University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Education

RHET Recognized as Featured Program for Producing Rural Physicians

The University of Wisconsin Department of Family Medicine and Community Health Rural Health Equity Track (RHET) was included in the Rural Medical Training Collaborative’s 2025 List of Featured Programs with a Proven Track Record of Producing Rural Physicians. This list recognizes residency programs that have at least 35% of graduates enter rural practice as their initial …

FMIG Named 2025 AAFP Program of Excellence

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 …

Dr. Valerie Gilchrist Receives National Recognition for Transformative Leadership in Family Medicine

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 …

Honoring Community Service at the McGovern-Tracy and Student Scholars Reception

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 …

Family Medicine Remains a Top Choice for UW SMPH Graduates

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 …

Firearm Injury Prevention: Dr. James Bigham Leads Program for Health Care Providers

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 …

Medical Student Samantha Busch Named Pisacano Scholar for Dedication to Family Medicine

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 …