WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, 412 E. Spokane Falls Boulevard, Spokane, WA (2026)

01/29/2026

We’re proud to celebrate an exciting milestone for one of our residents!🎉

Jeff Ward, DO, a member of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine’s Family Medicine Residency Program–Pullman inaugural class, has matched into the University of Maryland Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. Beginning this summer, he’ll train in Baltimore, working with local high school teams, University of Maryland athletics, and the Baltimore Ravens.

Originally from Twin Falls, Idaho, and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Ward was drawn to family medicine for its emphasis on building lasting patient relationships and empowering individuals to take charge of their health. Continuing his training in Pullman felt like a homecoming and now his journey continues on a national stage.

Dr. Ward joins four Internal Medicine Residency Program–Everett physicians who have also matched into prestigious fellowship programs across the country. We look forward to the meaningful impact they’ll make for patients. 🗺️

To read Dr. Ward's full story: https://ow.ly/yE7550Y4pGU

01/29/2026

Washington State University has selected Dr. Jeff Haney as its new Senior Vice Provost for Health Sciences, effective February 23, 2026.🐾

Dr. Haney currently serves as vice dean for clinical affairs and chair of the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. In this new role, he will lead the development of a system-wide strategic roadmap to strengthen health professions programs, advance research, and expand clinical partnerships, while continuing his work as vice dean for clinical affairs.

A proud WSU alum, educator, and clinician, Dr. Haney has played a foundational role in shaping the College of Medicine since welcoming its first class of students. His leadership reflects WSU’s land-grant mission and commitment to serving communities across the state.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Haney on this important appointment. 🙌

01/28/2026

⏰ Final Reminder: 2026 Conference for Health Equity and Public Good is Next Week!

In just one week, community leaders, learners, and advocates from across the globe will come together for a free, international virtual conference focused on advancing health equity and the public good.

📅 February 4–5 | 💻 Free virtual event

Why join us? Participants will leave with:
✔️ Insights from changemakers advancing health equity
✔️ Meaningful connections with peers committed to impact
✔️ Practical, actionable strategies you can apply immediately

This is your last chance to register — don’t miss out.
👉 https://bit.ly/2026HEPG

01/21/2026

Stories save lives. From the classroom to the clinic, health equity starts with centering voices that are too often left out of the conversation.

Storytelling has the power to challenge dominant narratives—the ones that tell us there’s only one way to learn, succeed, or belong. For students who rarely see themselves reflected in curriculum, those narratives can feel like walls. Counter-narratives break them down.

“Education should empower people to share their full-lived realities,” says Edmundo Aguilar, PhD, a Washington State University alum and University of Washington faculty member. “When students see themselves in the curriculum, they don’t just learn—they thrive.”

Where should educators start? Dr. Aguilar’s advice:

Center Lived Experiences in Curriculum: Real-world stories give context to standardized textbooks. Lesson plans should reflect students’ realities and the perspectives of their future patients. This reshapes classrooms into spaces of mutual learning, where teachers also become learners.

Move Away from the Banking Model of Education: Avoid relying on a one-way transfer of knowledge, where educators “deposit” information into passive students. Foster dialogue and critical thinking skills to create an opportunity for students to connect the curriculum to real-world experiences.

Incorporate Project-based Learning: Supplement traditional tests with hands-on and creative assignments that invite innovative approaches, equip students with practical skills, and encourage personally meaningful work.

As Dr. Aguilar explains, storytelling isn’t about speaking for the “voiceless.” It’s about creating space for voices that have always been there, because those closest to the problem often have solutions.

When education centers historically marginalized perspectives, it does more than teach. It heals. It empowers. It transforms.

From graduation rates to patient outcomes, centering stories in the classroom has the power to positively impact our future health care leaders and the many thousands of lives they’ll touch throughout their careers.

Want to keep exploring counter-narratives as a transformative practice in education? Join Dr. Aguilar at the free, virtual Conference for Health Equity and Public Good on Feb. 4–5, where he’ll lead the opening plenary session “Grounded in Radical Love: Reimagining Education for Collective Thriving.”

Register now: https://ow.ly/yRUm50Y0Pzp

01/17/2026

Before leaving campus for break, Med Spanish student interest group and Latino Medical Student Association partnered with 6 other student interest groups to host a multicultural holiday party!

Through shared food, laughter, and learning, pre-clerkship students celebrated the holiday season by uplifting the many cultural and familial traditions that define our community.

01/15/2026

Dr. Joel DeLisa’s journey into medicine is one that almost didn’t happen, but thanks to perseverance, education, and opportunity, it became a legacy that continues to shape health care today.

A proud Washington State University alum and internationally recognized leader in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, DeLisa grew up in a small rural town and worked from a young age to fund his education. A WSU scholarship opened the door to a future he never thought possible.

Together with his wife, Janet, he established the DeLisa Lectureship and Continuing Education Fund in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the College of Medicine’s first lectureship, ensuring future physicians have access to education, mentorship, and opportunity.

His story is a powerful reminder of how access to education can transform lives and communities. 💙

To read Dr. DeLisa's full journey: https://ow.ly/clUE50XWOfu

01/15/2026

Learning anatomy, one brushstroke at a time 🎨

Our Speech and Hearing students recently engaged in hands-on learning by painting and identifying facial muscles.

This interactive approach deepens their understanding of the anatomy essential for speech, swallowing, and facial expression.

Experiences like these connect foundational science to clinical practice and prepare students for patient-centered care.

Tell us about your favorite hands-on lesson from your school days!

01/09/2026

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Matthias Park, Class of 2022, as he completes his Emergency Medicine residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California.

Dr. Park has matched into the Fellowship program Pediatric Emergency Medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital, where he will begin this next chapter on July 1, 2026.

Congratulations on this exciting milestone, we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make! 🩺❤️

01/07/2026

What if the most powerful prescription for stress isn’t a pill, but a playlist? 🎼

Research shows music can calm the mind and the body, lowering your heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. For health care professionals and students navigating high-stress environments, music isn’t just a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

Award-winning singer and justice strategist Aisha Fukushima puts it beautifully:

“Music is a technology that helps us plug back into ourselves—and to one another.”

Music can help us stay grounded. We operate best when we feel connected to our bodies, Aisha notes. That connection unlocks our creative capacity.

It starts with noticing how you’re feeling—the tension in your shoulders, the ache in your temples, or even small comforts—like the warmth of your first cup of coffee. From there, we can acknowledge the feeling, and then cultivate everyday habits for restoration, whether that’s taking a deep breath or putting on your favorite song.

“Make time to enjoy music not as a luxury, but as a form of sustenance,” Aisha advises.

Her top three ways to stay grounded through music:

🎵 Make Your Power Playlist: Build a soundtrack for your life and notice how different songs meet you in different moments. Choose tracks that calm, energize, or help you process emotions. And remember, if you’re feeling overstimulated, sometimes the most supportive choice is a quiet pause amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life.

💃 Move to the Music: Get your groove on, even for just two minutes. A mini dance party in your car before work, a stretch in the break room, or a gentle sway can help release tension and reset the nervous system.

🐾 Create a Culture of Collective Care: Healing through music can be a shared practice. Sing together, play a meaningful song at the start of a meeting, or host a five-minute stress-release dance party. When a more calming energy is needed, sharing a few slow, mindful breaths can be just as powerful. From corporate boardrooms to city street corners, Aisha has seen how small, intentional acts can transform a culture.

Want to explore this more? Join Aisha at the free and virtual 2026 Conference for Health Equity and Public Good on Feb. 4, where she’ll lead the plenary session: “There’s a Sky Above Your Roof: Pathways from Survival to Thriving.”

Register now and discover how music and storytelling can foster connection and collective well-being: https://ow.ly/GPPu50XSHA0

Photo Credit 📷 : Amanda Thomsen

01/06/2026

Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine has been selected by the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) Foundation for Health Care Improvement to receive its first-ever four-year Future Physician Scholarship. 🗣️🗒️✍️

This $160,000 full-ride award reflects a shared commitment to reducing financial barriers to medical education, advancing health equity, and strengthening Washington’s physician workforce.

“The challenge of affording medical education has never been more pressing, and this WSMA scholarship represents a significant step in removing barriers for future physicians,” said Dean James Record, MD, JD, FACP. “This scholarship is more than an investment in one student, it’s an investment in the thousands of individuals this future physician will care for throughout their career. We are grateful for WSMA’s partnership in advancing health for our communities.”

The inaugural scholarship will support a WSU College of Medicine student in the Class of 2030, with the recipient to be announced in spring 2026. 🎉

As a physician-supported organization, the WSMA Foundation will also provide mentorship and networking opportunities for awardees throughout their medical school journey. The WSMA represents approximately 13,500 physicians, resident physicians, physician assistants, and medical students across all specialties and practice types in Washington state.

The scholarship application cycle will open in February. 🗓️

To read the full article: https://ow.ly/XJpY50XKGLW

12/29/2025

Cougs supporting Cougs—classmates on the court, future colleagues for life 🏀❤️

WSU College of Medicine recently played an intramural basketball game versus UW Medicine and left it all on the court! Their colleagues and classmates showed lots of support from the sidelines.

12/25/2025

✨ Happy Holidays from the College of Medicine! ❄️

This season, we’re grateful for the connections that make our community so special. Our three residency programs recently gathered to celebrate the season—sharing meals, laughter, and moments that remind us that community is at the heart of everything we do.

To our students, residents, faculty, staff, and partners: thank you for everything you bring to our mission.

Wishing everyone a joyful holiday season and a healthy New Year.

WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

01/29/2026

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