Goodbye Resident Class of 2022!

The UW Ob-Gyn Resident Class of 2022 is about to embark on the next stages of their careers! Please join us in congratulating these incredible physicians on everything they have accomplished over the last four years, and wishing them the best as they head out into the world as ob-gyns!


Alexa Lowry, MD:

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn? 

Generalist - Gundersen Hospital in La Crosse, WI

What will you miss most about UW Ob-Gyn and/or Madison?

I will miss all of the amazing people we have the honor of working with in this program. From the residents to the attendings to the support staff, we have a wonderful work family. Leaving is very bittersweet, mostly due to these many special individuals. 


Ushma Patel, MD:

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn?

I'm so excited to be joining the UW FPMRS department for fellowship!

How do you feel UW Ob-Gyn prepared you for success after residency?

I feel so lucky to have matched and trained at UW, being mentored and supervised by faculty that truly care about our growth. Looking back at my own journey from intern year to now, it's amazing to see my personal evolution - all because of this department's constant commitment to our education and surgical training. I feel well prepared for fellowship!

Any special shout-outs or thanks to faculty, staff, other residents who really shaped your time here?

The UW OBGYN residents; Dr. Brown - for being the best mentor, colleague and friend. 

The milestones: 

Dr. Bills - for being there for my first vaginal delivery

Dr. Peebles - for walking me through my first cesarean delivery

Dr. Barroilhet - for taking me through my first laparoscopic case & hysterectomy

A loving goodbye to Drs. Peebles, Lick and Williams 


Daniel Pellicer, MD:

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn?

I'll be staying in Madison and practicing as a general OB/Gyn at Dean Clinic- East Madison.

What are the most important things you learned during your residency?

I've learned lots of important lessons these last four years about medicine, myself, and others. Here are just a few. First, admitting when you feel out of your element and asking for help is never the wrong thing to do. Second, always befriend the nurses and other members of the healthcare team. It makes the countless hours at work more fun and also makes it easier to get things done when you have an army on your side. And lastly, eat when you can and go to the bathroom when you can because you never know when an unscheduled c-hyst is going to fall into your lap.

How do you feel UW Ob-Gyn prepared you for success after residency?

I feel extremely prepared for success after residency. Not only do we get high volume experience in both inpatient obstetrics and gynecology, but we also get lots of really great experience in family planning and ultrasound. I can't imagine having trained anywhere else.

What will you miss most about UW Ob-Gyn and/or Madison?

Fortunately I won't be far and I'll still get to work with our OB/GYN residents at St. Mary's Hospital, albeit in a different role! I'll miss working so closely with all the clinical faculty in the department, but you better believe I'll still call for advice when challenging clinical scenarios come my way.


John Poehlmann, MD: 

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn?

Headed to Women & Infants Hospital/Brown University in Rhode Island for Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship

What are the most important things you learned during your residency?

The clinical training was exceptional and I feel very prepared to take the next step in my career both medically and surgically. In addition, I think that UW emphasized other important components of healthcare outside of just clinical skills: advocacy, cognizance about patient needs in underserved or lower-resource settings, and a sense a duty to my community as a healthcare provider. I also learned a great deal from my peers on how to be a better team-member, leader, and colleague.

How do you feel UW Ob-Gyn prepared you for success after residency?

Aside from seeing a great breadth and depth of clinical cases and challenges over the four years, I think that I have developed a greater sense of what resources to turn to when I am in unfamiliar situations. Learning not just the textbook answers, but also how to utilize those guidelines in clinical context along with appropriate judgement has been a highlight.

What will you miss most about UW Ob-Gyn and/or Madison?

Without a doubt I will miss the people the most - from my co-residents to my attendings, nurses, APPs, surgical techs, clinic staff, administration, and everyone in-between. This has been an incredible community to be a part of and I remain so thankful that I was able to train here.

Any special shout-outs or thanks to faculty, staff, other residents who really shaped your time here?

There are far too many people for me to ever adequately thank and at risk for accidentally excluding someone I do not want to make a list. I have been shaped as a person and a physician by each of my experiences in residency and that is something I can never repay. Thank you!


Vienna Tran, MD: 

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn?

Seattle – generalist practice

What are the most important things you learned during your residency?

The most important things I learned were how to function as part of a team, how to learn and grow with my colleagues, how to build strong relationships with nurses, techs, consultants, and how to have fun and take good care of patients. Everything I learned will help keep me loving what I do for a long time.

How do you feel UW Ob-Gyn prepared you for success after residency?

I feel like I learned how to be prepared. I was taught this incredible background of surgical skills, I learned about the research that underpins the decisions we make. I’m going to need those skills to assess new situations, because I won’t always know exactly what to do right away, but I have the foundation to help me to critically assess patients and come up with plans.

What will you miss most about UW Ob-Gyn and/or Madison?

I think I am going to miss the people, honestly. Like, I had incredible teachers, I have the best co-residents in the whole world. I’ll also miss the Madison summer lake days, and hanging out on the terrace, but mostly the people.

Any special shout-outs or thanks to faculty, staff, other residents who really shaped your time here?

I do want to shout out Dr. Rice for always leading us with such vision, Dr. Hartenbach for choosing me when I was a medical student and bringing me here, and for the leadership I know she’ll show in the future. Dr. Spencer for putting up with my late-night texts, long scheduling calls and always having our backs. To my class, for everything. All the co-residents and everyone who made this the best four years.

Special thanks Dr. Bills for always lending a listening ear, and Dr. Bennett for bike rides to Planned Parenthood and championing reproductive health care access. 


Matt Wagar, MD:

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn? 

I will be staying at UW to complete my fellowship in Gyn Oncology. ​

What are the most important things you learned during your residency?

I learned there's always more than one way to get the job done, and when in doubt - you have to load the boat. I also learned how to inhale my entire lunch in under five minutes. 

How do you feel UW Ob-Gyn prepared you for success after residency? 

I feel incredibly prepared to begin my training as a cancer surgeon - UW gave me a broad exposure to all aspects of women's health, and a skillset that I feel ready to hone, as well as teach to others. 

What will you miss most about UW Ob-Gyn and/or Madison? 

Not a lot since I'm not leaving! I'll miss everyone who is leaving me though (rude). I'll also miss living across the street from Rachel & Vienna - Seattle is a longer commute. I'll also miss obstetrics, delivering babies is not for the faint of heart, and if you ever need help with a vaginal breech I'm just down the street!!!

Any special shout-outs or thanks to faculty, staff, other residents who really shaped your time here? 

Dr. Sample and Dr. McDonald for teaching me how to do my first c-section and hysterectomy, respectively. The entirety of the Gyn Oncology division for fostering my interest in Gyn Onc (and giving me a job, thank you!!). Dr. MJ Kao and Dr. Rodzak for continuing to mentor me despite graduating and retiring (is it obvious yet that I have a hard time letting go?). Dr. Williams for all her mentorship and insight, and my entire class for making it through the last four years together, there's not a better group of people. 


Jordan Ward, MD:

Where will you be going and what will you be doing after UW Ob-Gyn?

I am thrilled to be joining the ASOG Division here at UW!

What are the most important things you learned during your residency?

While I have learned so much, the most important lessons have been to trust my instincts and to never be afraid to ask for help (as Dr. Rice would say, "load the boat!"). 

How do you feel UW Ob-Gyn prepared you for success after residency?

The high volume of general obstetrics and benign gynecology along with the rich exposure to subspeciality experience in Gyn Oncology, MFM, FPMRS, and REI has prepared me for the extensive breadth and depth of a career in general obstetrics and gynecology. Additionally, the surgical experience we have in this program is exceptional and I feel well-prepared for whatever I may encounter in my career.