Preventive Medicine Residency

Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar, MD, MPH
Program Director

The University of Wisconsin Preventive Medicine Residency trains physician leaders in public health and general preventive medicine with a focus on health promotion and disease prevention in communities and health systems.  Our graduates are well-prepared for careers in local, state or federal health agencies, health care systems and community-based health organizations. During the program, residents gain skills in biostatistics and epidemiology, public policy, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and program development and evaluation.

At the University of Wisconsin Preventive Medicine Residency, our commitment to social impact and belonging guides us in creating an environment where individuals from all backgrounds and perspectives feel supported and valued throughout their training. We foster a culture where conversations about strengthening our collective impact and cultivating belonging are woven into every aspect of our program. We encourage every member of our community to contribute to this shared mission, ensuring that their actions help build a training environment where everyone feels they truly belong.

• One of the unique features of our program is its flexibility and individualized mentorship. Program leaders meet with each resident individually monthly to discuss MPH and practicum planning, as well as board exam and job preparation.
• Residents who join our program without a prior Master of Public Health (MPH) or equivalent degree, receive free tuition for the MPH degree.
• Over half of the practicum rotations are elective and organized based on resident interests. Examples of practicum rotations can be found in the program overview.
• The Preventive Medicine Residency Leadership have decades of public health practice and education experience and our faculty work in a variety of environments including but not limited to the state public health department, research, state Medicaid, health system population health, occupational and environmental health, and program evaluation.