Scholarship Opportunities
Idaho WWAMI is very aware of the physician shortage in Idaho, and we are committed to helping put a stop to it.
But medical school is expensive, and we know that not everyone has the resources to attend. This is where our donors come in.
In 2014, Idaho WWAMI was giving out just $7,000 in scholarships. Now, Idaho WWAMI is able to award students over $800,000 in scholarship money.
This is thanks to the donors who have so graciously chosen to donate to Idaho WWAMI.
The average annual cost nationally for a medical student is $167,200. Through the generosity of the State of Idaho and each one of our donors, the average annual cost for an Idaho WWAMI student is $83,550.
Current Idaho WWAMI students receive details about eligibility, application materials and deadlines for each of these scholarship opportunities annually in the fall.
Idaho WWAMI Scholarship Donors and Opportunities
“I got involved here at Idaho WWAMI because the return to the students is so much better than any other direction I go in. Why do I do it? Because, we’d like to be able to have physicians down the road.” - John Huckabay
"We love Idaho WWAMI's dedication to Idaho kids and Idaho healthcare. We have a physician shortage here in Idaho and I think WWAMI really understands that and is trying to meet the need." - Kendra Witt-Doyle, Executive Director of the Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health
After AJ graduated from University of Idaho (2001), he spent 10 years fighting forest fires with the US Dept of Agriculture. In 2006, four of his crew members were tragically killed in a helicopter crash. This proved to be a turning point for AJ and became an EMT. Wanting to challenge himself further, he acquired the education and training to become a paramedic. By 2012, AJ was pursuing a career as a physician's assistant and had finished the two-year long classroom segment at the top of his class. Tragically, he died on a white water rafting trip. His parents and sister established this scholarship to leave a legacy in his name.
“We wanted to do what we could to honor him,” AJ’s father, Fred Gray, said. “We pooled some money and that’s where the endowment started. It’s heartwarming to see his name.”
The Gray family still donates every year to Idaho WWAMI, giving what they can to help cut the cost of tuition for Idaho WWAMI students.
“I donate every year. I don’t donate much because I don’t have much, but what I do have, I want to give to something like this,” Gray said. “Because I’m getting older and these students right here might be the ones who treat me.”
Stephen Lloyd-Davies, M.D. (E82) started this fund to honor his father (Arthur Lloyd-Davies), who encouraged Stephen’s educational pursuits in spirit and with financial support. Dr. Stephen Lloyd-Davies was a zoology graduate of the University of Idaho and completed his medical degree in the Idaho WWAMI program in 1986. He is retired from practicing Family Medicine in the Spokane area.
By partnering with the University of Idaho and creating an Idaho WWAMI Scholarship Endowment, we are furthering our goal to support education and the communities that we serve. Three generations of the Evans family are University of Idaho alumni, which makes this partnership even more important to D.L. Evans Bank and the Evans family.
Dorothy Ross (deceased) set up an endowment at the University of Idaho that positively impacts numerous entities, including Idaho WWAMI.
To hear more about why Dr. Byron D. Elliot chooses to donate to Idaho WWAMI, read his story.
This endowment is established in memory of John Scott Spaeth, who died June 18, 1982. Scott graduated cum laude with a degree in zoology from the University of Idaho in December 1974. During his college years, Scott was a member of Beta Theta Phi Fraternity and Phi Kappa Phi and Mu Epsilon Delta honor societies. He was also a University of Idaho Outstanding Senior Nominee. After graduation, Scott was accepted into the Idaho WWAMI medical program and went on to become a resident physician in family medicine at Mercy Hospital in Denver, Colorado, where he was appointed Chief Resident in 1982.
Dr. Roy Ellsworth is a retired ophthalmologist who had an established practice in the Boise area. His long time service, and recognition of Idaho’s critical need for more physicians per capita, motivated the Ellsworths to invest in Idaho WWAMI medical students.
This endowment was established in loving memory of Erma E. Bower. Erma was an education-oriented person who would have encouraged anyone dedicated to pursuing a career in pre-med or veterinary medicine for the betterment of humans or animals.
George and Marilyn recognize that Idaho ranks 50/50 in physicians per capita and has a host of other healthcare challenges. They have chosen to support medical student scholarships to help improve healthcare in our state.
Gritman Medical Center proudly supports the Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program. Gritman Medical Center is committed to helping provide financial assistance to medical students with an interest in practicing medicine in rural and underserved areas, which is why they offer three rural medicine scholarship opportunities a year.
Read more about how Jane Holman “blazed a trail for Idaho medical students,” here.
Jack Riggs, M.D., graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School and is an Idaho WWAMI alum. After completing his medical degree nine months early, he served in the U.S. Air Force, where he earned the Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Professional achievements include establishment of the North Idaho Immediate Care Centers in Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum and serving as CEO/Executive Chairman of Pita Pit for 12 years. Political achievements include serving as Idaho’s 38th Lieutenant Governor. In this position, Dr. Riggs was chair of the Idaho Council on Children’s Mental Health, co-chair of the 2002 Idaho Winter Olympics Committee, co-chair of the Council of State Governments National Health Capacity Task Force, among other leadership roles. Having roots in Northern Idaho, Dr. Riggs' gift is prioritized for Idaho WWAMI students that are residents of that region, especially those students from Kootenai County.
Northwest Specialty Hospital is a physician-owned and operated healthcare organization committed to providing the highest quality health care to all in a caring, compassionate and professional environment. With a focus on rural medicine in Northern Idaho, Northwest Specialty Hospital’s gift is prioritized for Idaho WWAMI students that are residents of that region, especially those students from Kootenai County.
- Hospital Donates Large Sum to UI Medical Students, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Feb. 2022.
Norco is an employee-owned, family business that does business in seven western states and has prioritized charitable giving since its establishment in 1948. Supporting Idaho WWAMI students speaks to Norco’s charitable charter, which specifies healthcare, education and the betterment of mankind as guiding principles for serving communities.
“Idaho WWAMI is training the doctors that are going to come back and practice in Idaho. St. Luke’s is the largest health system in Idaho, we have a vested interest in investing in those students. We need great, qualified doctors in Idaho to take care of patients. Idaho WWAMI has a great mission and we’re totally in support of it.” - St. Luke’s Robert Cavagnol, M.D., President
“I hope that this scholarship money will lessen students’ financial stressors so that financial stressors are not something that they’re dealing with at the same time that they’re being educated. I want them to focus on their studies, not money.” - Denise Thompson
Tim - a retired Navy Officer and Vandal - and Denise are very involved with the University of Idaho and have several family members that are in the medical profession. They recognize that Idaho ranks 50/50 in physicians per capita and has a host of other healthcare challenges. They have chosen to support medical student scholarships to help improve healthcare in our state.