SPOKANE, Wash. – A celebration recognizing incoming classes of medical and dental students from five states now enrolled in an inaugural Spokane program being offered through the University of Washington School of Medicine will be held from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Sept. 25 in the Atrium of Spokane Riverpoint Campus Health Sciences Building, 310 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
The event will recognize the 2008 incoming class of students from Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho enrolled in Spokane as part of the WWAMI regional medical education program offered by the UW School of Medicine, as well as the new RIDE dental education program now being offered as part of a strategic expansion of the UW School of Dentistry to help meet the oral health needs of rural and underserved communities in the Northwest. Together, the two programs are expected to help address physician and dentist shortages in the Spokane area and nearby rural towns. The programs are made available through an expanded partnership between WSU, UW and Eastern Washington University with the support of the Washington State Legislature.
WSU President Elson Floyd, WSU Spokane Chancellor Brian Pitcher, EWU President Rodolfo Arévalo, UW School of Medicine Vice Dean for Academic Affairs Tom Norris, Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Washington State Dept. of Health Secretary Mary Selecky and students of the inaugural classes of the WWAMI and RIDE programs will attend.
As part of the celebration, Spokane Mayor Mary Verner has proclaimed Sept. 25 “Medical and Dental Education Day”
Note: To arrange media interviews prior to or following the event, please contact Barbara Chamberlain 509-869-2949 or Clare Hagerty 206-953-8532.
