Family Travel Program

The UW School of Medicine has a mandate to promote rural medicine, which entails encouraging physicians to practice in rural locations within the WWAMI region after residency. The purpose of the Family Travel Program is to provide students’ spouses an opportunity to evaluate rural WWAMI sites as potential living areas. Spouse and family* travel expenses to and from WWAMI required clerkships may be reimbursed in the same amounts as travel expenses for other WWAMI student travel.

TERMS

Because the purpose of this program is to promote rural medical practice, the program does not apply to clerkships in Seattle.

The spouse and/or children must be at the site for the entirety of the clerkship.

Students must obtain written pre-approval from Academic Affairs in order to obtain funding through the Family Travel Program. Contact gowwami@uw.edu to get pre-approval.

Driving reimbursement will only be paid for one vehicle. Costs of additional vehicles or use of a moving van, trailer rental, bicycle, etc., as well as any additional food or lodging costs, are the responsibility of the student.

Be aware that not all sites can accommodate spouses and/or families in the provided student housing. Students must contact the sites before making travel arrangements. Students must ensure that families are allowed and warn sites that family members will accompany the student.

If sites cannot accommodate families in the student housing, any different/additional housing for family members must be arranged and paid for by students.

PROCEDURE

Students and their spouses who are interested in participating in the Family Travel program should email gowwami@uw.edu at least six weeks in advance of preferred departure date to obtain preapproval for travel. The email should include the name of the spouse and preferred dates of travel.

*Family consists of student, spouse and their children.

The Family Travel Program is funded out of a special discretionary allocation from the Dean of Medicine’s office; no public funds are used to support this program.