Department of Surgery
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

100 Years of Wisconsin Surgery

The Wisconsin Department of Surgery is celebrating its centennial this year. Founded in 1924, the department has grown and transformed over the last century. Below are just some of the “Exceptional People. Extraordinary Results.” that have shaped our first 100 years:

Mohs Surgery changes the future of skin cancer treatment >>

Dr. Frederic Mohs (right) tends to a patient.

Women in the Department of Surgery throughout the years>> 

Dr. Maxine Bennett (center), the first female faculty member in the Department of Surgery, and her division faculty.

10 achievements that improved lives and moved health care forward >>

UW’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit was created in 1971 and was in use until 1989.

Heart surgery follow up 50 years later >>

Several surgeons assisted by nurses perform heart surgery.

History of the UW-Madison Department of Surgery >>

The Department of Surgery was formed when Wisconsin General Hospital was formed in 1924.

UW Solution transforms the field of transplantation >>

Belzer Lab left to right: Dr. James Southard, Robert Hoffman, Dr. Folkert Belzer, Karen Senzig

UW Health Transplant Center surpasses 20,000 organs transplanted >>

Dr. William Kisken (center) was the first UW Transplant Surgeon. In 1966, he was a part of the operative team that performed the first kidney transplant at UW.

Kidney recipient meets her living donor >>

Transplant surgery group from UW Health in September 1988. Pictured left to right, back to front: Neil Grieshop, Jon Moen, Jay Young, Maureen Muecke, James Fitzpatrick, Shabnam Zanganeh, Ben Vernon, Folkert Belzer, Hans Sollinger

Celebrating 10 Decades of Improving Lives and Moving Health Care Forward >>

A dozen or so medical personnel stand in an operating room performing surgery, surrounded by medical equipment. Photographer: Gary Schulz