Allison Weisnicht, MD
PGY4, 1st year fellow
Hometown: Shawano, WI
Undergrad college: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Undergrad major: Microbiology
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Residency: Texas Children’s Hospital/Baylor College of Medicine
Research interests: Leukemias, immunotherapy, developmental therapeutics, improving quality of life while undergoing treatment
Current post-fellowship plans: Academic medicine
Family/dependent beings: 3-year-old golden retriever named Lucy
Hobbies: Running/sports, traveling, being outdoors, baking, spending time with my nephews
What’s your favorite thing about Madison: Collegial atmosphere, endless research opportunities, Midwest friendliness, four seasons
Interesting fact: My favorite vacation was a mother-daughter trip to Ireland
Non-medical dream job: Science teacher
Dream travel destination: Italy (I have already been, but dream of going back)
Favorite food: Chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream
Tess Woodring, MD
PGY4, 1st year fellow
Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
Undergrad college: Dartmouth College
Undergrad majors: Comparative Literature & Biology
Medical School: University of Illinois
Residency: University of Wisconsin
Research interests: Immunotherapy, opportunistic infections, bioinformatics
Current post-fellowship plans: I want to be a physician-scientist, involved in clinical care, research, and teaching. I hope to help develop new immunotherapies for our pediatric oncology patients.
Family: My husband Calvin and I have 3 sons: Theo, John, and Bobby.
Hobbies: I love exploring nature with my family and helping my boys water our community garden plot. I also enjoy reading (favorite book of the moment: Kristin Lavransdatter, a novel about medieval Norway) and making homemade food like bread, pizza, and ice cream.
What’s your favorite thing about the program/Madison? The dedication and thoughtfulness of our hem/onc team made a huge impression on me as a resident, and I had no doubt that I wanted to continue my training at UW. Madison is also a beautiful place to raise a family, with good schools and an amazing park system.
Interesting fact: I once traveled 18 hours on the cargo deck of a commercial fishing boat to visit my boyfriend (now husband) when he was living on a Pacific island.
Non-medical dream job: Wildlife rehabilitator
Dream travel destination: Zion National Park
Favorite food: Can’t beat a peanut butter & banana sandwich!
Joseph (Joe) Presson, DO
PGY6, 3rd year fellow
From: My dad was an Air Force officer, so I’m from nowhere and everywhere!
Med school: Des Moines University
Residency: University of South Dakota
Research interests: Social determinants of health, Palliative care, and survivorship
Current post-fellowship plans: I love taking care of patients and their families, and also mentoring those with less experience, so I see myself as an attending at a teaching institution.
Family/Pets: My wife and I have four hoodlums…I mean “blessings”, aged 8, 6, 4, and 2. We also have a grumpy old miniature poodle named Jeeves.
Hobbies: I love baking, singing, playing the piano, living room dance parties, and catching the latest Pixar/Marvel movie with the kids.
What’s your favorite thing about our fellowship program? About Madison?: The warmth and collegiality of the staff and faculty shined through even during the Zoom interview. Madison is a vibrant, active community brimming with restaurants, outdoor activities, used bookshops, and so many other things to immerse ourselves in.
Interesting fact: My first bachelor’s degree was a double major in biblical studies and intercultural studies, and I did a cross-cultural internship in southern India for two months.
Non-medical dream job: Taste tester at a chocolate factory! Or a pastry chef.
Dream travel destination: I would love to take an extended tour of Europe…see the land of my favorite BBC shows (and ancestry). Enjoy legitimate fish and chips on Baker street, purchase an authentic Irish wool sweater, walk the lavender fields of Provence, bask in the sun of the Italian Riviera, and meet close friends in western Germany.
Favorite food: Dessert! Salted caramel, chocolate, creme brulee, sticky toffee pudding, any form of ice cream, tiramisu! Sugar is magic! 🙂
Katie Voelz, MD
PGY6, 3rd year fellow
From: Jackson, WI
Med school: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency: University at Buffalo (Oishei Children’s)
Research interests: Immunotherapy, Leukemia/Lymphoma but keeping an open mind
Current post-fellowship plans: TBD
Family/Pets: I have a 3 year old yellow lab named Rylie.
Hobbies: hiking, attempting new InstaPot recipes, spending way too many hours at the dog park, Wisconsin sports (of course!)
What’s your favorite thing about our fellowship program? About Madison?: The warmth and collegiality of the staff and faculty shined through even during the Zoom interview. Madison is a vibrant, active community brimming with restaurants, outdoor activities, used bookshops, and so many other things to immerse ourselves in.
Non-medical dream job: Kindergarten teacher
Dream travel destination: Anywhere with a beach, Bali, Maldives
Favorite food: Avocado (in any form)