New Director of Wyoming-WWAMI Medical Education Program Named at UW

Following a national search, Dr. Brant Schumaker, an associate professor with the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, has been selected as the new director of the Wyoming-WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Wyoming.

Schumaker replaces Tim Robinson, who has served in the director’s role since 2013.

“I am grateful to Tim Robinson for his excellent leadership of the WWAMI program and for the collaborative spirit he brought to the College of Health Sciences,” UW College of Health Sciences Dean David Jones says. “He has made a significant impact during his time as WWAMI director.”

WWAMI is a medical school consortium program delivered by the University of Washington School of Medicine involving the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. WWAMI students spend their first two years on their home campuses and the rest of their time at the University of Washington and at clinical sites around the Mountain West region.

Schumaker received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree (2005) and his Ph.D. in epidemiology (2010), both from the University of California-Davis. With his new role in WWAMI, he will assume an academic appointment in the Division of Kinesiology and Health in the College of Health Sciences. Schumaker will begin his new role as WWAMI director July 1.

“I am thrilled to be working with the No. 1 medical school for primary care in the country right here at the University of Wyoming,” Schumaker says. “I can’t wait to help support our talented faculty and staff in delivering the best possible medical education to our amazing Wyoming students.”

Schumaker has spent his career in veterinary medicine focusing on “One Health” approaches to mitigate the impact of infectious diseases.

“In the era of COVID-19, the interconnections between human, animal and environmental health have become even more apparent,” Schumaker says. “I want to help educate a medical workforce that can appreciate One Health and be prepared to lead their communities with these principles in mind.”

“We are very excited to have Brant take over the reins in WWAMI,” Jones says. “He was a key contributor to UW’s COVID surveillance testing and COVID vaccination programs. His background in human-interface disease and his advocacy of the One Health approach to global health issues will be great assets to the WWAMI program, UW and the state.”