Ciara Barclay-Buchanan, MD, CPE, was one of seven faculty at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health to be inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society, one of the highest honors in academic medicine, at a ceremony on April 7, 2026.
Founded in 1902, Alpha Omega Alpha is the nation’s only medical honor society recognizing physicians for excellence in scholarship, leadership, professionalism and service. Election is a lifelong distinction that reflects a sustained commitment to academic medicine and the art of healing.
Barclay-Buchanan is the chief medical officer of University Hospital at UW Health and an associate professor in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Her election reflects a career dedicated to exceptional patient care, medical education and operational leadership.
“Dr. Barclay-Buchanan embodies the ideals of Alpha Omega Alpha through her vision, humanism and commitment to improving care,” said Dr. Manish N. Shah, professor and chair of emergency medicine. “Her work is redefining what effective leadership looks like in modern health systems.”
Since joining the department in 2015, she has held key roles, including vice chair of clinical operations and section chief for emergency medicine at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
In 2023, Barclay-Buchanan was named chief medical officer for University Hospital, a Level I trauma center and regional referral hub for complex, specialized care. The academic medical center is consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the United States. In this role, she integrates clinical services, medical practice and education across the organization, leading efforts to improve patient flow, safety and care coordination.
Barclay-Buchanan’s work is grounded in compassionate care that centers patient dignity. Her “one team” philosophy emphasizes that every team member plays a vital role in delivering high-quality care and improving access and the patient experience, and she has led efforts to identify bias in health systems and improve care for medically underserved patients at critical points across the health continuum.
Barclay-Buchanan is also a dedicated educator who has trained and mentored physicians at every stage of their careers, including in her prior roles as medical school clerkship director and associate residency program director. She continues to teach clinically while overseeing graduate medical education at University Hospital and serves as an oral board examiner and content developer for the American Board of Emergency Medicine, helping shape certification standards nationally. Her academic work spans peer-reviewed research, textbook authorship and national education initiatives.
Barclay-Buchanan has previously been recognized with a UW Health Clinical Leadership Physician Excellence Award and the department’s Ripple Award for Excellence in Leadership and Service.
“I am honored to be inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha and grateful to be nominated by colleagues I respect and admire,” she said. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside mentors, peers, trainees and interdisciplinary colleagues who continually inspire me to improve the care we provide and the environment in which we work.”
Alpha Omega Alpha election places Barclay-Buchanan among a distinguished group of physician leaders nationwide and reflects the department’s commitment to advancing clinical care, education and research.