Jennifer McVean, MD, completed her fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology and diabetes at the University of Wisconsin in 2008. She is currently senior director of medical affairs at Medtronic Diabetes.
What is your favorite part of your job? Helping improve the lives of people with diabetes around the world through the use of technology.
What skills or knowledge did you learn through the UW Pediatrics Endocrinology & Diabetes Fellowship that you found most useful in your career? While I was adequately prepared by my fellowship from a medical standpoint to tackle my first role after fellowship as the first and only (at the time) pediatric endocrinologist in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, the most useful skills I learned during fellowship were compromise, always seeking to understand — and the importance of — self-reliance, and teamwork.
What advice would you give your fellow self? Keep your mind open and take every opportunity to learn that you can!
Are there any courses, professors, or opportunities from your time at the UW that have had a lasting influence? Dr. David Allen has had a lasting influence on my career. There are many lessons I learned from him and my time at the UW, including thoughtful and thorough investigation, patience, resilience, and independence. Most of all, he demonstrated a true love of learning and teaching.
What’s your best memory from your time in Madison? The birth of our oldest son, Joey. He is now a senior in high school and hopes to return to Madison in fall 2026 as a freshman at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.