Training Hospitals
An important consideration when choosing a residency program is the clinical training environment. The Madison Family Medicine Residency is a university-sponsored program based primarily in a community hospital, offering residents the benefits of both unopposed community training and academic medicine.
Residents develop strong clinical autonomy and visibility at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital while also gaining experience at UW Health University Hospital, American Family Children’s Hospital, UW Health East Madison Hospital, UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital, and additional community and rural hospitals across the region. This structure supports broad, hands-on training while maintaining access to academic resources and specialty care.
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Madison, WI
Primary Training Hospital
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital is a 374-bed regional community hospital that serves as the primary training site for the residency. Family medicine residents are the only full-time physician trainees at St. Mary’s, creating a largely unopposed learning environment with a high level of responsibility and visibility. Family medicine is the largest department in the hospital, and residents are integral members of the care team.
Faculty and residents practice the full scope of family medicine within the context of a busy, full-service community hospital, including obstetrics, intensive care, and procedural care. St. Mary’s has supported the residency since 1970 and remains central to the program’s community-based identity.
UW Health University Hospital – Madison, WI
Academic Medical Center Experience
UW Health University Hospital is a 681-bed tertiary care academic hospital and a major referral center for the region. Consistently ranked among the nation’s leading hospitals, UW Health offers residents exposure to complex care and academic medicine within a large university system.
Residents complete four months on the Family Medicine Inpatient Service at UW Health University Hospital, a self-contained service staffed by family medicine faculty and with senior residents leading the care team. Additional elective opportunities allow residents to explore specialty clinics and academic resources available through the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
American Family Children’s Hospital – Madison, WI
Pediatric Training
American Family Children’s Hospital is a nationally recognized pediatric academic medical center within the UW Health system. Residents gain experience caring for infants, children, and adolescents across a wide range of inpatient pediatric services while working alongside pediatric specialists and multidisciplinary care teams.
Family medicine residents complete pediatric inpatient rotations at American Family Children’s Hospital, building skills in the management of common and complex pediatric conditions within a supportive academic environment. This experience complements community-based pediatric training and prepares residents to provide comprehensive pediatric care in a variety of family medicine practice settings.
UW Health East Madison Hospital – Madison, WI
Community-Based Academic Partner
UW Health East Madison Hospital is a modern community hospital within the UW Health system that provides additional inpatient and specialty care experience. Rotations at East Madison Hospital offer residents exposure to a community hospital setting supported by academic resources, reinforcing the program’s balance between community-based and university-affiliated care.
UnityPoint Health–Meriter Hospital – Madison, WI
Obstetrics Training
Meriter Hospital is a 350-bed community hospital and a key site for obstetrics training. Family medicine residents manage their own continuity obstetrics patient panels and attend deliveries under the supervision of family medicine faculty. OB-GYN residents also train at Meriter, each caring for their own patients.
As one of the few residency programs at the hospital, family medicine residents play meaningful clinical roles within a collaborative, team-based environment. This setting provides robust, hands-on experience in full-spectrum obstetric care.
Rural Hospitals
Community Emergency Medicine and Rural Surgery
Residents gain additional experience through rotations at rural hospitals, where they complete community emergency medicine and rural surgery preceptorships. These sites include:
- SSM Health St. Clare Hospital and Health Services – Baraboo
- Upland Hills Health – Dodgeville
- Sauk Prairie Healthcare – Prairie du Sac
These rotations expose residents to rural health systems, diverse patient populations, and procedural experiences in emergency and surgical settings, supporting preparation for practice in rural and underserved communities.
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Questions about applications and interviews can be sent to: dan.samuelson@fammed.wisc.edu