Jessieka Knazze has always been fascinated by the human body. She also has a genuine love for people, and a concern for their well-being. When she decided to pursue her studies at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, she found a way to merge these interests.
“The idea that I could combine my passion for human anatomy and my desire for a meaningful role in someone’s health journey was incredibly exciting and fulfilling,” said Knazze, who earned an MD-MPH dual degree. “UW has given me a rare and powerful opportunity to train as both a physician and a public health advocate.”
Knazze joined hundreds of other graduates from the school’s five health professions programs — Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies, Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Public Health, and its MS and PhD programs — at recognition ceremonies from Thursday, May 8, through Saturday, May 10. At every event, the warm, sunny weather matched the joyous mood of graduates, their loved ones and the proud faculty and mentors who helped them reach this milestone.
Dean Robert N. Golden gave his last commencement address to the MD class gathered on Friday, May 9, in Shannon Hall, before stepping down after 19 years as dean of the school.
“I have been inspired by your capacity to embrace new challenges, and to quickly incorporate new ways of thinking, acting, learning and caring for your patients, and each other,” Golden said. “The road ahead for you will be bumpy at times, but the journey itself will be filled with opportunities for growth, fulfillment and immense satisfaction as you make a real difference in the lives of many people,” he said.
A focus on public health informs teaching, learning and research in every one of the school’s five health professions programs. Graduates from across the school, including Knazze, said this helped them better understand health disparities, as well as the social determinants of health and the importance of working with communities on health care solutions.
Knazze participated in the school’s Training in Urban and Public Health (TRIUMPH) program, an urban medicine training track developed in response to health inequities and chronic physician shortages in Wisconsin’s urban areas. Through TRIUMPH, she had the opportunity to work with Jump at the Sun Consultants, LLC, a Milwaukee-based firm that addresses health disparities, where she conducted focus groups on racial equity in the county and tobacco use cessation interventions within Milwaukee’s Black communities.
“That experience taught me how to elicit and incorporate community voices into solutions for health care issues,” she said.
Onergis Martinez, who graduated from the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, said the DPT curriculum’s focus on all aspects of patient care helped him understand connections between patients’ conditions and broader health trends like obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“UW’s public health lens gave me the tools to show up as a provider who sees the full picture,” Martinez said. “That perspective has influenced how I approach everything — from goal setting with patients, to patient education — and prepared me to interact with underserved groups where access and understanding can make or break someone’s recovery.”
Luke Stavedahl, who graduated from the Master of Genetic Counselor Studies (MGCS) program, said that his most meaningful experience as an MGCS student was an interdisciplinary elective class on consumer health advocacy, where students worked with clients of the Center for Patient Partnerships Health Justice Clinic. Along with classmates, Stavedahl helped counsel clients who had encountered challenges with the health care system, from insurance denials to misunderstandings between providers.
“The more we understand the system and how patients access it, the better we are able to advocate for them, connect with their experiences, and improve health outcomes in ways that transcend individual medical appointments,” he said.
Student research is a vital component of the educational mission of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs benefit from a robust research environment that prepares them for diverse career paths. Upon graduation, they may pursue entrepreneurship, consulting roles, or leadership positions in biotechnology companies, leveraging their expertise to drive innovation.
“Our MS and PhD graduates merge scientific curiosity with the desire to make an impact in the world,” said Laura Knoll, PhD, associate dean for basic research training. “They emerge from our programs prepared for rigorous careers where they will pursue ground-breaking discoveries that can change lives.”
Billy Erazo, who earned a PhD in cellular and molecular pathology, was drawn to the school because of its strong reputation in immunology and infectious diseases.
“The program offered a unique blend of rigorous scientific training and interdisciplinary collaboration, which aligned perfectly with my research interests,” he said.
Erazo said that Knoll, his mentor, had a profound impact on his journey.
“She created a space where curiosity was welcomed, mistakes were treated as learning opportunities and every voice — regardless of title — was valued,” he said. “Her mentorship has shaped not just how I think as a scientist, but how I hope to lead and mentor others in the future.”
Graduates from each of the school’s health professions programs will enter fields with current or projected provider shortages. In its 2025 health care workforce report, the Wisconsin Hospital Association’s Council on Workforce Development summarized the general outlook with this statement: “Wisconsin’s health care workforce must grow faster.” UW School of Medicine and Public Health graduates will help fulfill growing needs in Wisconsin and across the nation, including in rural areas where the shortage is most severe.
Shane Hoffman, who grew up near Lake Mills, Wisconsin, was the first graduate of an accelerated version of the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine, a rural MD training program that reduces the time it takes to train doctors interested in serving rural parts of the state.
“Hospitals are going under because they can’t attract people to these rural communities,” said Hoffman, whose medical residency will include training in north-central Wisconsin. “I want to live in a small town or the country. It’s where I feel most at home.”
Graduates of the Master of Physician Assistant (PA) program are also prepared for service in areas of greatest need. The PA program includes flexible options on three campuses — UW–Madison, UW-Platteville, and UW-Stevens Point at Wausau, drawing students interested in practicing in those areas.
“Our PA graduates are clinically prepared across a wide range of specialties — from emergency medicine to family practice,” said Amanda DeVoss, MMS, PA-C, who directs the PA program. “This year’s graduates include 21 students from designated Health Professional Shortage Areas or Medically Underserved Areas, including four Native American graduates. All have trained in rural settings and are committed to practicing in underserved communities, helping to meet the growing demand for PAs across our state.”
In the physical therapy field, the aging workforce is a significant concern. According to the American Physical Therapy Association’s 2024 workforce survey, nearly one-fourth of practicing physical therapists will reach age 65 in the next decade.
According to Sue Wenker, PhD, who directs the DPT program, graduates are not only skilled clinicians, but also possess the essential professional skills needed to excel.
“Their strong communication skills and empathetic approach help build trust and rapport with patients, while their problem-solving skills and adaptability ensure personalized and effective care,” Wenker says. “These qualities make them valuable assets in any health care setting, ready to make a positive impact on patient outcomes within and beyond Wisconsin.”
Banner photo by Media Solutions
