"Being involved with the educational process, whether it's working with medical students, nursing students, other learners or staff, we must never lose sight that what we do today affects the health care experience of patients for generations to come."
That's the word from Matthew J. Jansen, M.D., a Marshfield Clinic internal medicine physician, who was recently named the medical director for the Clinic's Division of Education. His appointment continues a path with several local connections that started decades ago.
Dr. Jansen is a native of Marathon City and received medical care at the Clinic as a child. He arrived in Marshfield years later as a third-year medical student from the University of Wisconsin Medical School. Following his medical school training, he continued in Marshfield as an internal medicine resident and in 1997 joined the Clinic's Internal Medicine staff.
"My training and experience as an internist have developed my skills for hopefully seeing the 'big picture' and working with a team-based approach," Dr. Jansen said. "Likewise, my experience as a program director for Internal Medicine Residency has taught me how to work in collaboration with multiple other groups in a system for a common goal."
Always interested in education, Dr. Jansen will serve as the Clinic's leader for its mission-related educational initiatives. He will partner with executive, system and division leadership to assure organizational commitment to education in accordance with the mission and strategic plan of Marshfield Clinic.
He will oversee a broad range of education programs and services, including the George E. Magnin Medical Library, graduate medical education (residency and fellowship programs) and the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine.
Keenly aware of Marshfield Clinic's 96-year history of serving patients across rural Wisconsin, Dr. Jansen noted that he believes strongly in the Clinic mission of providing high quality patient care, research and education.
"We have been devoted to some facet of medical education since 1926," Dr. Jansen reflected. "Physicians like Dr. George Magnin and Dr. Ben Lawton helped pave the way for all of us involved in training future providers."
Dr. Jansen is dedicated to the Clinic's ongoing commitment to training health care providers for rural-based communities and underserved areas. This includes expansion of student, residency and fellowship programs. Particularly important will be the placement of students and residents in even more rotations throughout the state.
"I truly believe that our resources here -- and that includes our dedicated staff and physicians -- make us unique," he said. "I consider us a gem in the state."
According to Marshfield Clinic President Brian Ewert, M.D., Dr. Jansen is ready to take on this newest challenge.
"Dr. Jansen brings the combination of heart and experience to the position," Dr. Ewert said. "As a UW medical student he maximized his time in Marshfield, and his commitment to medical education is long standing as shown through years of teaching and program directorship. In fact, he has already proven himself in strengthening our relationships with external education partners."
Dr. Jansen, his wife, Sue, and their two sons live in Marshfield.