Mary Westergaard

Dr. Mary Westergaard is a Professor (CHS) in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, currently serving as Vice Chair of Faculty Development and founding Immediate Past Vice Chair of Education. Her leadership spans medical education innovation, clinical emergency care, and institutional diversity initiatives across UW-Madison's health system.

Her academic foundation includes:

• Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
• Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Residency: Denver Health Medical Center (Chief Resident)

Dr. Westergaard's research centers on Medical Education with pioneering work in entrustable professional activities (EPAs), residency curriculum design, and diversity frameworks. As national Chair of the American Association of Women in Emergency Medicine, she founded UW SMPH's Group on Women in Medicine and Science and co-chaired GME diversity committees. Her clinical expertise in emergency medicine integrates with educational scholarship on physician mentorship and academic promotions systems.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2014-2024) reveals three dominant trends: (1) Systematic implementation of EPAs across surgical and emergency medicine residencies; (2) Investigations into residency match dynamics including thank-you note impacts and rank list authenticity; (3) Development of assessment tools for resident autonomy using machine learning and multi-disciplinary approaches. These works consistently address diversity gaps and educational innovation in graduate medical training.

Her accolades include:

• 2023 Clinical Educator Excellence Award (UW Health)
• 2024 Clinical Science Teaching Award (Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association)
• Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society membership

As an educator, Dr. Westergaard has directed medical student education and residency programs while currently mentoring SMPH students through the Academic and Career Advising Program. She leads departmental diversity committees and serves on the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation board, with grants focused on global emergency medicine capacity building in East Africa. Her clinical teams operate at University Hospital and East Madison Hospital emergency departments.

Dr. Westergaard chairs UW SMPH's inaugural Group on Women in Medicine and Science while collaborating with national organizations like the American College of Emergency Physicians. Her global health work in East Africa (initiated in 2024) extends her educational leadership internationally, maintaining active clinical and scholarly engagement through UW's emergency medicine infrastructure.