Welcome New DFM Residents, Farewell Graduates

The Department of Family Medicine (DFM) proudly welcomes 32 new residents in our five programs around the state.

Several of our new residents join us from places as far away as Syria, Bulgaria, and India, while many others are from right here in Wisconsin.

New residents' interests are as diverse as their backgrounds: one is a pilot, one trains in Thai kickboxing, one is interested in Armenian dancing. Most enjoy sports, the outdoors, and music; in fact, there are at least eight musicians in the incoming class.

We also say goodbye to 28 graduates, 15 of whom (54%) are starting practices in Wisconsin. Other graduates are pursuing practices out of state, and one is pursuing international volunteer work. We wish all of our graduates the best in their future endeavors.

Below, each residency program shares some interesting facts about their incoming and departing residents.

Baraboo Rural Training Track

Meet the Baraboo residents »

• One of the incoming residents is joining his significant other, a resident in the Madison program, here in Wisconsin.
• Both incoming residents love the outdoors, especially biking.
• One incoming resident held several leadership positions throughout his medical education. The other has a passion for teaching and served as a teaching assistant and guest lecturer in medical school.
• Both graduating residents will start practices in Port Angeles, Washington.

Eau Claire Residency

Meet the Eau Claire residents »

• Incoming residents hail not just from Wisconsin, but also India, Ukraine, Syria, and Bulgaria.
• One incoming resident volunteered at the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic in Eau Claire for a year before entering the program. Another worked at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and another practiced as a hospitalist at Westmorland General Hospital in England.
• Incoming residents enjoy camping, playing the piano, and a variety of sports, including volleyball, soccer, bodybuilding, and table tennis.
• All three graduating residents are staying in Wisconsin. One will practice at Marshfield Clinic-Oakwood Center in Eau Claire (her husband is now a first-year resident in the program). The other two will practice at Marshfield Clinic-Phillips and Luther Midelfort Northland-Barron.

Fox Valley Residency

Meet the Fox Valley residents »

• Five of the six incoming residents are Wisconsin natives, including one from Appleton. The sixth comes from Brooklyn, New York.
• Two incoming residents have Masters of Public Health degrees. The entire class has already demonstrated dedication to and interest in community service, population health, and helping the underprivileged.
• The incoming class has a variety of interests outside of medicine. Most enjoying cooking and outdoor activities. Other interests include choral singing, training for the American Birkebeiner, and Armenian dancing.
• Three of the program's six graduates will practice in Wisconsin after graduation, one will return to Illinois, one will return to California, and one is undecided.

Madison Residency

Meet the Madison residents »

• Two incoming residents are joining significant others who are already residents in the program.
• Two of the incoming residents are Canadian.
• There are six confirmed musicians entering the program, although there may be others who have yet to divulge their talent!
• Four of the incoming residents took a somewhat indirect path to medicine, pursuing careers in accounting, finance, and economics before entering medical school.
• One incoming resident holds a pilot's license, and another trains in Muay Thai, a style of kickboxing.
• New residents have worked in or traveled to many countries, including Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Jordan, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
• Of the 13 graduates, 9 (69%) will be practicing in Wisconsin, two will practice out of state, and one will pursue international volunteer work.

Wausau Residency

Meet the Wausau residents »

• One incoming resident is an Eagle Scout, one performed mission work in Argentina, and one has parents who are founding members of the Global Medical Foundation.
• One incoming resident grew up as a migrant worker in a community with little or no access to health care.
• Graduating resident Victor Ruiz, MD, received the program's Esprit de Corps award for his enthusiastic recruiting efforts as well as his success as a chief resident.
• Graduating resident Leonard Green, MD, received the program's Excellence in Teaching Award for his willingness and effectiveness as a teacher among his colleagues.
• The program's four graduating residents will be practicing in Indiana, California, Massachusetts, and Minnesota.