Abandoning WWAMI would be foolish, short-sighted

I am disheartened that House Bil 176 is being brought to the Idaho House floor seeking to defund the 53-year-old medical education partnership for Idaho students between the University of Idaho and the University of Washington School of Medicine (the WWAMI program). This program was developed and improved over time and has provided a world class education, mostly in Idaho, to 747 Idaho students who are then among the best in the nation. The WWAMI model sets the standard for decentralized education especially designed to provide doctors to rural communities. Sandpoint is one of 7 Idaho special rural training sites that focuses on rural training.

WWAMI works for Idaho students, Idaho patients, and the Idaho healthcare system. Abandoning WWAMI would be foolish and short-sighted. Please contact your representatives and senator and ask them to vote NO on HB 176 — Rep. Cornel Rasor, crasor@house.idaho.gov; Rep. Mark Sauter, msauter@house.idaho.gov.; and Sen. Jim Woodward, jwoodward@senate.idaho.gov.

SCOTT DUNN

Sandpoint