1. WWAMI Medical Education in Idaho
Current Status And Expansion

2. 37 Years of Medical Education
UWSOM and the University of Idaho have a proud 37 year partnership for medical education in Idaho
Part of the statewide mission assigned to UI by the State Board of Education: “The university is also responsible for regional medical and veterinary medical education programs in which the state of Idaho participates.”

3. #1 in Primary Care Medicine & Medical Research
Through WWAMI, Idaho is already partnered with the #1 medical school in the nation for primary care and rural physician training (15 years running) and the #1 public medical school in the country for total research funding ($1 billion in 2007)

4. An unbeaten record of success
50% return rate for Idaho WWAMI graduates.
The national return rate average for states with their own medical schools is just 39%
When you add the other WWAMI graduates from MT, WA, and AK who have set up practice in Idaho, the State’s return on investment goes up to 70%.

5. A research partnership that pays Idaho
UI WWAMI faculty bring in over $11 million dollars of NIH grant funding annually to Idaho
For example: the UI-WWAMI $16M, 5 year NIH-funded INBRE Program supports biomedical research at all of Idaho’s colleges and universities
Current Idaho WWAMI NIH research funding is already greater than in states with their own community-based medical schools

6. An established distributed medical education model
WWAMI already has a well established state-wide network of physicians (258), clinics, and hospitals, both urban and rural.
Idaho WWAMI students can already complete 3 of their 4 years of medical training in Idaho.
All of Idaho’s GME programs are WWAMI-affiliated or UWSOM programs.

7. Idaho’s Current GME Training
WWAMI-affiliated Family Medicine residencies in Boise, Pocatello, and Caldwell (all 3 years)
Idaho Internal Medicine residency track at Boise VA (1st and 2nd year UWSOM residents)
New Psychiatry residency track at Boise hospitals (3rd and 4th year UWSOM residents)
Pediatric Residents (2 month rotation with six UWSOM residents/year)

8. CURRENT WWAMI MEDICAL EDUCATION SITES IN IDAHO
Moscow
St. Maries
Grangeville
Salmon
Driggs
Mountain Home
Shoshone
Malad City
Preston
Montpelier
Blackfoot
Emmett
Nampa
Orofino
Plummer
Payette
Arco
Cottonwood
Weiser
Coeur d’Alene
Bonners Ferry
Sun Valley
Meridian
Rexburg
Sandpoint
McCall
Hailey
R/UOP (Rural/Underserved Opportunities Program)
WWAMI Practice Sites
Pocatello
Idaho Falls
Caldwell
Clinical Clerkships (Third & Fourth-Years)
WRITE (WWAMI Rural Integrated Training Experience)
Rupert
American Falls
Twin Falls
Downey
Fort Hall
GME Community Rotations
WWAMI Program Offices
Graduate Medical Education (GME)/Residencies
Boise

9. MGT Medical Feasibility Study – Summary of Findings - 7.5
“each alternative represents a straightforward approach [but] the number of variations…is infinite” “should the state choose a new medical program to be hosted by one university, the university should work with WWAMI to develop a long-term… relationship with UW. Idaho has made a significant investment in WWAMI…Idaho should continue to capitalize on this relationship” “one university should be first among equals to provide strong leadership…[and] work with UWSOM…[for a] long-term contractual and financial relationship”

10. WWAMI’s Vision for Expanded Medical Education
Expand the WWAMI program to all four years of medical education in Idaho, under UI leadership and continuing UWSOM accreditation
Year 1 at UI-Moscow; Years 2 through 4 in Boise and regional medical sites across Idaho
Develop new partnerships between WWAMI, UI, and BSU, ISU, & Boise VAMC
Support GME expansion by establishing a WWAMI GME office in Boise

11. Step-wise Expansion Utilizing Existing Resources And Cooperation With Other Institutions
Step 1: support Idaho WWAMI feasibility planning for a 4-year Medical Program in Idaho, including operating budget, capital budget, facility needs analysis, curriculum, students costs and debt loads, and implementation timeline.
Step 2: Fund an Idaho WWAMI GME office in Boise; appoint state-wide GME Advisory Board for Idaho; expand current residencies and develop new Idaho residency options.

12. Implementation Steps, cont.
Step 3: increase current WWAMI medical student seats in Idaho to 40 new students per year (160 total students in medical school).
Step 4: Complete development of 2nd year medical program in Boise, under UI-WWAMI leadership and in partnership with Boise hospitals, the VAMC, residencies, BSU, ISU, and community physicians.

13. Implementation Steps, cont.
Step 5: expand clinical training sites across Idaho, particularly eastern and northern regions.
Step 6: Once all 4 years are established in Idaho and GME has been expanded, create the Idaho College of Medicine, a partnership among universities, residencies, hospitals, and physicians, under UWSOM’s continuing accreditation.