WWAMI

WWAMI is a cooperative program of the University of Washington School of Medicine and the states of Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. It is a program that makes medical education accessible to students in the northwestern United States by decentralizing the educational process and by sharing existing facilities and personnel in universities and communities in the WWAMI states. Support of WWAMI by the State of Montana allows 30 qualified Montana residents to be admitted to the University of Washington School of Medicine each year.

The Missoula Track started in July 2008 with four third-year students participating. Missoula offers all six required third-year clerkships and currently offers fourth-year clerkships in Anesthesiology, Ophthalmology, and Neurology, with more to come. Meals are provided free of charge by both hospitals and The University of Montana food service to all WWAMI students. Housing is located on a bus route (bus pass included) but we strongly suggest coming to Missoula with a bicycle or car.

Third-Year Required Clerkships

Third and fourth-year medical students have the opportunity to take required and elective clerkships in Montana. All six third-year required clerkships are available in Missoula.

• Family Medicine - The Family Practice Clerkship student in Missoula has a unique opportunity to participate with family practice doctors in a wide range of settings, including multispecialty clinic practice (Western Montana Clinic) to community health center (Partnership Health Center), hospital-based single specialty practice (Community Medical Center) and HMO (Curry Student Health Center at the University of Montana).
• Internal Medicine - Experience in general medicine and subspecialty instruction in both office and hospital settings are offered here, with an excellent medical faculty, conferences, and educational offerings.
• Obstetrics/Gynecology - Students work with 3 OB/Gyns at the Western Montana Clinic, a multispecialty practice. Students' hospital experience is spent mostly at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.
• Pediatrics - This clerkship is based in a large pediatric office at Community Medical Center with emphasis on both sick and well child care. Faculty provides teaching at inpatient, ER and NICU areas of the hospital.
• Psychiatry - This clerkship is based at the Providence Center of St. Patrick Hospital & Health Sciences Center and at the psychiatry offices at Montana Neurobehavioral Specialists. Students work with both adult and adolescent psychiatrists in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Surgery - Students are assigned to the surgical service of one of the major affiliated hospitals where they will serve a significant role as a part of the total patient care team. This clerkship is based at two practices, Missoula Surgical Associates, PLLC next to St. Patrick Hospital & Health Sciences Center and General Surgery at the Community Medical Center.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences Regional Rotations

PNWU-College of Osteopathic Medicine has developed robust, community-based medical education training sites in 15 different locations throughout the Pacific Northwest. Regional deans and administrators support the students at each site, set specific objectives and expectations for the students, and oversee end-of-rotation examinations. UM is home to the regional dean and administrator for PNWU-COM's program in Western Montana. This community-based training provides an excellent opportunity for students to be active participants in their clinical training, applying the knowledge they have acquired in the first two years of medical school. A four-week rural rotation in family medicine is required as a feature of PNWU-COM’s rural and underserved mission focus. Often, there is only one medical student at a rural site, allowing the student to have more hands-on experience than at any other location.