Welcome to the UW–Madison Department of Surgery, one of the leading surgical programs in the nation, excelling in patient care, surgical education, and surgical research. We are composed of more than 130 full-time faculty across 10 divisions and nearly 200 additional staff who support our mission.
A Perennial Top Tier Research Department!
Our surgeons perform almost 20,000 operations per year for pediatric and adult patients in the specialties of acute care and regional general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, endocrine surgery, minimally invasive surgery, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, surgical oncology, transplant surgery, and vascular surgery.
Training the next generation of surgeons and clinician-scientists is integral in our department, with more than 100 residents and fellows being trained each year in three residencies and eight different surgical specialty fellowship training programs.
The Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery transitioned to a separate department, effective July 1, 2025. Its new department website can be found HERE.
Resident Experience
Wondering what it’s like to be a resident at Wisconsin Surgery? Visit our Resident Experience page.
Wisconsin Surgery: By the Numbers
Exceptional People. Extraordinary Results.
Moving Surgery Forward.
The Department of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin provides comprehensive educational experiences, groundbreaking research and superb patient care.
UW Surgery Latest News
Wisconsin Surgery Research Roundup: December 2025
Wisconsin Department of Surgery members engage in remarkable research that yields many impactful publications every month. We’re highlighting several of these publications monthly to showcase the diversity of research in the department; see selections from …
Murtaza Lab Receives 2025 Badger Challenge Scholar Grant
The lab of Division of Surgical Oncology Associate Professor Dr. Muhammed Murtaza is committed to identifying and developing ways to diagnose cancer early, when more patients can be cured. Murtaza, who is also the Director …
Project led by Dr. Brigitte Smith Awarded $1.1 Million Grant from AMA
A team led by Dr. Brigitte Smith, an associate professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery and the Department of Surgery’s Vice Chair of Education, has been selected as one of 11 teams to receive …
Carchman Lab Receives Funding to Study How Precancerous Lesions Develop into Anal Cancer
Anal cancers often develop from precancerous lesions called anal dysplasia. While evidence suggests that treating these lesions can prevent the development of anal cancer, researchers still don’t understand exactly how and why a lesion changes …
Wisconsin Surgery Research Roundup: November 2025
Wisconsin Department of Surgery members engage in remarkable research that yields many impactful publications every month. We’re highlighting several of these publications monthly to showcase the diversity of research in the department; see selections from …
View this profile on Instagram
Groundbreaking Kidney Transplant Clinical Trial
Kidney transplant patients are embracing a new chapter of life, thanks to a groundbreaking clinical trial that eliminates the need for a lifelong regimen of anti-rejection drugs, which can cause serious side effects.
Social Impact, Belonging & Well-Being
Learn about the diversity, equity, inclusion, and well-being resources in the Department of Surgery.
Information For
Educational Opportunities
Our online surgery Grand Rounds are offered each year, September through May, for free CE credit with self-assessment.
The GlovesOn goal is to educate the region’s surgeons on techniques available at UW Health to expand and enhance their surgical practice.
Our doctors are available to speak on a variety of surgery topics for your monthly or weekly journal clubs, case conferences, grand rounds and tumor boards.
The UW Health Clinical Simulation Program provides robust and realistic learning opportunities to prepare health care professionals for actual patient care situations. The center offers educational opportunities for students, faculty and staff from UW Health, the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, departments across UW-Madison and the community.