Montana WWAMI, the state’s public medical school partnership between the University of Washington School of Medicine and Montana State University, has trained the next generation of Montana physicians since 1972.

The 30 students, all residents of Montana, hail from Browning, Dillon, Gardiner, Eureka, and Polson (to name a few). They will receive iconic white coats and stethoscopes, marking completion of orientation to medical school and the first two weeks of clinical skills training. This is the first white doctor’s coat and stethoscope they’ll receive to use throughout medical school.

Remarks will be made by Martin Teintze, Ph.D., Montana WWAMI director at Montana State University; Jay Erickson, M.D. University of Washington School of Medicine Assistant Dean and rural family physician in Whitefish, MT; and Herbert Swick, M.D., retired pediatrician and clinical professor emeritus at the University of Washington School of Medicine, among others.

Gerry Groggel, M.D., will be presented with the George J. Saari, M.D. Humanitarianism Award for his work with the Neighborhood Health Initiative.