Carlee Blakemore, MD (PGY-2)

The first time I set foot in Wisconsin was the day I got off the plane with my 7-month-old daughter, knowing that this would be our home for at least the next three years.

My husband and I wanted to move to Madison to provide a better life for our daughter than we could afford where we were from in California, and we wanted to settle in a family-friendly community where we could see ourselves for many years. Ever since my interview day, I have been nothing but impressed by both the UW program and everything the surrounding community has to offer. The warmth and openness with which my family and I were received by the UW residents and faculty was more than I could have hoped for in our first few weeks of moving to Wisconsin. The residents here are so close, and faculty are welcoming and approachable. It was important to me to have a program that celebrated and supported our families and relationships outside of residency, and that is most certainly true here. I personally feel that all of the residents and faculty I have had the honor of working with are invested in both my education and training as well as my and my family’s well-being. Many programs say that they are dedicated to residents’ well-being; however, even in just my short time here at UW, that commitment has been demonstrated to me time and time again, and I believe really does lie at the core of UW’s values.Outside of work, my family and I are absolutely in love with Madison. We love the outdoors and there is no shortage of gorgeous hiking trails and lakefront exploring, all within minutes of our home. We are obsessed with the zoo, the arboretum, the museums, and the Madison food scene. There might actually be too much to do, if that’s possible, and it is all affordable, accessible, and family-friendly. Ultimately, I am so happy that I chose UW-Madison for my training, and my family and I are looking forward to all the future adventures Madison has to offer!