Department faculty and learners foster excellence at ACP-Wisconsin 2026

The University of Wisconsin Department of Medicine (UW DOM) made a strong showing at the 2026 American College of Physicians Wisconsin (ACP-Wisconsin) Chapter Scientific Meeting in Wisconsin Dells on September 18 and 19, continuing its tradition of leadership and commitment to medical education.

ACP chapter awards

Five DOM attendees received chapter awards from ACP-Wisconsin:

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Mark Micek, MD, MPH, clinical professor, General Internal Medicine received the Helen Dickie Distinguished Internist of the Year Award, which honors a career of exceptional effort and contribution to the science and art of internal medicine.

Siobhan Wilson, MD, PhD, clinical associate professor, General Internal Medicine, received the Addis Costello Internist of the Year Award, which honors a practicing internist for their diligent efforts or achievements in the socioeconomic aspects of medical practice, especially for those efforts advocating for system-based change or health policy.

Emily Dolan, MD, clinical assistant adjunct professor, received the Early Career Internist of the Year Award, which recognizes the outstanding contributions of an early career internist in clinical practice, research and/or medical education.

Keshani Bhushan, MD, clinical assistant adjunct professor, received the Volunteerism and Community Service Award, which recognizes the work and raises the awareness of members who are significantly involved in volunteerism and community service activities.

Evan Keiser, MD, Hematology/Oncology fellow, Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care, and former internal medicine resident, received a Resident of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions of a resident at one of Wisconsin’s five internal medicine residency programs in the areas of clinical care, advocacy, teaching, mentoring or research.

Learner presentations

In total, 10 internal medicine residents presented clinical vignette and/or clinical research posters at the conference:

• Bruin Armwald, DO, MS, PG-2, presented “Cecal Bascule as the Cause of Recurrent Abdominal Distention in a Geriatric Patient”
• Surya Gopal, MD, PG-3, presented “Cystic Neutrophilic Granulomatous Mastitis Presenting with Erythema Nodosum and Arthritis: Recognizing Granulomatous Mastitis”
• Madhu Gowda, MD, PG-2, presented and received Runner-up for the Best Oral Clinical Vignette for “Lactococcus garvieae: A Rare Cause of Native Valve Infective Endocarditis”
• Julia Knight-Shefner, MD, PG-3, presented “An elusive case of primary cutaneous gamma-delta T-cell lymphoma with concurrent HLH”
• Cory Li, MD, PG-2, presented “Leadless Pacemaker for Slow Atrial Fibrillation in the setting of Amyloidosis with Active Malignancy”
• Matt Merwin, MD, PG-2, presented “When DKA Resolves, But Doesn’t”
• Shallot Nareeba, MBChB, PG-2, presented “A Sinister Dilemma: Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation with Cor Triatriatum”
• Kelsey Schmitt, MD, PG-3, presented “Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastasis to the Right Ventricle”
• Andrew Turanen, MD, PG-2, presented “Small Bowel Stricture and Recurrent Obstruction in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Induced Enteritis: A Rare Phenotype”
• Lazim Vattoth, MD, PG-3, presented “Assessing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Using a Validated Tool”

Faculty participation

Farah Kaiksow, MD, MPP, associate professor, Hospital Medicine, currently serves as the ACP-Wisconsin chapter governor and delivered remarks in that role.

In addition, five DOM faculty delivered presentations or moderated sessions at the conference:

• Abigail Bales, MD, clinical associate professor, General Internal Medicine, moderated the Story Slam, a celebration of submissions from the Narrative Medicine Competition
• Leila Famouri, MD, MPH, assistant professor, General Internal Medicine, co presented “Advocacy in Action: Practical Ways to Get Involved with Health Policy”
• Sandesh Parajuli, MBBS, associate professor, Nephrology, presented a session on transplant medicine
• Andrea Schnell, MD, associate professor, General Internal Medicine, co-presented on the panel, “Healing at the speed of trust: Tactics from a cultural lens to improve health outcomes”
• Christine Sharkey, MD, clinical associate professor, Rheumatology, presented a session on rheumatology updates

Finally, 28 medical students from UW SMPH also presented posters at the conference. Many of them were mentored by DOM faculty.

Thank you

Many thanks to the faculty, residents and UW SMPH medical students for participating in the conference and for representing our department and institution so well!

Banner: Dr. Abigail Bales, on left, and Jennifer Woodard, MD, clinical assistant professor, Geriatrics and Gerontology and Hospital Medicine, show their ACP pride.