Dr. David Tillman, associate professor of emergency medicine, has been named Associate Dean for MD Admissions for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, effective June 17, 2024.
In this role, Tillman will lead the school’s recruitment and admissions efforts for its Doctor of Medicine (MD) program, with a vision for attracting a class of medical students with outstanding potential. In addition to his new role at the school level, Tillman will continue to serve as an emergency medicine and Med Flight physician with the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine.
Tillman has demonstrated exemplary service and leadership throughout his tenure in the department. As the department’s Director of Medical Student Education and Education Fellowship Director in the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine, he has been instrumental in strategic planning for medical student advising and emergency medicine education. His efforts have led to the development of a highly successful and tailored student advising system. Tillman’s ability to align initiatives, team roles, and resources with a unified vision uniquely positions him to lead the Office of MD Admissions effectively.
“While Dr. Tillman’s leadership transformation has been a joy to witness, his genuine commitment to others has been the constant underlying his success,” says Dr. Mary Westergaard, former vice chair of education at the Department of Emergency Medicine. “I can think of no better steward for the admissions process for UW’s MD program than Dr. Tillman.”
Since joining the Department of Emergency Medicine, Tillman has elevated emergency medicine to one of the most sought-after specialties at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. He was pivotal in advancing the emergency medicine curriculum and clinical experience for a diverse body of students. His leadership roles have included membership on the ForWard Curriculum Steering Committee, the Statewide Campus Direction Committee, and the Acute Care Block Design Team. He also led the Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG), fostering student interest in emergency medicine.
Nationally, Tillman has been a pioneer in establishing advising standards for medical students preparing to apply for emergency medicine residency programs. Serving on the Executive Committee of Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine, an academy of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM), and leading the Advising Students Committee in Emergency Medicine Consult Service, he has shaped critical conversations on medical education challenges. His presentations and publications have addressed key issues from learners’ perspectives, emphasizing student success, equity, and process improvement.
Tillman’s contributions to medical education have been recognized with the SAEM Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine 2021 Young Educator Award. In 2024, he will be inducted in the Gold Humanism Honor Society, signaling his excellence and contributions to patient-centered care and learner-focused education.
Tillman graduated with a bachelor of science degree in neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2007 and earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2012. He completed his emergency medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, serving as Chief Resident. Further honing his expertise, he completed a fellowship in undergraduate medical education in emergency medicine at UW before joining the faculty in 2016.
In a memo to faculty, staff, and students, members of the school’s leadership team expressed their confidence in Tillman’s vision for recruiting a talented class of students with exceptional promise and the positive impact he will bring as the Associate Dean for MD Admissions.