Idaho WWAMI

09/19/2026

White coats on. Smiles all around. Welcome to medicine, Idaho WWAMI.

09/18/2026

Idaho Family Medicine Advocacy Panel!

What does medical advocacy look like in Idaho right now and how can students get involved? Join us to hear from an Idaho physician, an IAFP representative, and an Idaho MS4 as they talk through the state of advocacy and the many ways to plug in.

September 28th at 12:00 PM PT via Zoom: https://bit.ly/3SUvpsd

Students in the Underserved Pathway can earn credit for one module by attending.

09/17/2026

Idaho WWAMI alum Dr. Derek Southwick (E20) is the latest guest on the Doctors Making a Difference podcast, hosted by Dr. Peter Crane, President of the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians.

In the episode, Derek credits Dr. Mary Barinaga, Assistant Clinical Dean for Idaho WWAMI, with introducing him to organized medicine, and shares that he plans to return to Idaho once he finishes residency.

Listen here: https://bit.ly/3UW1h0g

Dr. Peter Crane talks with Dr. Derek Southwick, third-year family m...

09/17/2026

Meet Dylan Holmes, an Idaho WWAMI TRUST student serving Nampa, Idaho.

For Dylan, Idaho is home. Dylan grew up in nearby Kimberly and values the chance to train close to home and eventually serve Idaho communities, including Spanish-speaking patients as a Spanish-speaker.

Dylan is looking forward to building lasting patient relationships in Nampa.

A recent BYU–Idaho graduate in Biomedical Science, Dylan
credits family; namely parents in Kimberly and three sisters across the Pacific Northwest as a grounding force on the path to medicine. Before medical school, Dylan coached high school baseball, played collegiate ball in South Dakota, and completed a church mission in California.

Dylan says the first few months of medical school have been challenging but rewarding. Getting to know classmates and beginning to develop clinical skills have been highlights so far.

Outside of medicine, Dylan stays active through weightlifting, pickleball, and time outdoors.

09/15/2026

Check out this great story about Idaho WWAMI! Link includes article & video.

🏥Idaho-born medical students are training in rural hospitals to address the state's physician shortage. What healthcare challenges does your area face?

09/08/2026

Four Idaho WWAMI physicians earned University of Washington Department of Medicine awards this summer for their outstanding contributions to medical education, mentorship and patient care:

Dr. Michael Krug: 2026 Richard M. Tucker WWAMI Excellence in Teaching Award
Dr. Casi Wyatt: 2026 Tina Juul-Dam Teacher of the Year Award
Dr. Mariah Lapinski: 2026 Hindson Resident of the Year Award
Dr. Jared Joffer: 2026 C. Scott Smith Community Teacher of the Year Award

These physician educators and leaders are helping train the next generation of doctors across Idaho and the WWAMI region. Congratulations to all four!

Four Idaho WWAMI physicians earned University of Washington Department of Medicine awards this summer for their outstanding contributions to medical education, mentorship and patient care. Their achievements reflect the exceptional physician educators and leaders who are helping train the next gener...

08/31/2026

Meet Kellan Hayes 👋

A Boise native and proud Idahoan, Kellan joins Idaho WWAMI after earning her Biology degree from Pomona College. Before starting medical school, she worked as a medical assistant at a Federally Qualified Health Center in Boise; an experience that deepened her commitment to caring for her home community.

Kellan is drawn to family medicine and the chance to build lasting, trusting relationships with patients. Some of that inspiration traces back to summers as a counselor at a camp for kids living with Type 1 diabetes. "These kids are resilient," she says. "It made me want to do more."

She chose Idaho WWAMI for the opportunity to serve the state she loves while getting an incredible education close to home. Off the clock, you'll find her trail running, rafting, mountain biking, backpacking, skiing, playing ultimate frisbee or reading in her hammock. (Fun fact: she holds three collegiate volleyball records. 🏐)

"Idaho is my home. We're incredibly lucky to live in such a beautiful place; we need to take care of it, and each other."

Welcome to the Idaho WWAMI family, Kellan!

08/27/2026

Meet Kiley Karras, a proud Coeur d'Alene native and one of our newest Idaho WWAMI students!
Kiley grew up exploring North Idaho's hiking trails, in a place that means family, faith, and nature to her. She studied Neuroscience (with a psychology minor) at Brigham Young University before setting her sights on medicine. Her path was inspired most of all by her brother, who was diagnosed with Fragile X at 18 months old. Tagging along to his appointments and therapies from a young age, Kiley saw firsthand the teamwork behind great care and the sense of service that drew her to the field.

Her dream of becoming a pediatrician traces back to her own childhood pediatrician, a family friend who lit up when a high-schooler Kiley said she wanted to follow in her footsteps. That plan hasn't wavered since.

Before medical school, Kiley worked as a medical assistant at an OB/GYN clinic and trained in phlebotomy and delivering results. It's experience she hopes to carry into the compassionate care she gives her future patients, in whatever specialty she lands.

A few things you might not know about Kiley: she's a collegiate All-American in the 400m hurdles, she can say the alphabet backwards in about 3 seconds, and she could happily eat an açaí bowl every single day. Off the clock, you'll find her running, playing pickleball and soccer, paddleboarding, hiking, doing hot yoga, or baking, always more fun alongside her husband.

Welcome to the WWAMI family, Kiley! Idaho is lucky to have you.

08/25/2026

As wildfire smoke settles over the Treasure Valley and extreme heat stretches longer each summer, the health effects of a changing climate are increasingly urgent for the patients and communities we serve across Idaho.

Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health, St. Luke's, and Saint Alphonsus are hosting the 2nd Annual Treasure Valley Climate and Health Symposium:

📅 Wednesday, September 2 · 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
St. Luke's Plaza, Boise (in-person encouraged) + virtual option

The day offers CME/CE and is free for students and residents. Three sessions explore the science, health impacts, and community solutions for the climate-driven challenges most affecting Idaho: extreme heat, wildfire smoke and air pollution, and severe drought.

A keynote from the University of Washington revisits Seattle's 2021 heat dome, the health consequences, and the lessons it offers for preparing our own communities.

Designed for healthcare professionals and community members alike; no clinical background required.

Register: https://bit.ly/3TYogHC

08/20/2026

Four Idaho WWAMI physicians earned University of Washington Department of Medicine awards this summer, recognizing their outstanding work in medical education, mentorship and patient care.

🩺 Dr. Michael Krug, 2026 Richard M. Tucker WWAMI Excellence in Teaching Award. A physician at the Boise VA Medical Center and associate program director of the UW Boise Internal Medicine Residency Program, he believes getting to know patients is key to the best care.

🩺 Dr. Casi Wyatt, 2026 Tina Juul-Dam Teacher of the Year Award. An infectious disease specialist with 20+ years of experience, affiliated with Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and St. Luke's Boise Medical Center. The award honors the legacy of the late Dr. Tina Juul-Dam.

🩺 Dr. Mariah Lapinski, 2026 Hindson Resident of the Year Award. Chief resident at the Boise Internal Medicine Residency Program, recognized for her leadership and dedication to teaching.

🩺 Dr. Jared Joffer, 2026 C. Scott Smith Community Teacher of the Year Award. An internal medicine specialist at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise, focused on the care of adults with complex conditions. The award is named for longtime Boise physician and educator Dr. C. Scott Smith.