University of Washington program tries to give rural medicine a boost

There's a growing need for health care in remote areas. The Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho regional medical education program through the University of Washington School of Medicine was formed 40 years ago, in part to address that disparity. WWAMI works to provide doctors in rural and underserved areas. It receives funding from each of its participating states to provide reduced tuition rates. In 2009, the Idaho State Board of Education made it a goal to double the number of seats funded for Idaho residents in WWAMI. That commitment was made just before the national economy went into a recession.