Access to quality health care in rural communities has long been a challenge—but a powerful partnership between UW–Madison and health systems like BayCare Clinic is helping to change that.
The Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM), part of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, is reimagining how future physicians are trained. By embedding medical students in rural hospitals and clinics—including Aurora BayCare Medical Center in Green Bay—WARM gives students hands-on experience in the communities that need them most.
Dr. Mike Medich, Director of Medical Education at Aurora BayCare, sees the impact firsthand.
“Our students aren’t just shadowing—they’re delivering babies, assisting in surgeries, and forming real connections with patients,” he says. “It’s a win-win for students and the communities they serve.”
The results speak for themselves: nearly 50% of WARM graduates go on to practice in rural areas, compared to just 6–10% from traditional programs
📖 Read the full article on UW–Madison’s State Impact site: https://impact.wisc.edu/uw-madison-medical-training-program-improves-health-care-for-rural-communities