Samantha Busch is a medical student at the University of Wisconsin. She is a 2025 recipient of a STFM Foundation Medical Student Scholarship.

Samantha's Family Medicine Story

I am a 4th-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin in the Training and Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) Track. Originally from Blue Mounds, WI, I attended the University of Wisconsin as an undergraduate where I majored in biochemistry, with certificates in Biocore and Classical and Near Eastern Studies. During my time as an undergraduate, I was the co-founder and president of a student organization, Building Bases, whose mission was to provide direct support for families and children experiencing homelessness while also promoting educational events to raise awareness about the effects of systemic inequities and high rent prices across the nation.

After completing undergraduate studies, I served as an AmeriCorps Medicaid Outreach Specialist with the Dane County Department of Human Services and the Dane County Jail in downtown Madison. I worked directly with more than 250 individuals in homeless day shelters and jail to provide community outreach, food and Medicaid enrollment assistance, and healthcare education. After being witness to a seemingly never-ending struggle of individuals having difficulty obtaining everyday necessities, let alone the challenge of navigating the complex health system, I came to realize that the impact of poverty on individuals’ health must be recognized and addressed at each patient encounter.

I am a passionate family medicine advocate and has served in numerous family medicine leadership roles with her University of Wisconsin Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG), the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians—Foundation, Family Medicine Midwest (FMM) Conference Planning Committee, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) FMIG, and most recently on the Student Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Board of Directors. My leadership experiences have kindled an interest in academic medicine, where I hope to continue teaching and mentoring the next generation of medical students. I will use the STFM Foundation Medical Student Scholarship opportunity to attend the 2025 STFM Conference on Medical Student Education to re-energize my passion for medical education and begin to understand the diverse opportunities in academic medicine.

As a family physician, I hope to continue finding ways to bridge the gaps that persist in our medical system by providing culturally competent and full spectrum care in urban underserved areas. I am excited to begin a Family Medicine Residency in July 2025.

Contribute to the Creation of the Next STFM Story

Transforming the future of family medicine would not be possible without the generosity of countless STFM members and supporters. Through both member and departmental donations, the STFM Foundation is able to support the pipeline for academic family medicine. 

Help transform the future of academic family medicine by donating to the STFM Foundation. If you have questions about the STFM Foundation, contact Mindy Householder at (800) 274-7928 or mhouseholder@stfm.org.