Postgraduate primary care physician assistant residency program | veterans affairs

"Deciding to complete this residency program was one of the best decisions I could have made for myself and my career. Throughout the yearlong residency I gained not only medical

knowledge, but a huge confidence boost in my clinical decision-making skills too. Rotating through the multiple specialties available was extremely helpful in the primary care setting to

better understand the appropriateness and necessity of consults. Also, further training in these specialties can allow a primary care provider to practice at the top of their scope. The

knowledge I learned and connections I made during this residency program truly set me up for success. I am now a full-time employee at the VA, and I couldn’t be happier!"  — Kelly

Aukamp, PA-C Class of 2023 "My experience as a primary care resident was invaluable because of the type and quality of clinical rotations available. Coming out of PA school, I was

unsure what I wanted to specialize in or if I wanted to specialize at all. This residency gave me the opportunity to try so many different specialties while also giving me the opportunity to

provide excellent primary care to our Veterans. The ability to pick an elective rotation brought about me finding a job at the VA! I got to work with a lot of passionate providers and gave

myself another year to learn while getting paid for it. I can adamantly say that this extra year of learning made me a better provider to my patients. Additionally, I think any person will

be hard-pressed to find another physician assistant residency program that offers the diversity of specialties offered at the Milwaukee VA." — Robin Koopmeiners, PA-C Class of 2022

"The Milwaukee VA Primary Care Residency Program was one of the best choices I made as a new grad starting my career as a PA. The wide breadth of clinics that I rotated through

including Urology, GYN, PMR, Psych, Pain Management, Neurology and Neurosurgery as well as inpatient Hospital Medicine, Cardiology, Infectious Disease and the ER gave me a deeper

understanding of various disease processes and organ systems in specialties I may never have had the opportunity to see if not for this residency. In each of these settings, I was able to

practice the nuances of each specialty and then bring this back to the general practice longitudinal clinic to provide better care for my patients. I continue to utilize this knowledge and

skillset in my practice today. "In addition, the VA is an incredible system that I am so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of, and I would encourage everyone to spend time in

a VA system if given the chance. From the amazing providers I was able to work alongside to the patients I had the pleasure of taking care of, my time at the VA will forever hold a special

place in my heart." — Tori Rehfuss, PA-C Class of 2022 "The VA Primary Care Residency was the best decision I could have made as a new graduate PA. The time, investment and

learning opportunities that it provides are invaluable. Krista and the collaborating physicians you work with are so dedicated to your experience and provide incredible support as you grow

into your new role. It provides real hands-on experience in multiple settings, helping mold you into a provider. Working with a multidisciplinary team is so beneficial in understanding how

the health care system functions and how to best serve your patients. Could not recommend more." — Emily Wieting, PA-C Class of 2016