The BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine is pleased to announce that Benjamin Schnapp, MD, MEd, has been appointed Program Director of the Emergency Medicine Residency Program, starting with the 2025–26 academic year.
The associate professor of emergency medicine brings to the role extensive leadership experience and a deep commitment to medical education. He previously served as Associate Program Director from 2016 to 2023 and currently leads the program’s evaluation and assessment efforts. His efforts have been pivotal in implementing competency-based assessment models, positioning UW among a select group of programs nationally leading this educational shift.
“I’m excited to bring my experience in medical education to strengthen our program and help shape the next generation of emergency medicine leaders,” Schnapp says.
He envisions a residency program that evolves with the changing demands of emergency care while remaining centered on individual resident needs. “One of my most important roles is to advocate for our residents and improve their experience, both in and outside the training environment.”
Schnapp emphasizes how teamwork is central to the department’s culture. In the ED and beyond, he values the perspectives of nurses, technicians, consultants, and prehospital providers. “The best leaders bring people together, listen to every viewpoint, and use that input to guide thoughtful, well-rounded decisions,” he explains.
His approach to teaching is similarly collaborative, focusing on helping residents think through their assessments and decision-making. “I love discussing with residents the reasoning behind their clinical choices and exploring how I might approach the same case to help them build on their knowledge.”
Schnapp acknowledges the challenges facing emergency medicine, including rising patient volumes, limited inpatient beds, and gaps in mental health resources. Despite these hurdles, he remains optimistic. “Emergency medicine is the coolest job out there,” he says. “Our role in residency is to help develop the skills, mindset, and habits needed for a lasting career. That begins with strong mentorship from our exceptional faculty and guiding residents on how to sustain their passion for the field.”
Beyond UW–Madison, Schnapp contributes to academic emergency medicine initiatives nationally through leadership roles with the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine and the Council of Residency Directors in Emergency Medicine, and as an Associate Editor for the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. He also leads a grant-funded project on resident clinical performance dashboards.
Dr. Schnapp earned his medical degree from the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, completed residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City where he was chief resident, and later completed a medical education fellowship at Northwestern and a Master of Education from the University of Cincinnati.
His appointment ensures a continued commitment to excellence and innovation in training future emergency medicine leaders at UW–Madison.