Program Overview

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Introduction to the MCW Central Wisconsin Psychiatry Residency Program

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) Central Wisconsin Psychiatry Residency Program is a unique opportunity for individuals committed to community psychiatry and academic excellence. The program offers a balanced lifestyle, with limited overnight in-house call and occasional weekend rounding.

Program Overview

The program is based in the communities of Central Wisconsin, including Wausau, Rhinelander, Tomah, Ashland, Marshfield, and Stevens Point. The direct faculty consists of psychiatrists from these communities, providing a personalized and supportive learning environment.

Distinguishing Features

• Small: The program is embedded in the communities of Central Wisconsin, allowing for a more personalized and supportive learning environment.
• Big: Residents receive didactic teaching through lectures, seminars, and case conferences from the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) in Milwaukee, which was recently recognized for its academic excellence.
• Community: The program partners with local communities to provide quality, cost-effective, and accessible mental health services.
• Academia: Residents have opportunities for elective research, teaching medical students, and accessing the MCW Library's resources.
• Lifestyle: The program offers a balanced lifestyle, with limited overnight in-house call and occasional weekend rounding, allowing for reflection and personal growth.

Other Strengths

• Psychotherapy Training: Residents receive longitudinal experience in working with patients and supervision from local psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as psychotherapy experts from the Medical College campus in Milwaukee.
• Psychiatric Crisis Service: Residents learn the fundamentals of legal commitments and testifying in court, managing high-acuity patients and psychiatric emergencies.
• Elective Options: In the PG4 year, residents have numerous elective options, including Inpatient Psychiatry, Outpatient Psychiatry, Integrative Psychiatry, and more.
• Fellowships: The Medical College of Wisconsin offers fellowships in Addiction, Child and Adolescent, Geriatrics, Forensics, and Consultation-Liaison.

Training Sites

The program is embedded in the communities of Central Wisconsin, with training sites including:

• Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital
• Aspirus Wausau Hospital
• North Central Health Care (NCHC)
• Tomah VA Medical Center
• Ashland Memorial Medical Center (AMMC)

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital

Aspirus Rhinelander Hospital is a private general medical surgical hospital with a psychiatric inpatient service and a child/adolescent service. Residents spend two months in the PGY1 year at this site, supervised by a psychiatric hospitalist and two other staff psychiatrists.

Aspirus Wausau Hospital

Aspirus Wausau Hospital is the primary care teaching site during the PGY1 year, working in tandem with the Aspirus Family Medicine Residency Program. Residents are part of the Teaching Service Rotation, covering call from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, plus call in the hospital from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays or Sundays.

North Central Health Care (NCHC)

NCHC is the flagship site for the MCW-Central Wisconsin Psychiatry Residency Program, providing inpatient and outpatient health and mental health care for Marathon County and several other Central Wisconsin counties. Residents learn from comprehensive community services and work with experienced community-based psychiatrists.

Tomah VA Medical Center

The Tomah VA Medical Center provides opportunities for training in several important areas, including treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and integrative psychiatry. Residents are embedded in the primary care clinic, performing consultations and advising primary care physicians.

Ashland Memorial Medical Center (AMMC)

AMMC is the teaching site during the PGY3 year for a one-month Addiction rotation. The AMMC Behavioral Health team includes highly trained practitioners who partner with patients to provide comprehensive and individualized recovery plans. Housing is provided during this flexible rotation.