WWAMI student to study, work in community

Idaho WWAMI medical student Braedon Buchanan is living, working and learning in Bonners Ferry as part of the University of Washington School of Medicine’s four-week Rural Underserved Opportunities Program. He will be in the community starting July 28 through August 22, 2025.

Dr. Chuck Newhouse, MD, at Boundary Community Hospital and Clinics has generously volunteered to be Braedon’s clinical instructor for the program.

Each summer, RUOP places students between their first and second years of medical school into primary care clinics in underserved towns and small cities across Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) for four-week immersion experiences. RUOP offers students an early exposure to the rewards and challenges of rural and urban underserved primary care practices. The program also emphasizes the importance of community service through a public health service project.

Buchanan earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical science and went on to spend several years teaching science courses to massage therapy students. He also worked as a scribe in the emergency department at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls. His love for healthcare has grown from the meaningful experiences he’s had connecting with people, learning and teaching others. 

Buchanan said he is looking forward to the unique opportunities for growth and learning provided by the providers and patients of Bonners Ferry.

 Each year more than half of the Idaho WWAMI class participates in RUOP rotations. This summer 21 students are visiting 17 communities in Idaho. This is notable because evidence suggests that programs like RUOP influence students toward careers in primary care.