Members of the new class of WWAMI Medical Education Program students are, from
left and front to back: Aedian O’Connor, Lulu Rochelle, Noah Gustafson, Cassidy Sebastian,
Shay Nelson, Avery Potter, Audrey Peasley, Cassidy Dellos, Annika Syvrud, Jill Mayer,
Hannah Thomas, Jack Syring, Makena Engelker, Sarah Retherford, Carson Asher, Celeste
Keelin, Caden Crooks, Kyler Arriola, Timothy Radosevich and Benjamin Radosevich. (Brian
Harrington/BHP Imaging Photo)
The WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Wyoming recently welcomed
its 28th entering class, with 20 new medical students from across Wyoming.
A stethoscope ceremony, in which students were presented with stethoscopes and white
coats, recently marked their start in WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana
and Idaho) at the University of Wyoming through the University of Washington School
of Medicine. The event was sponsored and hosted by Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie.
Dr. Todd Guth, director of the WWAMI program at the University of Wyoming, opened
with remarks pointing to the strong network of support the medical students can expect
from faculty, mentors, preceptors and real-life training provided through facilities,
such as Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Guth emphasized upholding excellence and patient
centeredness as key attributes in the practice of medicine.
Terry Moss, chief operations officer at Ivinson Memorial Hospital, spoke to the medical
students and emphasized that the hospital will be an educational partner from start
to finish as the students begin their medical journey and return to Wyoming to practice
as physicians.
Michelle Hilaire, interim dean of the College of Health Sciences, speaking about the
experiences that await the future medical professionals, noted that there will be
highs and lows that all caregivers face. But the strengths and values learned through
WWAMI will prepare students to become the future of health care in Wyoming.
“The ceremony is a symbolic moment where science meets compassion as students obtain
the necessary tools to move between the classroom to the clinical immersion experiences,”
Hilaire says.
WWAMI clinical faculty members also spoke during the ceremony. Dr. Dan Radosevich
emphasized the importance of connecting with medical school mentors. Dr. Dana Govaerts
explained how the stethoscope is not only used to listen to patients physically, but
also represents the learned skill of hearing and responding to what patients have
to say.
Dr. Julie Carlson commented on the symbolism of the short white coats presented to
students at the stethoscope ceremony, as the coats represent the beginning of the
medical students’ journey to becoming highly skilled physicians. At the time of their
graduation, students will receive full-length white coats, representing having gained
the knowledge and experience of a trusted physician.
The new class of medical students, listed by hometown and name, is:
Afton -- Shay Nelson.
Banner -- Noah Gustafson.
Big Horn -- Jill Mayer.
Casper -- Avery Potter, Benjamin Radosevich, Sarah Retherford and Lulu Rochelle.
Cheyenne -- Cassidy Dellos.
Cody -- Caden Crooks.
Douglas -- Makena Engelker and Audrey Peasley.
Green River -- Timothy Radosevich and Hannah Thomas.
Jackson -- Kyler Arriola and Cassidy Sebastian.
Laramie -- Aedian O’Connor.
Powell -- Carson Asher.
Rock Springs -- Celestre Keelin and Annika Syvrud.
Sheridan -- Jack Syring.
About the Wyoming-WWAMI Medical Education Program
The WWAMI Medical Education Program -- Wyoming’s medical school -- is a partnership
between the University of Wyoming and the University of Washington School of Medicine.
WWAMI is an acronym for the five states that participate in the program: Washington,
Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho.
WWAMI reserves 20 seats each year for qualified Wyoming residents. Students accepted
to the program spend 18 months on the University of Wyoming campus. The third and
fourth years are spent at selected clinical sites throughout the WWAMI region.
To learn more about Wyoming-WWAMI, go here.
About the University of Wyoming College of Health Sciences
UW’s College of Health Sciences trains health and wellness professionals and researchers
in a wide variety of disciplines, including medicine, nursing, pharmacy, speech-language
pathology, social work, kinesiology, public health, health administration and disability
studies. The college also oversees residency and fellowship programs in Casper and
Cheyenne, as well as operating a speech/hearing clinic in Laramie and primary care
clinics in Laramie, Casper and Cheyenne.
With more than 1,600 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, the college
is dedicated to training the health and wellness workforce of Wyoming and conducting
high-quality research and community engagement, with a particular focus on rural and
frontier populations.
