Dr. Paul G. Ramsey, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the 91探花School of Medicine, commented on the School of Medicine鈥檚 top ranking by U.S. News & World Report for primary-care training, and in rural and family medicine (see story on rankings on page 3):
鈥淥ur 91探花medical school faculty in the Puget Sound area and throughout the five-state WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) region have a strong commitment to graduate and professional education. The faculty does not rest on its longstanding reputation in medical education. Through the medical school鈥檚 new College system, our faculty has taken a fresh look at physician training. They have renewed their national leadership role in improving medical student training and preparing future physicians for the demands and rewards of their profession.鈥�
Through a new system, based on a faculty review of the M.D. degree curriculum, 91探花medical students are divided into five colleges named after the natural wonders of the region. The College system emphasizes long-term mentor relationships, more personalized attention for students, and student mastery of the basics of clinical care.