With the celebration of its first-ever Graduate Medical Education Match Day, ThedaCare recently marked a significant milestone. The day marked the official welcoming of the inaugural class of resident internal medicine physicians who will train, care for patients and build their careers within the communities ThedaCare serves.
“This moment represents more than an academic achievement. It reflects a long-term commitment to the future health and vitality of the region,” said Lynn Detterman, President of the North Region of Froedtert ThedaCare. “This first Match Day is the culmination of years of intentional planning and collaboration to build a sustainable physician workforce for the future.”
Celebratory Day
Match Day is an annual event held nationally on the third Friday of March. It’s the time when most soon-to-be graduating medical students — and many physicians in practice — learn where they will complete their residency training. This experience is the hands-on, post-graduate clinical education that shapes the next generation of physicians.
The 15 future ThedaCare internal medicine residents were selected from nearly 2,000 applicants. They completed several interviews with ThedaCare physicians and allied health professionals. The residents were ranked based on their accomplishments, interpersonal skills and fit for the health care organization.
Important Addition
The Graduate Medical Education (GME) program received accreditation in September 2025 and will welcome its first internal medicine residents on July 1, 2026.
“The GME program is a strategic investment in a more resilient and accessible health care system,” Detterman said. “We’re proud to welcome this cohort group of residents who will serve an essential role in caring for patients today and leading the future of medicine. Over time, the GME program will play a critical role in expanding access to care, strengthening rural health and ensuring more physicians choose to live and practice in Wisconsin.”
Addressing Physician Shortages
ThedaCare is one of the first health systems in northeast and central Wisconsin to offer an accredited GME program. It was created, in part, to help address physician shortages across Wisconsin, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
Data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association shows Wisconsin needs between 2,000 and 4,000 additional physicians by 2035. Studies show nearly 55% of individuals who complete residency training remain in the community in which they train to practice medicine. Further, 70% of physicians stay in the state when they complete both their GME and residency in the same state.
“By establishing a locally based program, ThedaCare is strengthening the pipeline of physicians who understand — and are committed to — the unique needs of the region,” said Dr. Paul Bergl, Internal Medicine Residency Program Director. “By training physicians here at ThedaCare, we are investing directly in the long-term health of our patients, our communities and our organization.”
Froedtert ThedaCare is working in concert with the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals for the GME program to advance knowledge and train future medical professionals. The effort strategically supports the health system’s mission of advancing the health of the communities through excellence and discovery.
Community Engagement
In 2025, Froedtert ThedaCare announced the development of townhouses for future medical residents. The on-campus housing for residents and fellows can allow residents to focus more on training, while caring for patients and families.
The property is adjacent to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah at the corner of First Street and East Forest Avenue on Doty Island in Neenah. Construction of approximately 56 townhouses is underway.
The first phase of the project consists of two buildings and 28 units on the west half of the property. Construction began in October 2025 and is expected to be complete in summer 2026.
The second phase is composed of two buildings and 28 units on the east half of the property, with construction set to begin in fall 2026. Plans call for 32 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom townhouses. Each unit would have an attached one- or two-car garage.
Chris Stenberg, MD, Vice President of Graduate Medical Education and Clinical Research for ThedaCare, anticipates what’s to come. “It’s really all about taking care of our community in the end, and whether that’s our community immediately around the hospital or our greater community now with ThedaCare and Froedtert ThedaCare, these residents are all going to be part of extending care into our community.”
