Why a program to send UW doctors to rural areas is being threatened in Idaho

WWAMI is an acronym for Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho… and it refers to a program created by the University of Washington that allows dozens of medical students from those states to study at the UW School of Medicine.  The aim is to produce highly-skilled doctors who will go back and practice in rural, underserved areas of the Western U.S. But not everyone is happy with the 54-year-old program.  Two bills have been introduced in the Idaho legislature: one that decreases the state’s participation in WWAMI and one that severs it completely.   Guest:  Emina Gulbis, an Idaho native and WWAMI student and in her fourth-year of medical training, who recently wrote in defense of Idaho’s participation in WWAMI Relevant Links: WWAMI has a vital role in the health care infrastructure of the state of Idaho Idaho considers end to 50-year physician-training partnership with University of Washington over ‘Idaho values’See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.