WWAMI--Alaska's Medical School

In 2005 Alaska's medical school is WWAMI, but the WWAMI program today is far different than it was in 1971 when it began with 5 Alaskans in a class of 9 at Fairbanks. WWAMI students may now complete nearly 3 years of the 4-year program in state. They can now complete postgraduate residency training at the Alaska Family Medicine Residency in Anchorage. Alaska also benefits from a host of other WWAMI initiatives, such as the MedCon medical consultation service. On the other hand, the Alaska WWAMI program still allows for only 10 medical school positions, as it has since its inception. In the face of a worsening physician shortage in the state, class expansion appears to be warranted. When comparing this option versus the costs of recruitment or the possibilities of increasing graduate medical education in the state, class size increase is well justified.