Hellos and Goodbyes: The Scoop on New and Graduating DFM Residents

Each July, a new group of residents joins the Department of Family Medicine (DFM), and at the same time, many old friends graduate and move on to the next stage of their careers.

This year, the DFM is proud to welcome a total of 34 new residents in our five programs around the state. Two programs, Madison and Baraboo, had a record year for applicants; another program, Eau Claire, recruited a community volunteer to meet all applicants and show them around personally.

This year's applicants were a diverse group that came from all over Wisconsin, the nation, and the world. The incoming class includes two married couples, a former chiropractor, a professional violinist, and a five-time Ironman triathelete.

As we welcome our new residents, we also say goodbye to 32 graduates. Fifteen of those graduates (47%) are starting practices in Wisconsin and 11 (34%) are pursuing fellowship training. Fellowship interests include obstetrics, sports medicine, integrative medicine, and academic family medicine. We wish all of our graduates the best in their future endeavors.

Below, each DFM site shares interesting tidbits about their incoming and departing residents.

Baraboo Rural Training Track

• The Baraboo RTT interviewed 21 applicants this year, a new record.
• Karen Swallen, MD, a UW SMPH graduate, joins the program this year.
• Both graduating residents are staying in Wisconsin—one is even returning to her hometown of Mayville to practice.

Eau Claire Residency

Meet the residents »

• All applicants got a personal tour of the community from a volunteer recruited by the program.
• All six incoming residents had a prior relationship to the program, either through international externships or rotations from other programs.
• Two incoming residents are married.
• Two program graduates will stay in the Chippewa Valley; a third will be starting an obstetrics fellowship in Chicago.

Fox Valley Residency

Meet the residents »

• One incoming resident is a former chiropractor relocating from South Carolina.
• Another incoming resident is a native of Appleton who completed a fourth-year rotation with the program last year.
• Two graduates are pursuing fellowships in women's health and sports medicine.

Madison Residency

Meet the residents »

• The Madison residency program interviewed 123 applicants this year, a new record.
• The new residents are an outdoorsy, athletic bunch. Six are devoted runners, one has completed five Ironman triathlons and three Half-Ironman triathlons, and at least ten have a strong interest in camping and hiking.
• Many of the new residents have lived, worked, or studied abroad. Locations include Spain, Kenya, England, Ireland, Germany, Norway, and Guatemala.
• Of the 15 graduates, six are establishing practices in Wisconsin. Seven graduates are pursing fellowships in academic family medicine, hospitalist practice, sports medicine, and integrative medicine.

Wausau Residency

Meet the residents »

• Music is a big passion among the first-year Wausau residents. The class includes two piano players, a saxophone player, a violinist who made his way through medical school with his talent, and a resident whose hobby is Punjabi folk music.
• Cooking, gardening, quilting, and sports are among the class's other favorite activities.
• Two incoming residents are married.
• Two graduates are starting practices in the Aspirus system around Wausau. The remaining three graduates are heading to Washington state; one will be pursuing an obstetrics fellowship.