Graduating from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health marks a meaningful milestone as students across a range of degree programs enter the next stage of their careers focused on healthy people and healthy communities.
Last week, hundreds of learners who have spent two, four or even eight years at the institution marked the occasion through graduate recognition ceremonies.
For students, these ceremonies represent the culmination of years spent learning in classrooms, clinics, labs and communities. Those experiences shaped how they approach health, research, care and service to humanity while being grounded in people, place and community.
Dean Nita Ahuja speaking to MD graduates
This year’s ceremonies carry special significance for Nita Ahuja, MD, MBA, dean of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, as this is her first graduating class as leader of the school.
“This is an extra special graduation season for me because it is my first here at UW, celebrating like Badgers do. It has been a joy to learn new, rich traditions,” she said during the MD ceremony at UW–Madison’s Memorial Union.
Speaking to the audience about the Japanese concept of ikigai, which represents one’s “reason for being,” she said, “As you embark on your next chapter, never forget your purpose and always hold dear why you chose your profession: to help and heal, to offer comfort, to make discoveries that will transform healthcare.”
“You have committed to growth, to being a voice for patients and communities, and to being the transformational force in health care. We all look forward to seeing what you accomplish. As they say, the best is yet to come.”
Reflections from the Class of 2026
In their own words, several members of this year’s more than 375 UW School of Medicine and Public Health graduates reflect on how UW shaped their experience and how they think about health and community.
Ashley Benitez
Master of Public Health, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; BS, Neurobiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison
“Through my time in the MPH program, I now truly understand what health is. It does not only exist within individuals, but as something created through the interaction of systems, communities, and lived experiences.”
Doctor of Medicine, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; BS Neurobiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison
“The experiences that I’ve had here over the past four years have shown me that a person’s health is beyond what we see in the hospital room and is actually affected by many factors that we may not always initially see.”
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Master of Public Health, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; BS, Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison
“My education and training at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health reshaped my understanding of health by bridging individual care and population-level thinking.”
PhD in Neuroscience, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; BS, Neurobiology, University of Wisconsin–Madison
“When I think about the mission of UW, I think about how UW has taught me about the basic science behind health and also how the health of a whole person and community is intertwined.”
Master of Genetic Counselor Studies | Master of Public Health, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; BA, Spanish and International Studies, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
“I knew UW to be a well‑established genetic counseling program, and meeting program leadership during interviews confirmed that I would be supported academically, professionally and personally. The opportunity to pursue a dual MGCS‑MPH degree has allowed me to deepen my understanding of how structural factors, public health systems, and community‑level influences shape access to care, and to build a foundation for understanding the clinical and larger systems genetic counseling patients navigate.”
Master of Physician Assistant Studies, UW School of Medicine and Public Health; BS, Molecular Biology, University of Denver
“Reflecting on the most meaningful experiences from my time at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, my amazing classmates come to mind. Whether that was the laughs we shared at our medical buzzword potluck or the late nights studying in the library before an exam, we always had each other’s backs. I am continually in awe of my classmate’s intelligence, kindness and ambition. I could not be prouder to have been part of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health community.”
Story by Office of Strategic Communications, UW School of Medicine and Public Health Banner and Dean Ahuja photo by Media Solutions All other photos courtesy of the students pictured, Althea Dotzour and Jeff Miller/ UW–Madison, and Media Solutions
