Mary Ehlenbach, MD

Education

BA, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana
MD, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin
Residency, Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Professional Activities

Dr. Mary Ehlenbach is associate professor (CHS) in the Division of Hospital Medicine. She is the medical director of the Pediatric Complex Care Program and director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Department of Pediatrics. Ehlenbach’s professional interests include optimizing the health, well-being, and experience of care for children with medical complexity. In addition, she is committed to promoting an environment of inclusion, accessibility, equity, and anti-racism within the Department of Pediatrics. Ehlenbach was the inaugural recipient of the Paster Family Foundation Innovation award in 2018, was selected for and completed the UW Health Physician Leadership Development Program in 2019-21, and was named the initial recipient of the O’Connor Family Endowed Professorship in Pediatrics in 2021. From 2021-23 she served as an expert witness for the US Department of Justice in the case United States v Florida, which focused on unnecessary institutionalization of children with medical complexity in Florida. In 2024-27 Ehlenbach will be part of the APA Health Policy Scholars Program.

Clinical Interests

After nearly a decade as a pediatric hospitalist, Ehlenbach co-founded the Pediatric Complex Care Program in 2014 with Ryan Coller. She provides mentorship nationally for teams building complex care programs at their own institutions.

Research Interests

Ehlenbach’s research focuses on optimizing the health and well-being of children with medical complexity. She is keenly interested in advocacy to improve access to home- and community-based services for children with medical complexity in Wisconsin.