Dr. Sharon Weber, professor and Chair of the Division of Surgical Oncology, was named a 2026 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters Fellow. She is the third faculty member from the UW–Madison Department of Surgery to be inducted, following Drs. Tony D’Alessandro and Hans Sollinger.
“I am deeply honored to be named a 2026 Fellow of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, an institution that has championed the power of Wisconsin ideas for over 150 years,” Dr. Weber said. “Since its founding in 1870, the Academy has served as a vital intersection for discovery and civil discourse, and I am humbled to join a legacy dedicated to connecting people and ideas for a better world.”
The Wisconsin Academy Fellows Award recognizes educators, researchers, mentors, artists, and civic or business leaders from across Wisconsin who have made significant accomplishments in their fields and substantial contributions to the cultural life and welfare of the state and its people.
“To join a legacy of leaders dedicated to the welfare of our state is a profound privilege, especially as a native Wisconsinite, and I look forward to continuing the Academy’s tradition of connecting diverse disciplines to improve life for all Wisconsinites,” Dr. Weber said. “I would also like to thank Dr. Nikole Neidlinger for nominating me for this award.”
Dr. Weber is a leader in cancer care whose surgical precision and research breakthroughs are advancing the future of complex medical treatment. She attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison for her general surgery residency and completed her specialty training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, with dual fellowships in surgical oncology and hepatobiliary surgery. Dr. Weber’s research interests include mixed methods evaluation of risk factors for readmission using a systems engineering approach with a focus on the transition of care. In addition, she studies disparities of care for cancer patients with a focus on social determinants of health and barriers to care, with a particular interest in rural health cancer disparities.
The Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters creates opportunities for people to connect, learn and collaborate to improve life in Wisconsin. Its mission is to cultivate civil discourse, increase understanding and create common ground by connecting Wisconsin people and ideas.