Virtual Conversation: WWAMI

For nearly 50 years, Idaho WWAMI has provided accessible, world-class medical education through a partnership between the University of Idaho and the University of Washington School of Medicine. Idaho ranks 49th in the U.S. for the number of primary care doctors per capita, and WWAMI's hands-on clinical experiences for students are essential to growing the next generation of rural physicians in the state. More than 50% of Idaho WWAMI graduates return to practice in Idaho.

Join us for a candid discussion about the need to grow the Gem State's physician workforce, Idaho WWAMI's impact on our economy, as well as the experiences of medical students and young alumni physicians now mentoring the next generation of Idaho doctors during the pandemic.  

Panel:

• Dr. Jaclyn Cooperrider, Idaho WWAMI alumnus and graduate of Eagle High School, now working at the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho and Idaho Sports Medicine Institute.
• Lucia Cabajaral - first generation Latina med student from Weiser practicing at Terry Reilly in Marsing and Nampa
• Mary Barinaga, M.D. - Assistant Clinical Dean at Idaho WWAMI, based in Boise but raised in Midvale on a sheep ranch. She is also an alumna of Idaho WWAMI and The College of Idaho.
• Jeff Seegmiller, Ed. D. - Jeffrey Seegmiller, Ed.D. nAssistant Dean Foundations Phase, Idaho WWAMI and based on the UI campus in Moscow.
• Dr. Lauren Nesbit, Idaho WWAMI alumna and practicing physician in Twin Falls and Jerome. She is a native of the Magic Valley.
  • Moderator: City Club founding board member Rod Gramer.

About Idaho WWAMI

WWAMI was born in 1971 through an innovative partnership with the top-ranked University of Washington School of Medicine. Housed at the University of Idaho, Idaho WWAMI is an internationally-renowned model that provides high quality, community-based and cost-effective public medical education to 40 students each year. U.S. News & World Report ranks the UW School of Medicine #2 in the U.S. for primary care education, and #2 for family medicine training.

Idaho WWAMI helps meet the urgent workforce need for more family doctors throughout the state, particularly through its unique hands-on rural clinical training programs (TRUST, WRITE, and RUOP). Idaho WWAMI is the only medical school in the state that offers these four- to 12-week immersive programs where medical students can experience the unique joys and challenges of rural medicine. A key piece of the physician pipeline, Idaho WWAMI-trained medical students are not only talented and well-educated medical professionals, they know Idaho and many are committed to providing medical care to its underserved communities.  

Over its nearly 50-year history, Idaho WWAMI’s class size has grown four-fold--from 10 to 40 students each year.  The program partners with medical societies, hospitals and clinics to share resources, expertise and knowledge. WWAMI graduates are more than just excellent physicians, they are leaders throughout Idaho’s medical and academic communities. Being part of the WWAMI family, or “WWAMIly” is a point of pride for physicians across Idaho. From Challis to Cambridge to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho patients experience firsthand the WWAMI difference when it comes to high quality, community-based care.

City Club thanks Ada County Medical Society for sponsoring this program.

City Club thanks our Premier Sponsor, Northwest Nazarene University and the NNU College of Business and the 2021 Forum Series sponsors: AARP of Idaho, Bank of Idaho, Clima-Tech Corporation, Echelon Group, Idaho Humanities Council, Micron, PacificSource Health Plans, and Small Mine Development. We are pleased to welcome university students to attend our events thanks to our University partners Boise State University, Northwest Nazarene University, and University of Idaho. Our media partners include Boise State Public Radio, 670 KBOI, Idaho Public Television and Idaho Statesman. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Idaho Humanities Council, the state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

If you have any questions, call 208-364-4614 and staff can assist you.