The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison is committed to improving the health of Wisconsin and beyond through service, scholarship, science and social responsibility. We are developing new approaches for preventing, diagnosing and treating illness by uniting the principles and power of traditional medicine and public health. Learn more about our mission and vision
We train tomorrow's health care leaders
The School of Medicine and Public Health seeks the very best students who will care for patients with compassion and empathy, work to improve the health and well-being of populations and fearlessly push the boundaries of scientific inquiry.
Graduate programs (MS/PhD)
Our programs in biomedical and population health sciences and related disciplines provide rigorous training for the next generation of scientists.
Paradigm-changing discoveries
From the development of SPF ratings to finding new ways to treat cancer, our researchers have established a legacy of translating laboratory discoveries into clinical treatments. Here are just a few of our paradigm-changing innovations.
1958
Joshua Lederberg awarded the Nobel Prize for his work on bacteria reproduction and antibiotic resistance.
1975
Howard Temin is named co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in medicine for discovering reverse transcriptase, the enzyme that explains how retroviruses cause cancer and AIDS.
1998
James Thomson and his research team become the first in the world to derive a human embryonic stem cell line.
Today's advances, tomorrow's cures
From the tiniest cells to Big Data, our investigators are making key discoveries that lead to better treatments. Elizabeth Burnside, MD, MPH, is using computer technology and a growing collection of clinical data to develop computer-based decision making tools for breast imaging to enhance breast cancer screening and diagnosis.
The School of Medicine and Public Health has a deep and profound commitment to diversity, both as an end in itself, and as a valuable means for eliminating health disparities.
Latest news
Deneen Wellik named chair of cell and regenerative biology
09/17/2018
Deneen Wellik, PhD, has been chosen as the next chair of the Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Inaugural Wisconsin Healthy Communities Named
09/17/2018
Thirty-one Wisconsin communities have been recognized for their work to improve health in their communities.
Ed Chapman Wins Pew Innovation Fund Award
09/14/2018
The Pew Charitable Trust announced today that Ed Chapman, PhD, professor of neuroscience in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, is one of a dozen leading “Innovation Fund” researchers who will collaborate ...
UW-Madison study is first to link cadmium exposure to lower ability to see contrast
09/14/2018
Cadmium exposure may increase the risk for problems with a key component of good vision, according to a new study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Amy Kind elected new chair of Wisconsin Partnership Program Oversight and Advisory Committee
09/11/2018
The Wisconsin Partnership Program is pleased to announce that Amy Kind, MD, PhD has been elected as chair of the Oversight and Advisory Committee. Recommended by Dean Robert N. Golden, MD, Dr. Kind began her new role in July 2018, and follows...
UW to test using MDMA to treat PTSD
09/11/2018
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health will take part in a multisite Food and Drug Administration-approved Phase III trial investigating MDMA as an adjunct to psychotherapy for the tre...
Mental health in pregnancy may affect development of newborns’ brains
09/05/2018
Many factors can influence the development of a baby during pregnancy and after birth, but until recently, researchers knew little about the relationship between an expectant mother’s mental health and the subsequent development of her baby ...
Blockages in nerve-cell protein “factory” implicated in neurodegenerative disease
09/05/2018
A molecular basis underlying the neurodegenerative condition hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) has been identified in a study by University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health researchers. The research, published in Cell Reports, s...
Robert Fettiplace's explorations of the inner ear earn him the Kavli Prize
09/04/2018
When Robert Fettiplace, PhD, talks about the joy of discovery, he captures the spirit that drove explorers over mountains and into the deepest caves.
Mary Ehlenbach wins inaugural Paster Family Foundation Innovation Award
08/30/2018
Mary Ehlenbach, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, is the inaugural winner of the Paster Family Foundation Innovation Award.
Embracing the Wisconsin Idea
Our school's engagement extends across the entire state. We are deeply committed to improving the health of the people of Wisconsin, and in doing so, creating innovative models for the rest of the country. Through our academic campuses, our faculty and students participate in statewide education and research, with an emphasis on underserved rural and urban populations.
Committed to a healthier Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Partnership Program funds education initiatives, research and community health programs targeting the state's vital health needs, serving as a shining example of the Wisconsin Idea.
Statewide campus
The borders of our campus extend to the entire state. Medical students learn from hundreds of volunteer physicians at hospitals and clinics throughout Wisconsin.
Remarkable care
The faculty physicians of UW Health care for patients at University Hospital, UW Carbone Cancer Center, American Family Children's Hospital and other local and regional hospitals and clinics.
Help us lead the way
As a world-class institution, our impact resonates around the world. By supporting the School of Medicine and Public Health, you'll help us continue to inspire students, expand research and advance the health and well-being of the people of Wisconsin and beyond.