Meet Dr. Emily Schmitz, chief resident
Q&A with the 2026-27 chief residents
Emily Schmitz, MD, MPH
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
What does being a chief resident mean to you?
Being selected as a Chief Resident is one of the greatest honors of my career thus far and a privilege that reflects the trust my colleagues, faculty, and program leadership have placed in me.
I see it as a unique opportunity to give back to a program that has supported and shaped me throughout residency.
What excites me most is the chance to advocate for residents while serving as a teacher and mentor, helping create a supportive learning environment and contributing to the growth and success of my co-chiefs and residents in the program.
What are you most looking forward to as chief?
I am most looking forward to the opportunity to grow as an educator during my chief resident year.
I am excited to further develop my teaching skills, mentor residents and students, and contribute to creating and refining educational curricula that enhance the learning experience within our program.
I am also eager for the dedicated time to pursue additional academic interests, particularly in infection prevention and public health, and to explore ways to integrate these interests into quality improvement, education, and patient care initiatives.
What’s your favorite part of the UW internal medicine residency?
The best thing about our residency program is the people, of course!
Our residents, faculty, and administrative staff create an incredibly supportive, collaborative, and welcoming environment where everyone is genuinely invested in each other's success and well-being.
The strength of this support system makes residency both a rewarding learning experience and a place where trainees feel valued, challenged, and encouraged to grow. I could not image training anywhere else!