University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Congratulations to the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) on being named a 2025 American Academy of Family Physicians Program of Excellence! Some points of pride for the 2025 academic year include: The FMIG is a student-run organization that is supported by the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and …
Valerie Gilchrist, MD, received the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Award for Distinguished and Meritorious Service—a prestigious national honor recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to advancing both the AAFP and the field of family medicine. Gilchrist’s career, defined by visionary leadership and a deep commitment to community health, exemplifies these values. For …
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) has taken a bold step to elevate faculty support by establishing the Office of Faculty Development and Promotions. This initiative, led by inaugural Vice Chair Dr. Sarina Schrager, reflects a growing recognition of the need to sustain and empower faculty throughout their careers. “This is a significant …
The UW Department of Family Medicine Community Health’s annual McGovern-Tracy and Student Scholars reception is more than a celebration of achievements. It honors the legacies of Michele Tracy, Isabel McGovern Kerr, and others whose lives have profoundly impacted the people of Wisconsin and beyond. The April 23, 2025, event at the Monona Terrace Convention Center …
Karen Wendler, a physician assistant with an impressive 34-year career with the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, has not only dedicated her life to caring for patients but also to her passion for running. As she gets closer to her goal of running a marathon in all 50 states, recently checking Rhode …
On Match Day 2025, many UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) students discovered that family medicine was their perfect fit. This year, 11 percent (19 students) of the graduating class matched into family medicine programs, continuing a strong trend for the specialty. David Rakel, MD, chair of the Department of Family Medicine and …
UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) physicians Dr. James Bigham and Dr. Patricia Tellez-Girón Salazar were recently honored for their dedication to advancing family medicine and health equity at the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians (WAFP) Annual Business Meeting. James Bigham, MD, MPH, was named Family Physician of the Year. Bigham’s innovative approach to …
On a recent January Saturday, Dr. James Bigham commemorated the two-year milestone of his firearm injury prevention course at Max Creek Outdoors in Oregon, Wisconsin. This course, launched to mitigate firearm injuries, is part of a visionary initiative he started in 2023 to foster cultural competency and empower health care professionals in firearm injury prevention …
Marc Hansen, MD, founder of the University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, passed away on February 5, 2025, at the age of 94. Hansen’s commitment to family medicine was unwavering. He tirelessly advocated for the incorporation of the family medicine specialty into hospital training programs, finding a willing partner in St. Mary’s …
Samantha Busch, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH), was awarded a prestigious Pisacano Scholarship. This honor places her among an elite group of candidates nationwide, making her only the fifth medical student from SMPH to receive this accolade since its inception in 1993. The Pisacano …