Mary Westergaard, MD

LEADERSHIP POSITIONS HELD

Interim Associate Vice Chair for Faculty Development

Clinical information Publications

EDUCATION

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency: Denver Health Medical Center – Chief Resident

Dr. Mary Westergaard is the founding and immediate past Vice Chair of Education for the BerbeeWalsh Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UW SMPH). After earning her medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Westergaard completed her emergency medicine residency training at Denver Health Medical Center, where she also served as chief resident. Upon graduation, she moved back to Baltimore to join the faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Department of Emergency Medicine where she cultivated an interest in resident and medical student education. Dr. Westergaard subsequently moved to Madison to join the rapidly expanding emergency medicine residency program at the University of Wisconsin. She served as Director of Medical Student Education and then Residency Program Director before being appointed Vice Chair of Education in 2018. In 2024, Dr. Westergaard transitioned away from this role to engage in global emergency medicine work in East Africa with her family.

Dr. Westergaard’s professional interests include women in medicine and diversity, equity and inclusion. After serving nationally as Chair of the American Association of Women in Emergency Medicine, she founded and chairs the inaugural Group on Women in Medicine and Science at the UW SMPH. Having led the Graduate Medical Education (GME) Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Westergaard served as founding co-chair for both the UW GME Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Subcommittee and the Department of Emergency Medicine Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Dr. Westergaard also currently serves on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation.

In 2022, Dr. Westergaard was appointed as one of five House Mentors for SMPH’s Academic and Career Advising Program. In her role as McPherson House Mentor, Dr. Westergaard works to promote personal and professional development and academic success across the medical school curriculum for a cohort of UW SMPH students. A dedicated teacher and mentor, Dr. Westergaard was honored with the 2023 Clinical Educator Excellence Award from UW Health and the 2024 Clinical Science Teaching Award from the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association.

Additional areas of interest for Dr. Westergaard include academic promotions and physician mentorship and coaching. She is married with three school-aged children and two pet rabbits. In her free time, Dr. Westergaard enjoys playing mandolin, sailing with Hoofers and backcountry camping.

Member, AΩA Honor Medical Society