From Fellowship to Leadership

The Wisdom, Integrity, Leadership and Development (WILD) program empowers fellows in the Department of Medicine with skills to advance their careers and become leaders in the complex environment of academic medicine

Dr. Sylwia Kaeding holds WILD program completion certificate, Dr. Sarah Donohue and Dr. Dana Ley stand on either side of her.

Curriculum

The WILD curriculum is a series of skill-building sessions open to all department fellows. Topics include:

  1. Personal self-reflection: career pathway panel
  2. CV writing workshop
  3. Building your personal board of directors: shaping leadership identity
  4. Negotiating your first contract
  5. Allyship, advocacy and empowerment
  6. Financial power
  7. How to become a physician-scientist
  8. From fellowship to faculty

Complete three sessions to earn a certificate of completion.

Why It Matters

Many of the skills needed to become a leader in academic medicine—a full professor, division chief or department chair—fall outside the traditional fellowship curriculum.

The WILD program empowers Department of Medicine fellows from all backgrounds to become thriving leaders who create an environment of belonging; who go on to provide service to populations that have health disparities, including women; and who advance equity for women in academic medicine.

WILD fosters and promotes:

  • Advancement through education, professional growth, and leadership development
  • A collaborative environment  
  • Networking and mentorship opportunities  
  • Professional advancement in the institution and beyond 
University of Wisconsin Department Chair Dr. Lynn Schnapp presents to a group of participants at WILD session

Leadership

Book Club

The WILD book club meets periodically at Leopold’s on Regent Street. Books that have been read to date:

  • Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
  • Letter to a Young Female Physician by Suzanne Koven
  • Lean In by Sheryl Sandburg

Loaner copies of any of these books are available by request. Email kwestmas@medicine.wisc.edu to arrange pick up.