Every year, I look forward to seeing all of you to celebrate your generosity and tomorrow’s medical leaders — the people who will improve the health of our region and world. Although we are unable to gather in person this spring, I am pleased to present a new way to thank you for your support. Here, on our Celebrate Scholarship webpage, we share inspiring student stories and how your giving is helping the next generation of physicians.
Thank you for your extraordinary commitment to scholarships and to building a strong and equitable healthcare system. Best wishes for your continued health, and I look forward to a time when we can safely gather again.
Paul G. Ramsey, MD
CEO, UW Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
Fatima Ali
“With your support, the road to becoming a doctor has gotten a lot easier for me,” says Fatima. “I hope to pay it forward one day.” Read more about Fatima >>
Cecelia Villa
“I knew from a very young age that I wanted to pursue a career where I can make people’s lives better,” says Cecelia Villa.
Read more about Cecelia >>
Sam Regalado
“It is because of your generosity that I have been able to realize my dream of bridging excellent patient care with cutting-edge breakthroughs in the research lab,” Sam says.
Read more about Sam >>
Spencer Pecha
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of a program that trains Wyoming’s future physicians,” says Spencer.
Read more about Spencer >>
Christina Gibbs
“I would not be here without you. The support you are providing me with on this journey is helping me pursue a career that will be dedicated directly back to the communities we both know and love,” says Christina.
Read more about Christina >>
Your dedicated support prepares students to care for our communities across the WWAMI region — Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. From increasing access to care, to helping address the physician shortage in underserved urban and rural areas, your generosity has helped:
Solidify our reputation as one of the leading medical schools in the country for primary care medicine. U.S. News & World Report has ranked the UW School of Medicine as one of the nation’s Top 2 primary care medical schools for 25 years.
Prepare 1,175 students who pursued residency in primary care, representing more than 50% of our student body.
Expand class size in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) region by 50 students per year, leading to more physicians in the workforce for communities in our state and country.
Increase our MD scholarship endowment by more than 300% to over $100 million and double the quantity of endowed scholarships.
Launch new programs to prepare students for serving urban, underserved populations.
Graduate more than 2,400 community doctors around the five-state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho).
Expand rural training opportunities by doubling participation in rural programs.
Strengthen medical education in Eastern Washington with the launch of the University of Washington School of Medicine-Gonzaga University Regional Health Partnership and a new $60 million center for medical education in Spokane.
Year after year, scholarships help future physicians and other healthcare providers receive an outstanding education at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Get to know a few of the students who are embarking on their careers in medicine thanks to you.
A Journey Interrupted
When COVID-19 spread across the globe, many medical students found their education paused or drastically changed, including third-year student My-Linh Nguyen. Still, she’s determined to finish her training so she can care for the underserved and immigrant communities she grew up in. Read My-Linh’s story >>
Totem Rising
Stephen Ellison, MD ’19, became a doctor to give back to the people and communities who have shaped him. “I want my patients to have a healthcare provider who understands the challenges of living in rural Alaska,” he says. See Stephen’s story >>
Spurred to Succeed
Growing up on a Montana ranch — and becoming a rodeo champion — taught Justinn Lahaye, MD ’19, discipline, teamwork and the value of persistence. “Hard work can get you a lot of places,” says Justinn. Read Justinn’s story >>
A Global Impact
Augustine Ajuogu, MD ’18, grew up in Nigeria, where he saw firsthand the devastating effects of diseases like tuberculosis and malaria. His goal: a future where these and other infectious diseases have been eradicated. See Augustine’s story >>
Your generosity makes all of this possible. Thank you for your commitment to our communities and your unwavering support of our students.
Learn more about what’s happening at the School of Medicine:
Stay connected! Contact us at 206.543.5686 or writemed@uw.edu.