Vandal Giving Day 2026

Improving access to health care for Idahoans

Idaho faces a growing health care challenge: it ranks last in physicians per capita while experiencing rapid population growth and an aging workforce. At the University of Idaho School of Health and Medical Professions (SHAMP), we’re working to change that by training the next generation of health care professionals- ensuring communities across Idaho have access to the care they need.

Support innovation and growth in Idaho’s health care workforce  

Idaho’s shortage of health care workers affects every community. SHAMP’s programs help fill these gaps:

• Master of Science in Gerontology trains leaders in elder care
• Doctor of Anatomical Sciences prepares educators for vital faculty roles
• Doctor of Clinical Psychology develops clinical psychologists
•  Master of Science and Doctor of Athletic Training prepare skilled professionals in sports medicine
• NEW Direct-Entry Master of Nursing, starting in fall 2027, this program will train the next generation of nurses

Scholarships help students access these programs and pursue careers in Idaho’s health care workforce. Your gift supports future health care professionals- improving care and expanding access where it’s needed most.

SHAMP Excellence Fund: Idaho’s need for health care professionals requires innovative solutions. The SHAMP Excellence Fund supports hands-on learning opportunities for health and medical students, like the Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) which immerses medical students in rural and underserved communities to develop their understanding of Idaho primary care and community health systems.   

D.A. Huckabay M.D. Medical Education Building: Training Idaho’s future providers starts in the classroom. Help expand the state-of-the-art D.A. Huckabay M.D. Medical Education Building and create more space for collaborative pre-clinical training.  

Scholarships help Idaho medical students become Idaho physicians

Idaho WWAMI Scholarship Fund: Help Idaho WWAMI educate Gem State medical students. In partnership with the University of Washington School of Medicine, we have proudly served as Idaho's medical school since 1972. 

Physicians in rural areas often earn less than the national average, which can make practicing in small towns financially challenging. By reducing student loan debt through the Idaho WWAMI Scholarship Fund, donors make it easier for Idaho-trained doctors to choose careers in rural communities, keeping health care closer to home for all Idahoans.

Idaho WWAMI Dean's Excellence Fund: This fund can be used to send medical students to professional conferences, bring in guest lecturers and educators, host specialized workshops and even assist students with short-term emergency expenses. A gift to the Dean's Excellence Fund provides the flexibility to meet immediate needs and take advantage of timely opportunities for students and faculty instructors.

ECHO Idaho Supports Continuing Medical Education 

Extension for Community Health Outcomes (ECHO) Idaho: Since 2018, Project ECHO Idaho has delivered 66 ECHO series, training more than 6,500 health care providers and offering over 49,000 continuing education units.

ECHO Idaho expands access to free continuing education for physicians, health care professionals, and K–12 educators across the state. Through live, interactive video sessions and flexible on-demand learning, participants gain practical knowledge while staying connected to a statewide network of peers and experts.

Your gift supports programs addressing Idaho’s most pressing needs—including K–12 education, opioid use, pain management, substance use disorders, and pediatric autism—while helping grow new learning opportunities.

Enhance Middle and High School Student Experiences with North Idaho AHEC

North Idaho Area Health Education Center (NI-AHEC): Since 2017, NI-AHEC has built a pathway into health careers by engaging students early and supporting them through training. In partnership with local organizations, NI-AHEC provides hands-on learning for students in grades 7–12, along with experiential training for medical and health professions students- preparing a workforce ready to serve rural and underserved Idaho communities.

Your gift helps sustain programs like Doc for a Day and Hands-On Health Care, giving Idaho students real-world exposure and strengthening our future health care workforce.

Idaho Office of Underserved and Rural Medical Research (IOURMR)

OURMR: This team works to improve health care in Idaho’s rural and underserved communities by studying health systems and patient outcomes. Its research helps identify gaps in care, inform better practices and guide decisions that strengthen health care delivery across the state.

Your gift supports research that drives meaningful improvements- helping expand access, enhance quality of care and improve health outcomes for Idahoans.