2020s | 2010s | 2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1960s
Ruben Alexanian, MD ’12 (PG ’15, ’19, ’20)
As an interventional and structural cardiologist, I practice in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota at St. John’s Hospital. My clinical practice focuses on interventional cardiology. Many of my cases involve patients with acute coronary syndromes, complex coronary artery disease, and cardiogenic shock. I also perform structural heart procedures, including minimally invasive, catheter-based valve repair and replacement.
One memorable case involved an elderly patient in profound cardiogenic shock with severe multivessel coronary artery disease and severe aortic stenosis. Using advanced, mechanical, circulatory support, our team performed complex coronary interventions and a transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Seeing the patient recover was incredibly rewarding.
I attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, starting with my undergraduate degree and through medical school, my residency in internal medicine and two fellowships, one in cardiology and the other in interventional cardiology. I participate in several professional cardiology organizations and maintain strong ties with colleagues and mentors from the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Heather Johnson, MD ’02, MS ’11 (PG ’05, ’09)
I am the director of preventive cardiology at the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute of Baptist Health South Florida in Boca Raton. I practice in a combined cardiology and preventive cardiology clinic, where I help men and women manage complex risk factors for heart disease. I also help women address hypertension disorders of pregnancy and help patients with cancer manage cardiotoxicity.
A woman came to my clinic for a second opinion on shortness of breath. She previously received diagnoses related to asthma and anxiety. We discovered she was experiencing heart failure. Medical therapy has significantly improved her quality of life, and she helps organize events to raise awareness about heart health.
I have always been interested in cardiovascular research, and during my internal medicine residency at UW Health in Madison, I developed an interest in translating research into clinical care to lower population risk of cardiovascular events.
I have served on the American Society for Preventive Cardiology Board of Directors and on guideline-writing committees for other professional societies.
Jane E. Schauer, MD ’93, PhD ’90 (PG ’96, ’99)
As a non-invasive cardiologist at the Presbyterian Heart Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I see patients with all types of coronary artery diseases and risk factors.
One patient stands out due to his end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy despite having no previous coronary disease. He was not a candidate for intervention or surgery, so I discussed medical management and palliative care with him and his family. He responded well to medications. My role often includes difficult, end-of-life discussions and continued support for patients and families. The trust they place in me is something I cherish.
I chose cardiology due to my family history of premature death from coronary artery disease. My father died from a heart attack at age 51. He always wanted me to go to medical school, but I had become a neonatal intensive care nurse. Subsequently, at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, I earned medical and doctoral degrees and completed an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship. I am a Badger at heart!
For the American College of Cardiology, I have served as governor of the New Mexico Chapter and as the college’s chair of the board and secretary. I participate in the New Mexico Chapter of Women in Cardiology.
Laurie Lapp is the 2026-2027 Chair of the American Medical Association Resident and Fellow Section and the Junior Fellow Legislative Chair for the American College of Obstetrician-Gynecologists, District IV. She is an obstetrics and gynecology resident at the University of South Carolina.
Taylor Cesarz, an assistant professor in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), was honored by the UW Health Clinical Simulation Program for her leadership and enthusiasm as an emerging simulation educator. An emergency physician, Cesarz completed the UW Health program’s Simulation Facilitation and Debriefing Courses. During a fellowship, Cesarz facilitated and led simulation sessions for SMPH emergency medicine residents and faculty members. Participants lauded her creativity and organization in developing the curricula and experiences.
Brian Kroll, a physician at the Richland Hospital and Clinics in Richland Center, Wisconsin, completed the Specialty Training at Rural Sites–Rheumatology (STARS–R) mini-fellowship. This advanced training in musculoskeletal ultrasound will allow Kroll to perform joint assessments and injections for patients in Richland Center and the surrounding area. The innovative STARS-R program was co-designed by physicians at the Richland Hospital and Clinics and SMPH, with support from the school’s Orion Initiative.
Matthew Larson became the faculty leader of SMPH’s Clinical Research Imaging Core in late 2025. After completing his medical degree and postgraduate training at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health, he became an assistant professor in the school’s Department of Radiology in 2024. An associate program director for the Nuclear Medicine Residency Program, he is part of the Sections of Neuroradiology, and Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging.
David Leinweber, an assistant professor in the SMPH Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, was named the associate program director of the department’s Addiction Medicine Fellowship. He completed that fellowship following a family medicine residency in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
Jake Zadra received Edgewood University’s 2025 Promise Award, which recognizes alumni, age 40 or younger, who are emerging leaders and have achieved a high level of success through professional accomplishments and service to their alma mater or community. He practices at Madison Emergency Physicians and is the vice chief of staff and medical director at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital — Janesville.
Jeffrey Jensen received a Career Development Award from the Lung Cancer Initiative for his study titled Attacking Non‑canonical PRAME Epitopes Using Artificial Intelligence-Generated Polypeptides. He practices medical oncology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alexander Milsap, clinical assistant professor, SMPH Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, was appointed medical director of inpatient medicine at UW Health East Madison Hospital.
Hannah Bergman, a pediatric cleft and craniofacial surgeon at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, is organizing the 100 Cleft Portraits exhibition to share photos of individuals born with facial differences. Katie Manning is the exhibition’s artist, trauma coach, and creator. The exhibit will travel to 12 major children’s hospitals and cleft centers in summer 2026, shifting the lens from “defect needing repair” to human experience, beauty of diversity, hope, and connection. Among other locations, it will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan (organized by Anna Carlson, MD ’14), and Madison, Wisconsin (August 20 and 21 at the Pyle Center, UW–Madison). Watch social media for updates.
Hannah Raynor received the 2024-2025 Excellence in Teaching Award from Idaho WWAMI, a partnership between the University of Washington School of Medicine and the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho. The award nomination was submitted by a medical student, making the honor especially meaningful. Raynor is a clinical assistant professor in the University of Washington Department of Family Medicine.
Peter Kleinschmidt, associate professor of medicine, SMPH, was recently selected to join the Fellows of the American Medical Informatics Association Applied Informatics Recognition Program. Several affiliate faculty members also were recognized.
Daniel Shapiro was awarded the Vilas Faculty Early-Career Investigator Award, which is granted to UW–Madison faculty members in approximately the first 10 years of their careers to recognize research excellence. Shapiro received funding for his kidney cancer research program.
Anne Getzin, a family medicine physician at Aurora Healthcare in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was appointed in April 2025 as medical director of sustainability to lead clinical and educational efforts in health care sustainability, climate resilience, and planetary health at Advocate Health. She earned her medical degree in SMPH’s Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health Program and completed her residency in the Aurora Family Medicine Residency Program.
Matthew Lee received the Foundation Award from the Society for Advanced Body Imaging for his study, “AI-Derived CT Muscle Attenuation is a Stronger Predictor of Mortality Risk than Muscle Area in a Large Adult Population with Age and Sex-Specific Variation.” He is an assistant professor in the SMPH Department of Radiology.
Kyle McCarty started with the Green Bay Packers in 2024 as an emergency medicine physician. He previously served as a National Football League airway management physician. McCarty is a board-certified emergency medicine physician in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Kathryn Miller, associate professor in the SMPH Department of Medicine, was elected for a three-year term as a faculty director on the UW Medical Foundation Board of Directors.
Ryan Woods will be inducted as a Fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association during its 2026 conference. He is an associate professor in the SMPH Department of Radiology.
Dana Resop, a clinical associate professor in the SMPH BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, was recognized by the UW Health Clinical Simulation Program with the Simulationist Spotlight Award for her exceptional commitment to teaching and innovation in ultrasound education. She has developed hands-on learning sessions that are welcoming for learners of all levels.
Kevin Wasko received the 2025 Forward Award from the Layton Rikkers Surgical Society. The award honors Wasko’s outstanding contributions as a surgeon, educator, and leader in Wisconsin and beyond. He completed his general surgery residency at UW Health. Now a clinical adjunct professor and co-director of the Marquette Physician Assistant Program, he continues to mentor residents in the UW Health program’s rural surgery track. A pioneer in bariatric surgery, he champions quality improvement and insurance coverage for patients statewide and serves in leadership roles with several organizations.
Randy Krszjzaniek, a family medicine physician at SSM Health Dean Medical Group – Baraboo, received the Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award in November 2025. It honors current or former academic faculty members who have inspired their former students to “create an organization which has demonstrably conferred a benefit on the community at large,” among other criteria. Krszjzaniek was nominated by Hans Elzinga, MD (PG ’99).
Rolf Lulloff is the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s 2026 Superhero of Medicine. The annual award recognizes a Wisconsin physician who lives out the foundation’s mission to an exemplary degree, going above and beyond to improve the health of their patients and/or community, and is involved in a program of the foundation or a project supported by the foundation. Lulloff is credited for his leadership and dedication for the people of Green Bay and Wisconsin through the Brain Center of Green Bay, which he co-founded.
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That page includes a WMAA-curated Goodreads list featuring the diverse voices and expertise of UW School of Medicine and Public Health graduates. To have your book added to the list, please email WMAA or call 608-263-4915.
