Each academic year, we welcome new chief residents who will provide administrative, clinical and educational leadership for the residency program and help the new intern class integrate into residency and new environs. Megan Barthels, MD, Mitch Butterbaugh, MD, and Gregory Raupp, MD, MSW, will serve as co-chief residents of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program for the 2025-26 academic year.
Read on for a Q&A with Drs. Barthels, Butterbaugh, and Raupp!
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Q: What are you most looking forward to in being a chief resident?
Barthels: I am looking forward to serving, leading, and working to improve the program over the next year. I am excited to learn from my co-residents and teach more junior residents and medical students about the field of emergency medicine. It truly is a privilege to be in position that is well equipped to contribute to the growth of each resident on an individual level and the program as a whole. I look forward to being actively involved in the recruitment process, resident scheduling, conference education, among many other things.
Butterbaugh: I am most looking forward to the opportunity to help build upon and improve our phenomenal residency program!
Raupp: Turns out residency training is quite difficult. My goal is to help my fellow residents thrive through it and leave things a little better for the next folks.
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Q: What are some ways as chief residents that you support your co-residents?
Barthels: As chief residents, we have a unique opportunity to serve as a direct channel of communication between the residents, program leadership, and the department leadership. We encourage residents to provide feedback to us about issues that relate to clinical work, education, or other issues for the chief residents to discuss in our weekly meetings with the residency leadership. Residents are always able to directly express their concerns, but this format allows for timely communication directly with the program leadership to ensure that residents get concerns addressed quickly. We also trained to provide peer support for our co-residents so that we are better able to support them during emotionally taxing cases, difficult interpersonal interactions, or stressful life situations.
Butterbaugh: We act as the megaphone advocating for residents to the leadership teams. We directly act to support residents through difficult cases. This year, we are working to further develop the wellness programs within the residency and garner community.
Raupp: There are a lot of answers to this question! It starts as soon as new interns arrive with orientation. We also support our peers after challenging outcomes via the CARESTeam, protect budget funding for resident birthday gifts and off-service pick-me-ups, and plan community-building events like the annual retreat, monthly hangouts, and even big outings like paintball. (You can tell who lost by the hematomas.)
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Q: What is one thing you hope your co-residents will learn from you?
Barthels: I hope other residents learn the importance of teamwork and how to build each other up. Each person in the ED has an integral role, and if we can respect each individual and foster that collaboration, it will truly lead to exceptional patient care. Emergency medicine is a difficult field; we are all here to work as a team, and I believe that part of that needs to be building each other up and being there to support each other through the difficult times.
Butterbaugh: A handful of killer dad jokes.
Raupp: Life is a juggling act — some things are rubber, but some are glass. Know which is which, and don’t drop things that break.
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Q: Is there any advice you would give applicants for interviewing/ranking?
Barthels: Find a place where you will feel supported through the ups and downs of your residency. This can difficult to discern in a short amount of time but trust your instincts. Also ensure that the physical location is a place where you can find fulfillment outside of work as well; you need to find peace and joy outside of work to recharge. The foundational education that each program offers is very similar across programs; try and find a location and community that resonates with you and provides you with a support system.
Butterbaugh: Trust your gut. The most important part of residency is surrounding yourself with people that will support you through the grind!
Raupp: Ask yourself two questions questions about any residency: Will it get you to your next career step, and will you enjoy your time there? UW’s support for residents opens doors to challenging fellowship matches, uncommon training paths, or community jobs in competitive markets. Along the way, they also support the human resident to enjoy Madison and the surrounding area and build bonds with their colleagues, whether they be nurses, techs, APPs, attendings, or the various other staff who support us.
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Q: Do you have a faculty mentor(s)? How do they support you as a resident?
Barthels: Faculty in The Department of Emergency Medicine (DEM) are always there to support you no matter what your interests are! As a resident, my specifics interests are Prehospital Medicine, Medical Education, and Wilderness Medicine. Dr. Michael Lohmeier, lead medical director for ground EMS, has been my most influential mentor; he has done an incredible job of incorporating me into his existing endeavors and helping me discern future career paths. While not technically a mentor, Dr. Joe-Ann Moser, assistant residency program director, serves as my coach in our resident coaching program and has been an invaluable resource.
Butterbaugh: The UW has a lot of niche faculty with strong passions for their expertise. Personally, I spend a lot of time with the prehospital division, which is full of welcoming and engaging faculty.
Raupp: Several faculty have stepped up and mentored me, both formally and informally. Dr. Nicholas Genthe has mentored me since I was a medical student applying to the UW emergency medicine residency; he is very candid about his career path, what worked, and what might work for others. Dr. Michael Lohmeier is mentoring me on a research project; he is very resourceful and helps drive things forward, sometimes including me!
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Q: Living in Madison: great or the greatest?
Barthels: Madison is an amazing place to call home! Whether it’s paddling on the lakes, biking on the abundant bike paths, or hiking on a nearby trail there are plenty of outdoor activities to fill my cup.
Butterbaugh: Madison is a great city! Very friendly people. A very surprising number of great restaurants. Plenty of activities.
Raupp: The greatest! I’ve lived in a few other places — some great, some not-so-great. I have lived in Madison as a college student, young professional, and now having a young family. It is unbeaten at them all.