UW’s WWAMI Medical Students Meet with State Political and Medical Leaders in Cheyenne

Hailing from across Wyoming, first-year medical students from the University of Wyoming’s College of Health Sciences met with state political and medical leaders in Cheyenne during the annual WWAMI Medical Education Program Legislative Day Wednesday, Feb. 17.

 

The students, part of the Wyoming WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education Program, had the opportunity to be part of the legislative process and engage in meaningful discussion about health and education in the state.

 

During the morning sessions, Sheila Bush, executive director of the Wyoming Medical Society, and Dr. Alexia Harrist, Wyoming’s state health officer, talked with the students about current health issues around the state as well as opportunities and challenges the students will encounter when they return to practice in the rural communities of Wyoming.

 

The WWAMI students then met with Gov. Mark Gordon, who took the time to hear each student’s motivation to go into medicine before inviting more in-depth questions.

 

Annabel Hagen, a medical student from Jackson and Wyoming Medical Society student representative, asked the governor about the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program.

 

“I wanted to understand whether the RHT could create space for physicians to focus more meaningfully on patient care,” Hagen says. “As future physicians who may practice in Wyoming, these structural decisions will shape how we deliver care.”

 

Hagen added that, while the details of how the funding will be used are still taking shape, “there was encouraging discussion about how the goal of this fund is to make sure it is sustainable after the federal funding ends, and how the immediate funds will hopefully be used to establish more integrated primary care centers to better serve our rural populations.”

 

WWAMI’s Legislative Day also included a luncheon attended by several state legislators and representatives of Wyoming’s congressional delegation. The luncheon included a student speaker for the first time, with Hagen taking the stage to provide a student’s perspective on the opportunity to have this day at the Wyoming Capitol.

 

UW, Wyoming and the University of Washington value the WWAMI Program and care about student perspectives, Hagen says.

 

“Throughout the day, we heard repeatedly that student voices can influence legislative decision making,” she says. “It is a rare opportunity to engage with state leaders at this level, and the emphasis they place on our education felt very sincere.”

 

Representing the leadership of UW at the Legislative Day were President Ed Seidel; Interim Provost Anne Alexander; Patrick Hardigan, dean of the College of Health Sciences; and Todd Guth, Wyoming WWAMI director.

 

From the University of Washington, President Robert J. Jones; Tim Dellit, dean of the University of Washington School of Medicine; Suzanne Allen, vice dean for academic, rural and regional affairs; and Robert Monger, Wyoming WWAMI assistant clinical dean, joined the group for the day’s activities.

 

The 2026 Legislative Day marked the first time since the creation of WWAMI that the president of the University of Washington has visited Wyoming.

 

“My proudest moment of the day was when our 20 students were announced to both chambers of the legislative body to rounds of applause and cheers,” Guth says. “It brought a big smile to my face and a small tear to my eye to hear their names read aloud at the Capitol and watch their individual reactions as they stood up for the legislators.”

 

Representatives of the UW Family Residency Programs were present during the Legislative Day and included program directors Dr. Evan Norby, of Cheyenne, and Dr. Brian Veauthier, of Casper, as well as Graduate Medical Education Designated Institutional Officer Dr. Beth Robitaille and several residents from their respective residency programs.

 

“A great part of the day was for the Wyoming WWAMI team to experience the excitement of Legislative Day alongside our University of Wyoming family medicine colleagues and residents from the Casper and Cheyenne programs,” Guth adds.

 

Before the end of the day, students, faculty, staff and WWAMI administrators toured the Wyoming State Capitol. Faculty members met with legislators and colleagues from the UW Family Medicine Residency Programs at an evening reception hosted by the Wyoming Health Resources Network in the Paramount Ballroom.

 

“Legislative Day in Cheyenne is an important part of our WWAMI Medical Education Program, giving our students a meaningful opportunity to engage directly with Wyoming’s top policy leaders,” Hardigan says. “This year’s event was especially notable as we welcomed Dr. Robert J. Jones, president of the University of Washington, to join our delegation -- further underscoring the strong and enduring partnership between our institutions in preparing Wyoming’s future physicians.

 

“Through direct conversations with Gov. Gordon and members of the legislature, our students gain firsthand insight into the rural health challenges and policy decisions they will one day navigate as practitioners,” Hardigan continues. “Within the College of Health Sciences, we are proud to see our ‘homegrown’ medical talent stepping into leadership spaces and advocating for the health of Wyoming communities.”

 

Members of the 2025 entering class of first-year WWAMI medical students, listed by their hometowns, are:

 

Casper -- Gabrielle Reimann.

Cheyenne -- Erica Farris, Samantha Johnson, Winston Littlejohn, Brooklyn Prince and Daniel Shumway.

Evanston -- Linsey Lancaster.

Gillette -- Dalton Nichols.

Jackson -- Elizabeth Girling, Rachael Harrower and Hagen.

Kemmerer -- Alexis King.

Moorcroft -- Cherol Minton.

Powell -- Jordan Moore.

Rawlins -- Easton Couch.

Rock Springs -- Ali Lange.

Sheridan -- Logan Jensen, Maggie Kuehl and Zoe Robison.

Wheatland -- Carlos Garcia.

About the Wyoming WWAMI Medical Education Program

The Wyoming WWAMI Medical Education Program is a partnership between UW and the University of Washington School of Medicine. WWAMI Medical Education reserves 20 seats each year for qualified Wyoming residents. Students accepted to the program spend 18 months on the UW campus. Students spend their third and fourth years at selected clinical sites throughout the WWAMI region.