The University of Washington School of Medicine has one of the most unique medical education programs in the nation. The program focuses on personalizing medical education for students and providing a deepening understanding of fundamental clinical skills and professionalism. The College system, one of a series of recent innovations in the MD curriculum, is at the core of this program.
Goals of the College System
The primary goals of the Colleges are to oversee a four-year integrated curriculum of clinical skills and professionalism, teach the Introduction to Clinical Medicine II course, and provide students with consistent faculty mentoring. The curriculum emphasizes proficiency in the basic clinical skills of physical examination and diagnosis, clinical reasoning and interpretation, and use of informatics.
Thirty physicians known for their dedication to teaching and patient-centered care were selected from the medical school faculty to lead clinical education and serve as student mentors. Upon matriculation, students are assigned to one of five Colleges and to one faculty mentor within that College.
The Mentoring Relationship
The student-mentor relationship lasts throughout the student’s medical school education. During the students’ second year, they meet regularly with their mentor and a small group of students from their College. During these weekly tutorials, mentors work with the students at the bedside, teaching them clinical skills and talking with them about patient-centered care and professionalism. All students obtain extensive experience interviewing and examining patients, under close supervision.
During subsequent years, College faculty maintain contact with students, reflecting with them on their clerkship experiences, assessing their progress against learning objectives, helping them with career directions and decisions, and being available as needed for diverse concerns and discussions. Students also meet periodically with all members of their College, for social events and for peer counseling.
The Colleges are named for natural wonders in the five WWAMI states:
Rainier (Washington), Wind River (Wyoming), Denali (Alaska), Big Sky (Montana), and Snake River (Idaho).
Read more about the Colleges in 
"The Colleges Take Off: Curriculum Reform Highlights Clinical Skills and Patient-Centered Care." [PDF 936k]
Streaming Video
Back to the Bedside
Back to the Bedside, an eight-minute film about the UW School of Medicine Colleges program, has received a Telly Award for outstanding video and film production. The UW film depicts interactions between students, mentors, and patients in the School of Medicine Colleges system.