Residents

Number of Residents:
6 per year

Categoricals:
24 per year pediatrics
27 per year internal medicine

Other programs:
1-2 per year Internal Medicine/Neurology
2 per year Medicine-Geriatrics
8 per year IM preliminary
1 per year Pediatric preliminary
1 per year Internal Medicine Research Pathway
2 per year Internal Medicine Primary Care Pathway
1 per year Peds/Anesthesia
2 per year Peds/Neuro

Rotations

Guiding Principles:
Maximum Flexibility
Maximum Exposure
Minimum Transition

The Basics:
4 month blocks
2 seasons on each side
2 switch days (in addition to July 1) throughout the year

Internship: 16 months
View the rotations chart (XLS)
Because we rotate between Medicine and Pediatrics every 4 months, it’s easiest to think of residency as 3, 16-month “blocks”, which roughly correlate with the 3 years of the categorical programs.

Categorical Programs:
Internal Medicine Residency Program
Pediatric Residency Program

Med-Peds Links

American Board of Pediatrics
The mission of the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) is to promote high quality health care during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and the transition into adulthood through assuring that the general pediatrician or pediatric subspecialist has successfully completed accredited training and fulfills the continuous evaluation requirements that encompass the six core competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. A special agreement exists with the ABP and the ABIM where an applicant may fulfill the training requirements of both the ABP and the ABIM by completing 2 years of accredited training in general comprehensive pediatrics and 2 years of accredited training in general comprehensive internal medicine in an integrated program. An applicant may not take the certifying examination of the ABP until all 4 years of training have been successfully completed.

American Board of Internal Medicine
The mission of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is to enhance the quality of health care by certifying internists and subspecialists who demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attitudes essential for excellent patient care. The ABIM and the ABP offer dual Certification in internal medicine and pediatrics. A candidate for dual Certification must receive training in a program approved by both Boards and must be an ACGME accredited combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics program.

American Academy of Pediatrics
The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is to attain optimal physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. To accomplish this, AAP supports the professional needs of its members. The Section on Internal Medicine & Pediatrics (Med-Peds) advocates for Med-Peds Physicians and helps ensure a united voice on activities, research, advocacy and education that is important to med peds physicians.

Society of General Internal Medicine
The Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM) was founded in 1978 by a national group of academic general internists committed to promoting research and education aimed at improving healthcare for the whole patient. Today, SGIM is a diverse community of physician and other health professional educators, researchers and clinicians, and students and trainees, all of whom are committed to lead excellence, change, and innovation in clinical care, education, and research in general internal medicine.

Med-Peds Program Directors Association
The Association was formed to advance medical education in combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics (Med-Peds) Residency Programs, which are approved by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Pediatrics. MPPDA will work in conjunction with the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD) and the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) to improve medical education, promote the growth of combined Internal Medicine Pediatrics residencies, educate medical students as to the existence and curriculum of Medicine Pediatrics residencies, and promote the growth of the field of Med-Peds.

National Med-Peds Residents Association
NMPRA is a resident-driven organization dedicated to providing information, opportunities, and programs to current and future Med-Peds residents.

Medical College of Wisconsin Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program Aims:

1. To provide an exemplary, compassionate, broad-based experience with complimentary didactic and bedside education that exposes residents to primary care, hospitalist and sub-specialty careers
2. To provide medical care with integrity and respect to diverse patient populations while upholding accountability to patients, society, and the profession
3. To demonstrate a commitment to professionalism, adherence to ethical principles, responsiveness to patient needs that superseded self-interest, and life-long learning which includes the development of teaching skills as physician educator to other residents, students, non-physician colleagues, patients and communities
4. To support interest in basic science and research including quality improvement by pursuing new knowledge and ensuring that all patients receive scientifically appropriate and up to date care while utilizing medical resources wisely
5. To foster personal and professional well-being that includes resources and programs dedicated to encourage optimal resident and faculty member wellness
6. To provide and maintain an environment that facilitates development of competencies as described by the ACGME and specialty specific for each trainee to acquire the cognitive knowledge, technical skills and professionalism to succeed in independent practice and certification through successful completion of the American Board of Internal Medicine and American Board of Pediatric examinations.

Intern on Medicine Wards 

Kate Wilcox, MD

5:45: My alarm rings! My cats usually scream in my ear just in case I can't hear the alarm (I can). We all go to the kitchen, and they eat breakfast while I pack food for the day. Then I shower and get ready - I keep my scrubs in the dryer so they can always be warm and wrinkle-free. It’s the first paragraph and I have already revealed the biggest life hack of intern year (warm scrubs) so you can stop reading if you want.

6:20: I live in Bayview, so this is when I leave my apartment to be in the team room in time to get sign-out by 6:45. I drive over the Hoan bridge which has a GORGEOUS view of Lake Michigan and my favorite part of getting up early. My commute takes 15-20 minutes without traffic which gives me time to listen to part of a podcast (I'm obsessed with “The Curbsiders” and “Cardionerds”). I park in the same parking structure every day regardless of which hospital I am working at - there are tons of options for parking, but I just feel attached to MY garage, you know? If it’s super cold or raining, I use the underground tunnel, otherwise, it’s shorter to go above ground.

6:45-8: Sign out and pre-rounding! If there is time, I'll go grab a latte from the cafeteria (Children's or Froedtert) to help with this process. If I'm feeling extra adventurous, sometimes I'll pre-round in the CFAC wing of the hospital because it's 12 (13? 14?) stories tall and the sunrise views are unmatched. I also like the challenge of doing that many stairs first thing in the morning (HAHA can you imagine? I 100% take the elevator). I have a system that I reached after a lot of trial and error that helps keep me organized and sets me up to prioritize tasks later in the day. The more colored pens the better!

8-9: Now I need to see all the patients I just pre-rounded on! I try to avoid getting carried away chatting or watching morning TV with anybody. Usually, I check in with the med students and make sure they feel good about their plans/presentations for the day. There isn’t a morning conference on the Medicine side which I appreciate because it gives me plenty of time to see my patients and feel prepared for rounds!

9-10:30: Time to round with the whole team!! It's a personal goal of mine to institute rollerblade rounds at the hospital, but for now, we go on foot. Some attendings like to table round instead or do a fusion of both. I have a little iPad that I carry with me so I can just pull up my note and present from that. We usually round with pharmacy which is SO nice because they are super detail-oriented (AKA catch all of my mistakes) and can answer all kinds of questions.

10:30-noon: The first thing we do when we get back from rounding is RUN THE LIST. Then the action starts: Call consultants! Order tests! Coordinate logistics! Discharge people! Check in with nurses about the plan for the day if they weren't involved in rounds! Talk on the phone a lot! I usually have my notes prepped and ready to go before rounds, so it's easy to update and sign them quickly.

Noon: If I can I go to noon conference in person. It’s a nice opportunity to get out of the team room and connect with friends who are on other rotations! I usually bring my own lunch, but if it's red pepper gouda soup day at Froedtert you know that's what I'm having.

1-3:15: It's essential to set the mood for this time of day with Lo-fi beats and a nature video on YouTube. There are large wall-mounted screens in the team rooms at Froedtert that make this possible (and it really upgrades any team room vibe). I spend this time finishing any notes/pending tasks from the morning. I try and go back to see my patients in the afternoon to check-in. I also call and update family members and keep an eye out for recommendations from consultants/follow up on pending imaging or lab work.

3:15-3:30: Semi-mandatory ice cream and/or outside break depending on how busy we are. If there is one thing I have learned as an intern so far, it’s that a well-timed snack can solve most problems. Froedtert has hand-scooped ice cream and an outside area/courtyard with lots of plants.

3:30-4: Update hand-offs and finish any remaining tasks for the day. Depending on which attending you have they usually like to stop by later in the day for another quick list run and updates before sign-out.

4-5: Sign out to the covering night team and make my escape!!!! I never take work home with me so if I still have any notes or discharge summaries to do I stay until they are done (this isn't often the case). Unless somebody is super sick or there is something exceptional happening, I can leave on time.

5:30-7ish: Some sort of workout or social event! I have an awesome gym at my apartment where I do bootleg Peloton rides or just lift some weights. The Oak Leaf trail is less than a mile from my house and an ideal running/ rollerblading zone. I also belong to a climbing gym which is a great way to spend the evening. This year I joined an ultimate frisbee team in the name of trying new things! If it's Tuesday I'll go to HIIT with Housestaff. I'm really going on and on here but my point is there are a lot of options.

7-9: Formulate and deliver a genuine apology to my cats for being gone all day. After that, I cook dinner and eat it. Or realistically probably get tacos from the truck parked by my apartment. Or just eat a sleeve of Oreos on the couch. After that, I’ll try to do some academic reading if I'm still up for it but usually I watch some TV or read a book for fun.

9-10: More lounging, mild journaling, Medtwitter, occasional small art projects, and getting ready for bed! Then I set my alarm and the whole thing starts over again in the morning.

Intern on Pediatric Wards

Timothy Yung, MD

5:00 AM: hit that snooze 3, 4, maybe 5 times. Consider living life on the edge for a 6th snooze. Ponder the mysteries of the universe. Finally turn and pick up my phone to silence the snooze alarm before it rings.

~5:15-5:25 AM: Swing my feet around the side and muster up some energy to have the rest of my body follow my legs to the bathroom. Make sure my dog knows it's still sleepy time for her so she doesn't follow me out the door. Take a small sip of water because I trust my kidneys. Pet my dog, Kona, who is very confused to be woken up so early as she rolls over to go back to sleep.

5:45 AM: Is that the time? I really should wake up earlier! Pass all the various morning runners and cyclers on my drive-in and pat my belly. Will I work out later? Hard maybe. More likely ice cream or froyo later.

6:00 - 7:45 AM: Get sign-out from the overnight intern. Apologize profusely for any overnight mishaps and get the overnight intern out of there STAT. Spend a few minutes pre-rounding on each of my patients; checking overnight events, vitals, new/pending lab results/imaging. After pre-rounding, go around to visit all the sleeping kiddos and sleepy parents, make sure what I see matches what is documented. Sneak in a little shop talk with whichever medical student follows me.  Go over the plan with parents and answer any questions parents or patients have. Run my thoughts and plans by the senior. If I’m not running around by this point in the morning, it’s a good morning.  If I’m hustling to get to morning report and tachycardic, it’s an even better morning!

7:45 - 8:30 AM: Intern morning report time! Thankfully it's back in person and all the inpatient wards interns head to the auditorium. We usually go through some interesting cases that are currently in house or various pediatric topics. I may throw my two cents in to gather all the low-hanging fruit before being stumped by the case. It’s always fun to learn from my co-residents and see their different points of view and practice styles.

8:30 - 11:00 AM: This is when the magic happens as the team starts family-centered rounding. We present all the patients to the attending and involve the families in the medical decisions for the day as we finalize plans. The best part of family rounds is having case management with us. As an intern, it can be easy to be caught up with the medical side of care, and all the social and logistic aspects are often postponed or left on the back burner. Our case management really works hard to keep a birds-eye view of the patients’ care and getting all the proper follow-up scheduled as well as making sure any medications or equipment is delivered.

11:00 AM – Noon: This is usually a good time to finish up tasks leftover from rounds, place orders, and call all the consultants to get their opinions and assistance in management. Start all my notes or finish them up. If any new patients get admitted, we see them as they arrive on the floor and get them staffed with the attending.

Noon - 1:00 PM: Everyone’s favorite time of day…or perhaps I’m projecting. Grab some lunch from the resident lounge, either a salad or sandwich provided by the hospital for the residents. Depending on the dessert, maybe grab two of those. Noon conference is a special time that is protected for our education. Depending on the day, we go through cases, conduct board review, listen to didactics on social issues and determinants of health. We often also have a special noontime conference called “Professor Rounds” where a third-year resident presents an interesting case to invited faculty to essentially have them work through the case from scratch.

1:00 - 5:00 PM: From lunch until the end of the day it’s smooth sailing…for the most part. Follow up with consults and get final recommendations from all the specialists. Finalize any afternoon discharges and work on updating hand-offs for the overnight intern. Make sure that any admissions that come in throughout the day are staffed and tucked in.

5:00 - 5:30 PM:  By the time 5:00PM rolls around, it's time to sign out. Usually, we like to make sure all the patients are squared off and all plans are set for the night. Try to predict any issues that might arise at night and give the overnight intern a contingency plan for any urgent issues that might arise. Then I toss my hands up and let the powers of the universe take the reins.

5:30 – 9:30 PM: Drive home, get through the door and get attacked by my wild dog. Do I feel like cooking or ordering from my favorite local digs? Perhaps pizza or Hawaiian comfort food. I like to review concepts from the patients of the day...while watching television and catching up on all those new Marvel Studio shows. Dabble a little bit on the piano, experience the regret of not taking piano lessons more seriously as a child. Finally shower and unwind for the remainder of the night. Obsessively check that I set an alarm for the next day, rinse and repeat.

Senior resident on Pediatric Wards 

Angelica Willis, MD

4:30-5:30 am: My first alarm goes off at 4:30 am, and I usually spend 15 minutes or so convincing myself to wake up. I shower and get ready for work. I’m not a big breakfast person, so I usually grab a protein bar and some water on the way out the door. I like to listen to medicine or pediatrics podcasts on my drive in to learn something as I start my morning.

6-7:30 am: Senior sign out happens in the peds lounge. I hear about overnight events on the current patients and new admissions from overnight. If there are any very sick patients, I see them and then head to the team room to check in with my interns. If there are any immediate issues that came up overnight, I work with the interns to address those. Afterwards, I do chart review of all the patients then go to see overnight admissions, sick patients, and possible discharges. I pop my head into all of the patient rooms, but I do my best to let all of the more stable kids sleep if I can (we never let anyone sleep enough in the hospital).

7:30-8:30 am: I pop my head into the team room to see if the interns or med students need anything or have any questions, and then I head to Senior Rounds (affectionately called “Bob Rounds”). While on wards, the senior residents meet every morning with several faculty members, including Dr. Robert Kliegman (the editor of Nelson’s Textbook of Pediatrics and a truly amazing clinician), to go over interesting or clinically challenging patients. Senior rounds is one of my favorite parts of the day—it’s great to learn about strange presentations of common problems as well as very uncommon conditions that we rarely see in the hospital. Senior rounds is our time to brainstorm patient care ideas with master clinicians and a truly amazing medical librarian, and it helps not only our learning but also improves patient care.

8:30-11 am: It’s go-time at 8:30. I head back to the team room and see if anyone has any questions. We meet our attending and start to round. We meet with families to discuss how things went overnight, how things are going, and the plans for the day. Parents (and sometimes patients), nursing, case management, pharmacy, nutrition, and the medical staff all contribute as needed, and we come up with a plan for the day.

11am-12pm: If we’re efficient, we can often finish rounds by 10:30 or 11, but everything depends on how sick our patients are, how many services we round with, and how many patients we have. Between the end of rounds and noon conference, I like to go back to the team room and “run the list” with the interns and med students. Running the list is when we briefly review patient plans for the day and divide daily tasks to make sure nothing is missed. After running the list, I take the med students for a 15-30 minute teaching session while the interns get started on consults and notes. After this, I help the interns with anything they need, talk to families who weren’t present on rounds, or take care of any other tasks that come up.

12pm: It’s time for noon conference. We grab lunch and tune in for another of our daily doses of education. Topics are varied across pediatrics, and the conferences can be anything from lectures to journal club, track conferences (I’m part of the Hospital Medicine track), special guest lectures, or Professor Rounds. Professor Rounds is my favorite conference of the week. During Professor Rounds, one of the 3^rd year (or 4^th year if Med-Peds) residents presents a particularly interesting case to the pediatric faculty; faculty are able to ask questions then must develop a differential and request a workup to try to come to the final diagnosis. The faculty often have a lot of fun teasing each other during conference, and it’s a great learning experience. On Fridays, we have Med-Peds conference at noon, and it’s well-known as one of the best parts of the week for Med-Peds residents. It’s so great to see each other and learn together.

1-5pm: We re-convene after noon conference to do admissions, finish work for the day, and get our kids tucked in for the night. I often do more teaching in the afternoon, also. On peds, we admit patients every day, so we generally get to meet new friends and get their treatments started in the afternoons. I like to do “social rounds”, where I take a few minutes to check in with families, get to know them, and see if they need anything or have any concerns.

5pm: It’s time for sign out to the night team. We sign out the patients to the night senior and intern and wrap up any later admissions. Once we have everyone tucked in, we head home for the day.

6pm: I come home and get a workout in (I generally cycle or do some yoga). Afterwards, I make dinner, catch up with friends and family, study a bit, and read a fun book before settling in for bed (I’m always looking for reading suggestions and am a frequent visitor to my local library). I do a quick meditation before bed and then usually call it a night by 10 pm. 

Senior Resident on Medicine Wards

Daniel Otterson, MD

6-6:45 AM: After hitting the snooze button 1-2 times, rouse myself from sleep and get ready for the day. Morning routine for me usually consists of making myself a cup of coffee, taking the dog out for a quick walk, then grab a to-go breakfast before heading out the door!

7-8:30 AM: Pre-rounding! For me this usually consists of reviewing overnight events then checking vitals and labs before going to see the patients on our lists. This is also a great time briefly go over plans with the medical students and interns if they have any questions or concerns about our patients.

8:30-11 AM: This is usually when the attending arrives to start rounds. Depending on which attending we have each week, we’ll either do “table/sit down rounds” or “walking rounds”. During this time, we discuss all the updates on patients and come up with a plan for the day. As the senior resident, I lead these rounds and try to keep the patient’s overall goals and disposition in mind for each day’s plan.

On call days – which are every 4^th day at the VA or every 5^th day at Froedtert, we can start taking patients at 8AM, so during rounds there are usually 1-2 patients that come our way. Taking the accepting call and placing basic orders is often a job I can do as my interns present our established patients.

11-noon: We get back to the team room and start working on our “to do list” for each patient! There are usually plenty of things to do, so it always helps being organized and divvying up responsibilities between the interns and medical students. This is also a great time to do some quick teaching on topics covered during rounds!

12-1 PM: I’m usually horrible at planning ahead/packing for lunch, so I’ll often grab something from one of the dining options at Froedtert or the VA. Noon report on Medicine is protected time, so there will be no admissions coming our way and the attendings/nursing staff know that this is our time to learn.

1-4PM: More time to accomplish all the tasks set out on our “to do list” – following up labs/imaging or consults if we have any. If there’s time, we’ll do more formal teaching as a team. We’ll usually get a few more admissions during this time, which we review as a team and go over the plans.

If we’re not on call, we can sign out and head home!

If we’re on call, I get the sign out from all the other teams and get ready for the evening!

4PM-1:30AM: The overnight team consists of a senior, an intern, and often a senior medical student. We’ll get the rest of our admissions during these hours (up to 8 at Froedtert or up to 10 at the VA throughout the entire call day) and cross cover anything that may come up with the other teams.

In my opinion the best thing to keep team morale up during this time is lots of snacks! I usually bring a few snacks from home for each of the call shifts and will often head down to the Patio Café for ice cream at some point during the night.

1:30-7AM: We stop taking admissions at 1:30, so the rest of the night consists of tucking in any of our new admissions, reviewing orders, and hopefully getting a little bit of sleep before rounds in the morning.

7-10AM: Rounds start earlier on post-call days, so everyone from the team shows up a little earlier to pre-round on their patients. The attending shows up at 7 and usually brings donuts/bagels (which is absolutely clutch at the end of a long call shift)! After we round on all of the new and old patients, I will quickly run through/sign out all of the patients with the not post-call intern (we call them sweeper interns).

Then it’s home to relax with the pupper for 20 minutes or so before falling asleep!

Medical College of Wisconsin Med-Peds Residents have the benefit of working in a very diverse environment. Residents spend the majority of their inpatient time rotating through one of the four main teaching hospitals: Children's Wisconsin, Froedtert Hospital, the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, and Wheaton Franciscan's St. Joseph Campus. Each hospital provides a unique experience which enhances the overall educational aspects of each clinical rotation.

Children's Wisconsin
Located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Grounds, Children's Wisconsin is one of the leading centers for pediatric health care in the United States. The hospital provides inpatient care, including transport of critically ill or injured children and intensive care services, and more than 70 specialty outpatient clinics that care for the full range of pediatric health care needs.

• 298 beds, 72 ICU beds, 69 NICU beds
• Level 1 trauma center
• 26,400+ annual admissions. 71,400+ annual ER visits.
• Named a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons

Froedtert Hospital

Froedtert Hospital, the primary adult teaching affiliate for the Medical College of Wisconsin, is a 735-bed academic medical center that delivers advanced medical care. Froedtert Hospital is nationally recognized for exceptional physicians and nurses, research leadership, specialty expertise and state-of-the-art treatments and technology. It serves as an eastern Wisconsin referral center for advanced medical practice care in 37 specialties and is a major training facility with more than 1,000 medical, nursing and health technical students in training.

In partnership with the Medical College, it is also a respected research facility with more than 2,000 research studies, including clinical trials, conducted every year. Froedtert Hospital operates the region’s only adult Level I Trauma Center. Froedtert Hospital is located on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus. Campus partners are the Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Curative Care Network, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division.

• In U.S. News & World Report, Froedtert Hospital ranks nationally in three specialties: Nephrology, Pulmonary, and Otolaryngology
• Froedtert Hospital received the prestigious Magnet designation for nursing excellence by demonstrating superior quality in nursing care. Only 6.7% of 6,000 health care organizations have achieved Magnet designation.
• Over 300 Froedtert and MCW physicians were selected for the Best Doctors in America list.
• The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recognized Froedtert Hospital as a "Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality"

Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center
The Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center is located on 125 acres on the western edge of Milwaukee, 6 miles southeast of the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Grounds. The Medical Center delivers primary, secondary, and tertiary medical care in 168 care acute operating beds and provides over 500,000 visits annually through an extensive outpatient program.

• Regional tertiary care center for VA system
• Staffed exclusively by Medical College of Wisconsin physicians
• Nursing home care unit of 113 beds offers geriatric programming
• 356 domiciliary beds for substance abuse rehabilitation, psychiatric rehabilitation and post traumatic stress disorder care
• Newly remodeled/updated primary care clinics and wards
• National VA electronic medical record/online order system
  

Ascension St. Joseph's Campus
Ascension St. Joseph's Campus began when three Franciscan Sisters arrived on a mission to provide nursing care to Milwaukee in 1879. Today, the St. Joseph Campus is an academic, referral, tertiary level care facility providing acute and subacute care for their 197 staffed bed hospital in the heart of Milwaukee.

• Primary community teaching hospital
• Over 15,000 ED Visits annually

Training a well-rounded med-peds physician requires in-depth patient exposure in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Our continuity clinic experience pairs a resident with a clinical preceptor from the first month of training. This primary care experience offers residents an in-depth experience: well child care, adult preventative care, and diagnosis/treatment/long-term management of diagnosis of common and complex medical problems. Our continuity clinic preceptors supplement evidence-based practice with over 200 years of combined post-graduate patient care experience. Each resident spends at least one half day a week in their continuity clinic. Most residents choose to participate in a combined med-peds continuity clinic, but opportunities are available for those residents who choose separate internal medicine and pediatric clinics as well. Program leadership also work with individual residents to offer additional opportunities to spend time in the continuity clinic (2 dedicated month-long Outpatient Med-Peds rotations, two weekly clinics for residents planning careers in primary care, etc.)

The resident-run Continuity Clinic Committee enhances the continuity clinic experience by overseeing the educational curriculum and utilizing resident feedback in real time to make improvements to our outpatient experience. Duties of the Committee include scheduling and facilitating the Friday Med-Peds Primary Care Conference, which includes a weekly rotation of resident-led/preceptor-mentored interactive primary care lectures as well as sponsoring guest experts who come in from outside the program to teach our residents about specific aspects of primary care.

Combined Med-Peds Continuity Clinics

Aurora Advanced Healthcare Edgerton Clinic
The Edgerton Clinic is staffed by the Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physicians, Drs. Dominski, Brueggeman, Girolami, and Hang. This suburban practice represents an excellent opportunity for resident continuity clinic and student teaching. This clinic also houses award winning teachers and boasts some of the highest ratings for quality of education in resident training.

Ascension Clinics
Ascension Germantown, Mayfair and Grafton Clinics provide an array of services and specialties in addition to Med-Peds trained physicians. These Ascension Clinics are staffed by Dr. Dirk Steinert, and our own graduates, Drs. Burrows, Momper, Reinbold, and Weber.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Clinics
Calhoun Health Center
Located west of Milwaukee, the Calhoun Health Center has primary care services as well as specialty care in Radiology & Imaging, Women’s Health and Diagnostic Services. Med-Peds residents staff with Internal Medicine-Pediatric physician and program graduate Dr. Carla Meister.

McKinley Health Center
McKinley Health Center is located in the heart of Downtown Milwaukee. In addition to primary care, the Sports Science Center (a partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks) is housed here. Med-Peds residents staff the program with program graduate Dr. Adam King.

Moorland Reserve Health Center
Moorland Reserve Health Center serves most of the suburbs southwest of Milwaukee and all of Waukesha County. Moorland Reserve Health Center not only houses primary care services, but also a wide-variety of specialty and diagnostic services. Med-Peds residents staff with Internal Medicine-Pediatric Physician and program graduate, Dr. Sobczak.

North Hills Health Center
Located near northwest Milwaukee, North Hills Health Center houses not only primary care, but subspecialty clinics including OB and Endocrinology. Anchored with primary care including Med-Peds and Internal Medicine, NHHC serves a diverse patient population and is staffed by the Internal Medicine-Pediatric Physicians, Drs. Barkimer, and our own graduate Dr. Ana Caban Cardona.

Springdale Health Center
Located west of Milwaukee, Springdale Health Center  Med-Peds, Ob-Gyn, and Internal Medicine physicians. Med-Peds residents staff with Internal Medicine-Pediatric Physicians, Drs. Cada, Obermyer and Fitzgerald.

Tosa Health Center
Built in 1998, Plank is a multidisciplinary academic primary care site approximately 1 mile west of the Medical College of Wisconsin campus. Med-Peds, Family Medicine and Internal Medicine are all represented at this site. Tosa Health Center also houses an Urgent Care clinic, which provides both excellent patient care and a terrific training experience. Preceptors at Tosa Health Center include Internal Medicine-Pediatric Physicians, Drs. Lodes, Malcom, and Gehl (Program Graduates), in addition to Dr. Charlene Vander Zanden, Internal Medicine Physician.

Westbrook Health Center
Westbrook Health Center is located in Waukesha. In addition to Med-Peds providers, Westbrook has rheumatology and sports medicine specialists, along with in-house imaging and laboratory services. Med-Peds residents staff with Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physician and program graduate Dr. Ewing Haas.

Oak Creek Pediatrics
Oak Creek Pediatrics is located south of Milwaukee. Affiliated with Children’s Wisconsin, Oak Creek Pediatrics is one of the main teaching clinics for our Department of Pediatrics’ Residency Program. Med-Peds Residents staff with Pediatric Physician Dr. Katie Fee, a graduate of the MCW Peds Residency Program.

ProHealth Care Medical Associates
Located west of Milwaukee in Waukesha County, ProHealth Care Medical Associates provides comprehensive primary and specialty care for people of all ages in Waukesha County. Med-Peds residents staff with Internal Medicine-Pediatrics physician, Dr. Lenz.

The Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin encourages residents to pursue clinical research opportunities. Scholarship provides residents many potential benefits including: exploration of an academic career, development of credentials to bolster their fellowship application, and nurturing intellectual curiosity.

All residents are encouraged and given financial support to present their scholarly projects at a variety of regional and national meetings. In addition, the Medical College of Wisconsin's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) supports, through pilot funding, new and promising clinical and translational projects for young investigators.

View the Faculty Collaboration Database to find a faculty member conducting research in your area of interest.

Annual Meeting of the National Meds-Peds Residents' Association

Medical Students, Residents, and Faculty are encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting of the National Med-Peds Residents' Association. The meeting will include poster presentations, case presentations, panels, and a keynote speaker on care of the underserved. If you’re a student, it’s a great time to learn more about Med-Peds as a career choice, not to mention meet up with residents and program directors. If you are a resident it is a great place to meet up with other residents from around the country, make new friends, reconnect with those who you met along the interview trail, and learn some new skills.

Milwaukee’s population is culturally diverse, and within the confines of Children’s Wisconsin we serve a global community. Given the current U.S. national government’s dedication to improving healthcare in this country, as well as local efforts by the Board of Directors of the Children’s Health System of Wisconsin to have the healthiest children in the nation, it is imperative that we train future physicians to confidently treat all patients, regardless of ethnic background. Sixty percent of the residents who receive training at Children’s remain in Wisconsin to care for children in our community—a community that continues to see a large influx of immigrants, international adoptees, growing healthcare disparities and increasing demand for medical pre and post-travel counseling. To best serve our community, and to equip our pediatric trainees to become competent pediatricians globally, the Department of Pediatrics offers a Global Health Training Track.

“I had the wonderful opportunity to spend February 2020 in Punta Gorda, Belize with Hillside Healthcare International. It was a welcome change of pace from typical rotations that challenged me to think in new ways about patients, available resources, and other social determinants of health. My med-peds training was valuable in treating both adults and children in clinics both on-site and at mobile sites. We primarily managed chronic diseases, but in a new light using our available treatments and limited testing. I worked beside US medical students and attendings, but also with Belizean pharmacists, nurses, and medical assistants. It was also an awesome opportunity for self-reflection and the chance to fully immerse myself in a culture and community with the added bonus of weekend travel adventures and new friendships!” – Krista Tuomela, MD (PGY 4)

“During my 3rd year of residency I had the opportunity to participate in a global health rotation in Nepal. I have always had a passion for global and undeserved care and this seemed like a perfect opportunity to further investigate that passion. My healthcare experience took place at an academic hospital in Patan, near the capital city of Kathmandu. The medical exposure that I received was incredible. Cases ranged from primary tuberculosis arthritis to salmonella meningitis; two things that I certainly have never seen in the US. While the cases were interesting the way that the Nepali physicians cared for their patients was also a great learning experiences. They demonstrated the value of a good physical exam, the importance of a thorough history and the skill of working in a resource limited environment. They were kind to their patients and educated families. While the medicine exposure was certainly valuable the culture exposure was also eye-opening and formative for me. The people of Nepal are incredibly generous, warm and welcoming. They are quick to invite you to lunch and learn about who you are as a person. Despite a large portion of the population living on very little you always sensed cooperation, and a desire to care for one another. Overall my rotation in Nepal provided me with an opportunity to learn about medicine, learn about people and culture and learn about myself. I feel very fortunate that I was able to participate in such an experience and I know that I will be a better physician because of it.” –Andrew C. Rose, MD (2020 Med-Peds Grad)

In addition to Global Health, our program offers each resident the option of participating in one of four different tracks: Primary Care, Hospitalist, Resarch and Hybrid. Each of these tracks permits residents to use elective rotations to complete requirements that are designed to prepare them for specific careers. Residents who complete the requirements will earn a certificate of completion at the end of their residency training, confirming their participation in an enriched residency curriculum. Each track includes a few required experiences, a required scholarly project, suggested activities for educational and administrative development, and faculty mentorship.

It is our intent that these tracks be completely flexible, permitting each resident to individualize their training in the way that is best for them. Participation in the tracks is optional. Residents may choose to participate completely in a track; they may experience only the elements of the track that are of interest to them; or they may choose to not participate in a track at all. Our program is fully committed to supporting the individual interests and goals of each resident, while making sure that all residents complete the training requirements.

Our residents have the opportunity to be part of our Resident Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. As pediatricians training in a city filled with its own diversity and rich cultural history, we recognize the importance of addressing diversity, health equity, and inclusion within our program.

Learn More

The Medical College of Wisconsin's Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program was founded in 1992, with our first class of graduates finishing in 1996. Graduates from our program have gone on to a variety of careers in primary care, fellowship training, hospital medicine, and academic medicine. During the past five years, roughly 1/3 of our residents practice primary care Med Peds, another 1/3 go into hospital medicine and the last 1/3 of our graduates pursue further subspecialty training. The training you receive in our program is well-balanced and will prepare you for endless career options.

2021

Stefanie DiGiandomenico, MD, Peds Hem/Onc Fellowship, Emory
Kaitlin Kirkpatrick, MD, Peds Rheum Fellowship, Medical College of Wisconsin
Melissa Miller, MD, Chief Resident for Patient Safety and Quality Improvement
Helen Padden, MD, Primary Care, Milwaukee
Victor Redmon, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident
Krista Tuomela, MD, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Minnesota

2020

Peter Cote, MD, Primary Care, Milwaukee
Sona Cote, MD, Primary Care, Milwaukee
Benjamin Lipanot, MD, Adult Critical Care Fellowship, Indiana University
Shannon Murray, MD, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, Colorado
Andrew Rose, MD, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Minnesota
David Shoemaker, MD, Adult Rheumatology Fellowship, Virginia

2019
Elizabeth Partain, MD, Med Peds Urgent Care, Milwaukee, WI
Brad Johnson, MD, Adult Cardiology Fellowship, Medical College of WI
Besma Jaber, MD, Combined Adult and Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship, Medical College of WI/Children's Wisconsin
Cameron Malone, MD, Hospitalist, Milwaukee, WI
Katie Berlin, DO, Chief Resident for Patient Safety and Quality Improvement, Medical College of WI & Neonatology Fellowship, MCW
Lindsay Hang, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident & Primary Care, Milwaukee

2018
Keowa Bonilla, MD, Med Peds Hospitalist, Milwaukee, WI
Ashley Brunmeier, MD, Adult Cardiology Fellowship, University of Kentucky
Katrina Byrd, MD, Combined Adult and Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship, Brown University, RI
Kaitlyn Joyce, DO, Med Peds Primary Care, Marquette, MI
Kate Luskin, MD, Allergy & Immunology Fellowship, Scripps, CA
Abby Walch, MD, Pediatric Endocrinology Fellowship, UCSF

2017
Laura Adams, MD, Adult Endocrinology Fellowship, University of Louisville, KY
Mike Girolami, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident and Med-Peds Primary Care, Greenfield, WI
Hema Krishna, MD, Adult Cardiology Fellowship, University of IL-Chicago
Shela Sridhar, MD, Global Health Fellowship, Harvard University, Boston, MA
Stephen Wilkinson, MD, Medicine Chief Resident, University of CA-Riverside Medical School and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, Michigan State University

2016
Ebba Hjertstedt, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Hospital Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jim McCarthy, MD, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Children's Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital
Maura Steed, MD, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Northwestern, Chicago, IL
Sheila Swartz, MD, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Children's Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital
Carmen Cobb, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident and Med-Peds Hospitalist, Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital and Co-Director of Peds Global Health

2015
Brittany Bettendorf, MD, Medicine Rheumatology Fellowship, Medical College of Wisconsin, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rheumatology, University of Iowa
Archna Eniasivam, MD, Hospital Medicine Fellowship and Assistant Professor of Hospital Medicine, University of CA-San Francisco
Deepa Patadia, MD, Allergy and Immunology Fellowship, Ohio State, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cleveland Clinic
Sharon Rikin, MD, Primary Care Research Fellowship, Columbia University and Assoc Director for Ambulatory Quality Improvement, Dept. of Medicine at Montefiore-Albert Einstein, Bronx, NY
Ryan Tomlinson, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident and Med-Peds Primary Care, Des Moines, IA
David Vitale, MD, Peds GI Fellowship, University of Cincinnati, OH

2014
Nikiya Asamoah, MD, Adult GI Fellowship, Loyola, and Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology, Loyola University Medical Center
Jillian Ewing, MD, Med-Peds Primary Care, Brookfield, WI
Emily Fisher, MD, Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Med-Peds Primary Care Provider, Baylor Scott & White Circle C Austin Clinic, Austin, TX
Matt Kolinski, DO, Hospital Medicine
Julie LeCleir, MD, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Children's Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital
Carla Meister, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident, and Med-Peds Primary Care, Brookfield, WI

2013
Matt Buelow, MD, Peds Cardiology Fellowship, Medical College of Wisconsin, and Assistant Professor Cardiology, Children's Wisconsin
Ana Caban Cardona, MD, Med-Peds Primary Care, Menomonee Falls, WI
Jeffrey Gehl, MD, Med-Peds Primary Care, Wauwatosa, WI
Rachel Johnson, MD, Med-Peds Chief Resident, and Primary Care Med-Peds, Nebraska Medicine Fontenelle Clinic, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Ben Mikeworth, MD, Med-Peds Primary Care, Pontiac, IL

Matthew Ehrhardt, MD, MS
St. Jude Faculty
2014, Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Fellow, St. Judes Children's Research Hospital
2011-2014, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow, Children's Wisconsin 
2011 MCW Med-Peds Residency Graduate

"At MCW, excellent faculty mentorship and comprehensive training amongst a diverse patient population have prepared me to confidently approach the challenges of academic medicine."

One of the most important aspects of our program is the camaraderie that exists between the residents. There is no shortage of fun in the Med-Peds Program. We work hard, but we always make time for relaxation and fun. Below is a sample of the social opportunities our Med-Peds Residents get to experience throughout their residency. Also, our residents are invited to the social events and activities of both categorical programs.

Med-Peds Monthly Residency Dinners
3rd Tuesday of every month, the Med-Peds monthly residency dinner is hosted at rotating Med-Peds resident and faculty homes and includes residents' families.

Med-Peds Biennial Residency Retreat
A time for residents, staff and their families to get away for some bonding time. Held off-site, this 2-day retreat gives residents the time to reflect on their residency while bonding with their colleagues.

Med-Peds Annual Brewer’s Tailgate and Game
As part of our orientation for our incoming interns, we meet and get to know one another at our annual Brewer’s Tailgate and game.

Virtual Trivia
Our APD, Dr. Malcom, put together a monthly virtual trivia event for residents during the pandemic. We will continue to do this if we have adverse weather during our Med-Peds monthly dinners.

Graduation Celebrations
Dinners and more dinners during the month of June. A great time to celebrate the achievement of our graduating seniors.

Yes, Milwaukee!
Milwaukee is a wonderful community that has the advantage of an urban, metropolitan city without the stress or cost. Milwaukee offers a variety of career opportunities, excellent universities, low commute times, diverse neighborhoods, affordable housing and abundant recreational choices. Milwaukee also boasts professional sports teams, museums, outstanding restaurants and performing arts comparable to cities more than twice its size. The Milwaukee Region’s size, accessibility and friendliness are among its greatest attributes. It’s easy to meet people and maintain acquaintances. Not to mention, Milwaukee is less than 80 miles away from Chicago – a good perk if you are looking for a quick weekend getaway.

There is no shortage of recreational activities in Wisconsin. In Milwaukee County alone, there are more than 15,000 acres of parks, the greatest acreage per person in the country. In 2009, the Milwaukee County Parks System was awarded the National Gold Medal for Excellence by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association. We have an abundance of biking trails, golf courses and a strong running community.

Whether you are here for a day, a weekend or your residency, you can have a variety of experiences, making it a perfect place to explore. Find your perfect itinerary at Visit Milwaukee!

The Big City of Little Neighborhoods
Milwaukee is not so much a city as a large collection of neighborhoods situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, often referred to as the Big City of Little Neighborhoods. With eleven distinct neighborhoods, Milwaukee has a huge variety of affordable housing options not to mention the beautiful suburbs just to the south, west and north of the Medical Complex. Current and past MCW residents have lived everywhere from revitalized warehouse buildings overlooking Lake Michigan in the Historic Third Ward neighborhood to farmhouses with lots of extra land and everywhere in-between, all within a short commute to the Milwaukee Regional Medical Complex.

As a starting point, please feel free to visit the following sites for a look into what neighborhood or suburb might be right for you:

Visit Milwaukee

Real Estate Search

View Resident Spouse/Significant Other Association information

Visit our Underrepresented in Medicine page for more information.

1. A Complete ERAs Application Form
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Personal Statement
4. Photograph
5. Dean's Letter
6. A minimum of 2 Letters of Recommendation
7. Transcript
8. USMLE or COMLEX National Board Examination results
9. Doing 2 LOR's

If you have been in another residency training program, please include a letter from your previous program director. Applications will be accepted through ERAS.

View more information about the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH) Benefits package.

Yes, residents are given progressive responsibility with close faculty supervision as defined by the ACGME.

Yes. Established in 2007, the Medical College of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics Global Health Program is an integral part of the Med-Peds Residency Program. Currently, numerous Med-Peds residents are enrolled in the Global Health Track which includes local and virtual health events.

Yes, one dedicated Med-Peds Noon Conference is offered each week. In addition, there is a monthly dedicated Med-Peds dinner, a yearly Med-Peds graduation, Med-Peds intern welcome activities, a 2nd year Med-Peds luncheon, and a Med-Peds biennial retreat. We also provide an additional opportunity to serve on our own continuity clinic committee.

Absolutely. One of the benefits of the Medical College of Wisconsin is the depth of rich patient care experiences, including both common and complex disease processes and also wellness and preventative care.

Yes, please visit the Visiting Senior Medical Student page for more information.

Yes, this is highly encouraged, but not required to graduate other than completing a Quality Improvement/Scholarly Project per ACGME requirements.

Yes, there is a formal Resident Advisor Program offered every year.

Yes

Yes, there is a travel fund up to $1500 to attend a conference during residency. Additional funds may be available for residents who are presenting research at meetings.

This is ideal, although varies based on rotation and availability. Residents may select an electronic message and/or their continuity clinics may notify the resident of patients that are hospitalized.

Yes, on some rotations. Some rotations follow a call-based system.

There is a formal orientation process that includes hospital systems orientation, computer systems orientation, PALS and NRP training, policies and procedures review, rotation overviews, library resources, medical track overviews, general competencies and case-based discussions, etc.

PGY-1 residents are given extensive orientation prior to beginning internship and are encouraged to attend the weekly Med-Peds noon conferences and monthly Med-Peds Dinners, including the PGY 1 welcome activities. In addition to the Med-Peds Program Director, Associate Program Director, and Coordinator, there is a dedicated Med-Peds Chief Resident that is also available 24/7 for questions and support of the PGY-1 residents.

Residents are evaluated on each rotation via a standardized evaluation form by the faculty based on the ACGME Milestones. Residents are also evaluated by peers, patients/families, support staff, and self-evaluations.

Residents may be assigned medical students on various rotations. Residents are also given the opportunity to teach medical students at other times including medical interviewing courses, physical exam workshops, bioethics small group discussions and career networking.

16 months

There are over 40 Med-Peds trained physicians affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin.

Approximately half of the inpatient training occurs at each location, although other sites include the VA Medical Center and a community-based hospital site, St. Joseph's Hospital.

Primary care and ambulatory training are essential to Med-Peds training. In addition to continuity clinics and ambulatory rotations, there is a dedicated Outpatient Med-Peds Continuity Clinic Curriculum and Outpatient Med-Peds rotation months.

In addition to outpatient rotations, resident continuity clinics are offered on average at minimum once weekly to interns and twice weekly to 2nd, 3rd and 4th year Med-Peds residents, pending schedule availability. On Internal Medicine rotations, you may elect for an “I and O” schedule of alternating ward (“I”) and non-ward months (“O”) with clinics scheduled during the “O” months to increase weekends off every other month and separate ward and clinic responsibilities.

Residents switch between internal medicine and pediatrics every 4 months. This allows for the ability to see seasonal variability in illnesses, but still provides adequate time in each specialty.

Both internal medicine and pediatric in-training examinations are offered and paid for by the program yearly.

Yes, for both internal medicine and pediatrics.

MCW provides a strong foundation of primary care and specialty training for physicians in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and support compassionate, altruistic, evidence-based, high quality health care. The MCW Med-Peds Program provides a collaborative culture and a commitment to the principles of life-long learning and healthcare equity to serve the needs of our patients and communities both locally and abroad.

We are seeking well balanced house officer candidates with excellent communication and a commitment to provide the highest standard of patient care.

Very diverse, similar to the city of Milwaukee.

The Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals (MCWAH) is committed to the recruitment, training and graduation of talented residents from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Katrina Byrd, a Med-Peds 2018 graduate, is the former chairperson for the Under-Represented in Medicine Housestaff Committee. Dr. Ana Caban Cardona, Med-Peds 2013 graduate, was a prior chairperson.Dr. Victor Redmon, PGY 4, will be the Med-Peds Chief Resident in 2021-22. MCW also offers various events through the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

There is a mix of 24+4 hour call and night float on both the pediatric and internal medicine sides depending on the rotation. For example, on internal medicine wards there is a 24+4 hour call system and in the MICU there is a night float system; for pediatric wards there is a night float system and in NICU there is 24+4 hour call.

There is a balance of primary care, hospitalists and fellowship applications from former residents.

There is a mix of private insurance, uninsured and Medicare/Medicaid.

The Medical College of Wisconsin has a wealth of research opportunities that includes The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) of Southeast Wisconsin. The CTSI represents a unique and transformative collaboration among the Medical College of Wisconsin, its campus research partners, and major academic institutions in southeast Wisconsin. The CTSI recently joined the National Consortium with a prestigious NIH grant award. All residents participate in a Quality Improvement project in compliance with the ACGME and additional projects as per their individual career goals.