of Health)
  • suturing instruction
    Local physician assistant Dana Murphy, coaches Alaska WWAMI Medical student Hannah Lukes in suturing on synthetic skin at the MS1 Skills Workshop on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu/  UAA College of Health)
  • a student practices starting an IV on a trainer arm
    Alaska WWAMI Medical student Austin Hess practices starting IVs on trainer arms at the MS1 Skills Workshop on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu/  UAA College of Health)
  • suturing instruction
    Local physician Dr. April Rodriguez coaches Alaska WWAMI Medical students Roan Willson in suturing on synthetic skin at the MS1 Skills Workshop on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu/  UAA College of Health)
  • local doctors teach wwami students how to start IVs
    WWAMI E17 Dr. Erik Wortman teaches Alaska WWAMI Medical students how to start IVs on trainer arms at the MS1 Skills Workshop on March 30, 2023. (Vicki Nechodomu/  UAA College of Health)
  • a WWAMI student starts an IV on a manikin arm
    Alaska WWAMI Medical students Anna Warnock and Kat Davis practice starting IVs on manikin arms at the MS1 Skills Workshop on March 30, 2023. (icki Nechodomu / UAA College of Health)

As summer approaches, many of Alaska WWAMI first year medical students (MS1s) are gearing up for their Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) placements in different parts of Alaska. In order to be prepared for the hands-on care required in rural healthcare settings, MS1s Kat Davis and Julia Savage, with the help of Dr. Kathy Young, Assistant Dean of the UAA WWAMI School of Medical Education, organized the MS1 Skills Workshop. The workshop aimed to instruct fundamental skills that are not typically part of the core curriculum, but may be essential in RUOP placements.

“In order to be prepared for these experiences where hands-on care is needed from everyone on the healthcare team, we wanted to learn basic skills like suturing and starting IVs,” said Savage. “Practicing these skills will allow us to help care for patients in places where resources may be limited.”

“Learning to start IVs and suture, and preparing to provide these services for patients, represents an exciting shift from classroom learning into hand-on medical care for us as first year students,” said Davis.  “We are very excited to head to our rural placements with these skills, broadening our ability to help patients in these areas.”

The workshop was made possible by a team of volunteer physicians, many of whom are connected to WWAMI. Dr. Ken Thomas, a current WWAMI professor, was among those who helped teach the students. The Alaska Vascular Surgery team, led by Dr. Rodriguez and Dr. Steiner, also volunteered their time to share their expertise. Additionally, many physicians from the Alaska Family Medicine Residency, several of whom are WWAMI graduates, including Dr. Davis (WWAMI E16), Dr. Wortman (WWAMI E17), Dr. Castles, Dr. Oltman, and Dr. Fabiszak, were also involved in the event.

The MS1 Skills Workshop provided a valuable opportunity for Alaska WWAMI MS1s to gain hands-on experience and prepare for their upcoming RUOP placements. The support of volunteer physicians, many of whom are WWAMI graduates, highlights the strong sense of community within the program and the commitment to providing healthcare to underserved areas. With these skills, the MS1s are ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of patients in rural Alaska.

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