WWAMI Medical Education Program
Director
Martin Teintze, Ph.D.
937 Highland Blvd., Suite 5220
Bozeman, MT 59715
Email: mteintze@montana.edu
Home Page: www.montana.edu/wwami
Program Manager
Kayla Ouert
937 Highland Blvd., Suite 5220
Bozeman, MT 59715
Tel: 406-994-4411
Email: Kayla.Ouert@montana.edu
Program Description
Sponsored by the University of Washington School of Medicine and leading to an M.D. degree from that school, the WWAMI program is designed to provide medical education for citizens of the participating states (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho), to provide a physician workforce for these states, and to encourage physicians to practice in locations where they are most needed.
WWAMI is a medical school program, not a premedical program. The program is supported by the State of Montana and guarantees that 30 qualified Montana residents can be admitted to the Medical School at the University of Washington School of Medicine each year.
Students who enter the program complete their Foundations Phase (18 months) at the participating university in their home state. First year programs exist at University of Washington-Seattle, and Spokane, the University of Wyoming-Laramie, the University of Alaska in Anchorage, Montana State University-Bozeman, and the University of Idaho-Moscow. The curriculum at each site has been standardized and is compatible with the University of Washington School of Medicine curriculum which integrates the basic and clinical sciences, and includes rural health care at an early time in medical education.
Course subject matter at MSU includes nine Blocks and five Threads that will continue throughout the eighteen month Foundations Phase.
At the conclusion of the Foundations Phase, students enter the Patient Care Phase of their education. During this phase students have the opportunity to complete their third year and part of their fourth year of medical school at either Billings, Bozeman or Missoula. Students receive training from physicians in the communities where the physicians live and practice (community phase). These "Clerkships" are established for a given educational need (e.g., pediatrics, family medicine). Clerkship sites have been established all over the State:
Billings: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery
Bozeman: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery
Butte: Family Medicine
Dillon: Internal Medicine
Great Falls: Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics
Helena: OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry
Kalispell: Neurology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery
Lewistown: Family Medicine
Libby: Family Medicine
Missoula: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Neurology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Surgery
Whitefish: Family Medicine
To be eligible for the Montana State University WWAMI program, the prospective medical student must be certified by the Montana University System as a resident of Montana and must satisfy the admission requirements of the University of Washington School of Medicine. It is not necessary for a student to complete the premedical (undergraduate) education at MSU in order to be eligible for the WWAMI program. Students are selected by the Admissions Office at the University of Washington School of Medicine and are registered at the University of Washington School of Medicine as well as at their home institution for the first year and a half of the program. To learn more, please see the WWAMI program website.
Foundations Medical School Curriculum
The following courses are completed in Bozeman over an 18-month period from July in the first year through December of the following year. Students then study for and take Step I of their National Board exams and continue to the Patient Care Phase of the curriculum.
Required Courses: First Summer Session
Block 1: Fundamentals of Medical Science & Research
MEDS 510
Comprehensive introduction to foundational basic science and research concepts in medicine. Topics covered include molecular and cell biology; human physiology, genetics and biochemistry; community health and disease; clinical epidemiology, research study design and data analysis. Incorporates fundamental principles of anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology, and medicine in society. Pass/Fail only.
Required Courses: First Fall Semester
Block 2: Infections & Immunity
MEDS 520
Comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of the immune system; microbiology; infectious diseases; inflammation and repair. Topics covered include the pathogenesis and immunity of infectious disease, immunodeficiencies, hypersensitivity, autoimmunity, and the basis of immunologic diagnostics. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology and medicine in society. Pass/Fail only.
Block 3: Cancer, Hormones, & Blood
MEDS 515
Comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of endocrinology, hematology, and oncology. Topics covered include endocrine regulation of metabolism; normal physiology and pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for clinically important endocrine disorders; disturbances in red cell, white cell, and platelet production; abnormalities of hemostasis; and malignant neoplasia. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology and pharmacology, and medicine in society. Pass/Fail only.
Required Courses: Spring Semester
Block 4: Muscles, Joints, Bones, & Skin
MEDS 530
Comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of the musculoskeletal system and dermatology. Topics covered include clinical manifestations in the skin, muscles, bones, and joints and the pathophysiology of trauma, aging, infection, and inflammation. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology. Pass/Fail only.
Block 5: Cardiovascular System
Comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to cardiovascular biology and medicine, including thoracic anatomy, physiology, radiology, pathology, pharmacology, and surgery. Topics covered include cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac muscle mechanics, myocardial infarction, and cardiac repair. Pass/Fail only.
Block 6: Respiration & Regulation
MEDS 542
Comprehensive interdisciplinary introduction to the respiratory and renal-urinary systems and medicine, including pulmonary and renal anatomy, physiology, radiology, pathology, and pharmacology. Topics covered include ventilation mechanics; obstructive, restrictive, and pulmonary-vascular diseases; renal function; and common kidney diseases. Pass/Fail only.
Required Courses: Second Summer Session
Block 7: Head, Neck, & Gut
Comprehensive introduction to head and neck anatomy and the gastrointestinal system. Topics covered include gastrointestinal and liver physiology; pathophysiology of digestion and hepatic function; the principles and practice of clinical nutrition. Integrates the relevant anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology of the GI system. Pass/Fail only.
Required Courses: Second Fall Semester
Block 8: Mind, Brain, & Behavior
Comprehensive introduction to the organization and function of the central nervous system with a focus on clinical application of this knowledge to systematically approach the differential diagnosis and management of major neurologic, psychiatric, and behavioral disorders. Topics covered include normal physiological, pathophysiologic mechanisms, and current therapeutic approaches to disease including pharmacological, behavioral, surgical, and others. Integrates relevant principles of anatomy, pathology and pharmacology. Pass/Fail only.
Block 9: Lifecycle & Reproduction
MEDS 570
This course will cover normal and abnormal human development, reproductive functions including formation and maturation of ova and sperm, menstruation, normal pregnancy, and labor and delivery. Additionally, this course includes relevant fundamental scientific principles in pelvic anatomy, pathology, and pharmacology.
Threads
Human Form and Function (Anatomy and Imaging), Histology/Pathology, Pharmacology, and Foundations of Clinical Medicine take place throughout the 18-month Foundations Phase. A Primary Care Practicum, in which students are paired up with a local physician, is scheduled for one day every other week for two semesters during the Foundations Phase. Medicine, Health, and Society has four weeks devoted to the topic the Foundations Phase.
***The WWAMI Medical Education Program is constantly working on refining the curriculum with the University of Washington School of Medicine. Summer 2022 contains course changes that are part of a curriculum restructure.
Further Information
Contact Kayla Ouert (WWAMI Program Manager) at MSU or follow the URL http://www.montana.edu/wwami for the complete application, admissions, and program requirements.