University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Call Directions Website Contact the university

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Healthy People, Healthy Communities

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison is committed to improving the health of the citizens of Wisconsin and beyond through education, research and service. We are developing new approaches for preventing, diagnosing and treating illness by uniting the principles and power of traditional medicine and public health.

When Mary Finta, MD, started medical school in 2015, she wasn't sure primary care was the right fit. Through her experie...
10/14/2026

When Mary Finta, MD, started medical school in 2015, she wasn't sure primary care was the right fit. Through her experiences in the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine, including clinical rotations in rural Wisconsin communities and mentorship from physician preceptors, she discovered a passion for primary care.

“The physicians I worked with as part of this program solidified my interest in internal medicine and sparked my desire to practice primary care. I owe them so much credit for fostering my development as a physician.”
Today, Mary is an internal medicine physician in Rochester, Minnesota. She shares that building relationships with patients and walking with them through their health journeys is the most meaningful part of her job. She now mentors medical students and internal medicine residents, carrying forward the same support that shaped her own career.

Reflecting on her experience at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, she shares:
“It is a place full of kind, intelligent, humble and hardworking people who truly care about patients and communities.”
From early clinical experiences to long‑term mentorship to immersive training in communities across Wisconsin, these are the kinds of training experiences that stay with our graduates and shape how they serve across Wisconsin and beyond.

This is the impact behind the recognition.

UW School of Medicine and Public Health MD program ranked Tier 1 for primary care by U.S. News and World Report

Faculty, staff and learners recently gathered for the all-school Ice Cream Social, taking time to catch up with colleagu...
09/16/2026

Faculty, staff and learners recently gathered for the all-school Ice Cream Social, taking time to catch up with colleagues, make new connections and enjoy Babcock Ice Cream.

Check out the 'scoop' from an afternoon filled with community, conversation and plenty of ice cream.

09/01/2026

Twilight and tradition.
Summer may have looked quiet. A closer look tells a different story.

At Friday's MD White Coat Ceremony, gathering storm clouds couldn't dampen the enthusiasm as 171 incoming medical studen...
08/24/2026

At Friday's MD White Coat Ceremony, gathering storm clouds couldn't dampen the enthusiasm as 171 incoming medical students received their white coats. Dean Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, asked students to imagine their "ripples of impact" spreading throughout the school and beyond. Our story highlights three incoming students and their unique paths toward studying medicine the Badger way - at the nation’s first school to integrate medicine and public health. Congratulations and On, Wisconsin! https://www.med.wisc.edu/news/2026-white-coat-ceremony/

Join the virtual ceremony as we welcome more than 170 new MD students at today’s White Coat Investiture Ceremony. This m...
08/21/2026

Join the virtual ceremony as we welcome more than 170 new MD students at today’s White Coat Investiture Ceremony. This meaningful first step is a shared moment of pride, grounded in purpose and a celebration for students, loved ones and faculty. View the livestream starting at 3:00 p.m. Central: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCI-2b0tloY

Seeing or feeling a tick crawling on you can be unsettling. What if you knew when they were most active so you could be ...
05/29/2026

Seeing or feeling a tick crawling on you can be unsettling. What if you knew when they were most active so you could be on the lookout?
UW researchers are a part of statewide efforts to predict tick patterns in Wisconsin, a hotspot for tick-borne diseases. More on their work, their partners and why it matters. https://www.med.wisc.edu/news/tick-risk-forecasting-research/

Marked by both formal recognition ceremonies and lighthearted moments of celebration, the Class of 2026 came together to...
05/12/2026

Marked by both formal recognition ceremonies and lighthearted moments of celebration, the Class of 2026 came together to take it all in.
These moments tell the story of our graduates — shaped by years of learning and grounded in people and community. It’s the mix of hard work and joy, reflection and momentum they carry with them into what’s next.
Relive some of those moments and meet the Class of 2026 as they step forward.
Big milestones. Real joy. Lifelong Badgers.
https://www.med.wisc.edu/news/2026-graduation-reflection-new-beginnings/

“As I stood on stage, soaking in the smiling faces of our graduates and their families, it dawned on me: I really am a B...
05/09/2026

“As I stood on stage, soaking in the smiling faces of our graduates and their families, it dawned on me: I really am a Badger now.”
Dean Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, shares reflections and celebrates the Class of 2026 as she marks her first spring graduation at the helm of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
“Throughout my first year as dean, I have seen our newest graduates fully embody what makes Badgers great: humility, empathy, confidence in their abilities, and a commitment to purpose.
It is the word ‘purpose’ that I chose to focus on this year in my advice to graduates. There is a Japanese concept I love called ‘ikigai,’ which roughly translates to ‘a reason for being.’ This is our purpose — something we reach for and grow into all of our lives. For us at the School of Medicine and Public Health, our ikigai is focused on medicine and public health, science and discovery, and caring for others.
We train our students to be lifelong learners, whether they are pursuing a career as a physician, physical therapist, public health expert, physician assistant, genetic counselor, or innovative scientific researcher. And some even train in more than one area, completing degrees in public health and health sciences or medicine and basic sciences, leading to a ‘kaleidoscope’ of expertise and vibrant perspective to address the world’s pressing needs. As I attended the graduate recognition ceremonies for our programs, I saw this spirit of lifelong learning everywhere I turned.
This year, we have nearly 400 graduates across our nationally recognized programs. All leave us ready to meet the health care needs of Wisconsin and beyond, and make discoveries that will transform health for all.
To our graduates: As you embark on the next step in your career, I want you to never forget where your journey started: at the nation’s first integrated school of medicine and public health. You carry forward our vision of healthy people and healthy communities, bringing it into focus and letting it guide the work you do, wherever your path leads.
Thank you for your curiosity and drive to innovate and never forget that learning is a lifelong adventure.”
Congratulations to the class of 2026!

Tonisha Atkins’s path began at the intersection of people and possibility. With a background in education and social wor...
05/09/2026

Tonisha Atkins’s path began at the intersection of people and possibility. With a background in education and social work and a deep love for science, she was drawn to work that combined technical knowledge with human connection. She found meaning in walking alongside people during difficult moments and pursued a path that allowed her to balance both.
That led her to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the master’s program in genetic counseling. With the option to pursue a dual degree by also completing the Master of Public Health program, Tonisha saw an opportunity to deepen her understanding of the structural factors, public health systems and community‑level influences that shape access to care.
When reflecting on the dual degree, Tonisha highlights the intersection of the individual and the community, not only in how systems influence access, but in how genetic information can affect extended families across generations. To her, the school’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities means ensuring patients and communities have the information and resources they need to navigate complex and often difficult decisions.
“Through my genetic counseling training, I worked closely with patients during moments of uncertainty, learning how to communicate complex information clearly while honoring the perspectives families bring to their care,” she said. She also completed a leadership program focused on improving services and supports for children with, or at risk for, neurodevelopmental disabilities and contributed to public health efforts connected to Wisconsin’s newborn screening program, including research on family experiences as new screening practices were adopted. “Working alongside trainees from multiple disciplines reinforced that the most effective solutions emerge when we center lived experience and collaborate,” Atkins said.
Tonisha is the first student to complete the combined Master of Genetic Counselor Studies and Master of Public Health, joining other dual‑degree graduates across the school. She plans to continue working directly with patients as a clinical genetic counselor, while remaining engaged in research and mentorship.
Congratulations to the 8 graduates of the Master of Genetic Counselor Studies program.

Obie Oniah's approach to medicine and health care has its roots in community‑based care. She completed her undergraduate...
05/08/2026

Obie Oniah's approach to medicine and health care has its roots in community‑based care. She completed her undergraduate studies at UW–Madison, pairing coursework with research and volunteer work aimed at reducing health care disparities, then stayed in Madison to work as a certified professional doula, specializing in support for Black mothers through pregnancy and childbirth. When medical school became her next step, UW was her top choice.
Through her medical education at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Obie describes how the integration of public health into the curriculum, along with her lived experiences, broadened her understanding of the factors that influence health. Reflecting on the school’s vision of Healthy People, Healthy Communities, she notes that “a person’s health is not simply captured in an exam room, but within the community they come from. This awareness of public health concerns, health equity and other influencing factors allows me to care for patients more holistically,” she said. Obie believes taking care of communities is a critical part of caring for patients.
By remaining in Madison throughout her educational path, Obie has sustained the research, volunteer and community‑based efforts she began as an undergraduate. The next phase of her career will take her to Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she will pursue her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Mass General Brigham, a main teaching hospital of Harvard. She plans to remain engaged in community‑based research and work focused on improving maternal and infant health outcomes, carrying forward a perspective shaped in Madison through years of connection to community, public health and equity‑centered care.
Congratulations to the 165 members of the Doctor of Medicine Class of 2026.

Address

750 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI
53705

Telephone

+16082634900

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health:

Shortcuts

Share