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CURRICULUM VITAE

Cara C. O'Brien MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
Division of Medicine Geriatric and Palliative

OFFICE ADDRESS:
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226

EDUCATION:
09/2005 - 06/2009 B.A., Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
08/2010 - 05/2014 M.D., University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Peoria, IL

POSTGRADUATE TRAINING AND FELLOWSHIP APPOINTMENTS:
07/2014 - 06/2017 Resident, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
07/2017 - 06/2018 Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226

FACULTY APPOINTMENTS:
07/2018 - 12/31/2020 Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226
01/01/2021 - Present Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226

EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS:
07/2018 - Present Core Faculty, Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226
07/2020 - Present Associate Program Director, Medicine-Geriatrics Combined Residency Program, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226
07/2020 - Present Associate Program Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226
07/01/2021 - Present Core Faculty, Medicine, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Wauwatosa, WI 53226

HOSPITAL AND CLINICAL ADMINISTRATIVE APPOINTMENTS:
10/2018 - Present Director, Ambulatory Geriatrics, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 W. National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53295
05/05/2024 - Present Section Chief, Geriatrics, Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53295

HOSPITAL STAFF PRIVILEGES:
07/2018 - Present Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center, 5000 W National Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53295
07/2018 - Present Froedtert Hospital, 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53226

SPECIALTY BOARDS AND CERTIFICATION:
Board Certified
Issue DateExpiration
American Board of Internal Medicine
08/2017
08/2027
ABIM Geriatrics
2018
2028
   
Licensure
Number Issue DateExpiration
Wisconsin License
64832-20
11/03/2015
10/31/2026
    

AWARDS AND HONORS:
06/2009 Cum Laude Distinction, Northwestern University
10/2016 Professionalism Week Resident Recognition, The Medical College of Wisconsin
02/2018 Outstanding Medical Student Teaching Award, Ambulatory Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2020 - 06/2023 Kinetic3 Teaching Academy , Medical College of Wisconsin
02/2021 Outstanding Medical Student Teaching Award, Clinical Apprenticeship M2, Medical College of Wisconsin
04/2022 Spring 2022 Faculty Development Award, Medical College of Wisconsin
02/2024 2024 List of Top Doctors, Milwaukee Magazine
11/2024 - 10/2025 Women's Leadership Learning Collaborative, Center for Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
2024 2024 Edward J. Lennon Award Endowed Clinical Teaching Award, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2025 - Present FY26 Medical College of Wisconsin Leadership Academy., Medical College of Wisconsin

MEMBERSHIPS IN HONORARY AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:
01/2015 - 01/2016 American College of Physicians
08/2018 - Present American Geriatrics Society
04/2021 - Present Gerontological Society of America

EDITORSHIPS/EDITORIAL BOARDS/JOURNAL REVIEWS:
Editorial Board
05/2020 - Present Assessment Question Author, Aquifer Geriatrics Assessment, American Geriatrics Society

LOCAL/REGIONAL APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS:
05/2024 - Present Member, Clement J. Zablocki VAMC Dementia Steering Committee, Clement J. Zablocki VAMC
02/2025 - Present Member, VAMC Facility Flow Outpatient Services Committee, Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center

NATIONAL ELECTED/APPOINTED LEADERSHIP AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS:
05/03/2023 - 05/06/2023 Facilitator, American Geriatrics Society, Resident Activity Subcommittee, Quiz Bowl and Fun Stations
05/03/2023 - 05/06/2023 Facilitator, Resident Activity Subcommittee, Resident Poster Session, American Geriatrics Society
05/03/2023 - 05/06/2023 Facilitator, American Geriatrics Society, Resident Activity Subcommittee, Resident and Fellowship Breakfast and Fair
05/2023 - Present Member, Resident Activity Subcommittee, American Geriatrics Society

INVITED LECTURES/WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS:
Regional
O'Brien Cara, Spousal Caregiving in the Care Facility: Dr. Mary Cohan Geriatric Fellows Review, Wisconsin Association of Medical Directors Fall Conference, Madison WI, 10/04/2017
O'Brien Cara, Kieu Emily DPT, Urinary Incontinence Panel Discussion, Wisconsin Update in Geriatric Medicine, Lake Geneva, 09/26/2019
O'Brien Cara, Implicit Bias in Healthcare and Medical Education, Geriatric Didactics, 11/2020
O'Brien Cara, Malak Beth MPT, BCB-PMD, Urinary Incontinence in the Geriatric Population Panel Discussion, Wisconsin Update in Geriatric Medicine, Virtual, 09/21/2021
O'Brien Cara MD, Barkowitz Beth MPT, Urinary Incontinence in the Geriatric Population, Medical College of Wisconsin's 53rd Winter Refresher Course, Pewaukee, WI, 03/02/2023
Cara O'Brien, MD, Sexual Health and UI Panel, Wisconsin Update in Geriatric Medicine, Fontana, WI, 09/26/2023
O'Brien, Cara, and Recka, Katie, Geriatric and Palliative Care, Eastern WI VA Lecture Series, Milwaukee VA, Milwaukee, WI, 09/17/2024
 
Local
Cara O'Brien MD, Steven Denson MD, Rachael Spalding PhD, Development of an Interdisciplinary Geriatrics Outpatient Consult Clinic, Veteran's Week Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Grand Rounds, Milwaukee, WI, 11/02/2023
Cara O'Brien MD, Steven Denson MD, Rachael Spalding PhD, Development of an Interdisciplinary Geriatrics Outpatient Consult Clinic, ZVAMC Grand Rounds, Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center, 06/2024
Cara O'Brien MD, Kathryn M. Denson MD, Transformation of Outpatient Dementia Care at Clement J. Zablocki VAMC, Leap Project, Medical College of Wisconsin, 10/2025
 

PEER REVIEWED WORKSHOPS/PRESENTATIONS:
National
Prus Kristina, O'Brien Cara, Shah Trushil, Bansal Saurab, A Rare Cause of Exudative Ascites: Lupus Serositis, American College of Physicians National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, 04/2013
O'Brien Cara MD, Beckert Angela MD, Weight Loss in the Elderly: A Multifactorial Diagnosis, Selected for Presidential Poster Session, American Geriatrics Society Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, 05/2017
O'Brien Cara MD, Beckert Angela MD, A Catatonic Conundrum: A Case of a Frozen Geriatric Patient, American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, FL, 05/2018
McAvoy KE, Naik K, O’Brien C, Diagnosis and Treatment of May-Thurner Syndrome in a Geriatric Patient, American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, 05/13/2021
Scholer PE, Henricks E, O’Brien C, Insulinoma presenting as a rare case of recurrent hypoglycemia in a geriatric patient, American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, 05/13/2021
O’Brien C, Henricks E, Beckert A, Denson, K, Duthie E, An 18-year Experience with an Innovative Geriatrics Training Model: Implications for the Workforce, Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, Phoenix, Arizona, 10/10/2021 - 10/14/2021
Chatterjee Totini S, O'Brien Cara C, Development of type 1 diabetes mellitus in an older patient with gastric cancer, American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, Florida, 05/12/2022 - 05/14/2022
Scholer, Paige E., O'Brien, Cara C., A Rash Conclusion: Proton Pump Inhibitor-Induced SCLE in a Geriatric Patient, American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, Orlando, Florida, 05/12/2022 - 05/14/2022
 
Regional
Prus Kristina, O'Brien Cara, Shah Trushil, Bansal Saurab, A Rare Cause of Exudative Ascites: Lupus Serositis, American College of Physicians Illinois Chapter Meeting, Springfield, IL, 10/2012
Kuester Jessica, Bukowy Elizabeth, O'Brien Cara, Firearms, Driving and Medications...Oh My! Safety Threats and Difficult Conversations, Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias 32nd Annual State Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI, 05/08/2018
O’Brien C, Henricks E, Beckert A, Denson, K, Duthie E, An 18-year Experience with an Innovative Geriatrics Training Model: Implications for the Workforce, Department of Medicine Research Retreat, Virtual, 03/04/2022
 

COMMITTEE SERVICE:
Medical College of Wisconsin
07/01/2018 - 06/30/2020 Member, Wisconsin Update in Geriatric Medicine Curriculum Committee, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/01/2018 - 06/30/2020 Member, Wisconsin Update in Geriatric Medicine Planning Committee, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/2018 - Present Member, Program Evaluation Committee, Geriatrics, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/2018 - Present Member, Clinical Competency Committee, Geriatrics, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/2019 - 08/2023 Member, Department of Medicine Quality Committee, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/2021 - Present Member, Clinical Competency Committee, Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/01/2023 - 06/30/2026 Member, Admissions Committee, Division of Geriatric and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine
07/2023 - Present Member, Program Evaluation Committee, Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine
 

MCW TEACHING ACTIVITIES:
Medical Student Education
01/01/2018 - Present Preceptor for Clinical Apprenticeship
04/26/2019 M2 Symptoms - Weakness Course
01/2020 - 12/2020 Preceptor for Clinical Apprenticeship
04/28/2020 M2 Symptoms – Weakness Course
01/2021 - 12/2021 Preceptor for Clinical Apprenticeship
04/12/2021 Urinary Incontinence Lecture, Physical Medicine and Rehab Residency
04/20/2021 M2 Symptoms – Weakness Course
01/2022 - 12/2022 Preceptor for Clinical Apprenticeship
04/05/2022 M2 Symptoms - Weakness Course
04/15/2022 Urinary Incontinence Lecture, Physical Medicine and Rehab Residency
01/2023 - 12/2023 Preceptor for Clinical Apprenticeship
04/07/2023 M2 Symptoms - Weakness Course
08/2023 - 06/2024 Climb Clinical Experience Preceptor
04/08/2024 M2 Symptoms – Weakness Course
08/2024 - 06/2025 Climb Clinical Experience Preceptor
08/2025 - 06/2026 Climb Clinical Experience Preceptor
 
Resident and Fellow Education
11/07/2018 Internal Medicine Residents Academic Half Day Urinary Incontinence Lecture, Dean Roe, Froedtert Hospital
04/02/2019 Department of Medicine CPC, Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center
04/04/2019 Department of Medicine CPC, Froedtert Hospital
02/05/2020 MCW Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing lecture, Dean Roe
11/07/2020 Internal Medicine Residents Academic Half Day Urinary Incontinence Lecture, Dean Roe
12/08/2020 MCW Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing Lecture, Dean Roe
01/05/2022 MCW Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing lecture, Dean Roe
01/19/2022 MCW Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing Lecture, Dean Roe
05/25/2022 Urinary Incontinence lecture, Internal Medicine Residents Academic Half Day, Dean Roe
01/18/2023 Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing Lecture, Dean Roe
05/06/2023 American Geriatrics Society, Resident poster judge for AGS Annual Meeting, Long Beach, CA
02/28/2024 MCW Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing Lecture, Dean Roe
01/29/2025 MCW Interns Academic Half Day Deprescribing Lecture, Dean Roe
 
Community/Lay Public
06/06/2021 Dementia, The Word on Medicine Radio Show and Podcast, WISN, Medical College of Wisconsin (Recorded 3/21/2020) (initially aired 6/6/2021)
 

EXTRAMURAL TEACHING:
Resident and Fellow Education
08/2018 Clement J Zablocki VA Medical Center, Urinary Incontinence Lecture, Internal Medicine Residents
05/13/2022 American Geriatrics Society, Resident poster judge for AGS Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL
 
Community/Lay Public
10/16/2019 Saint Camillus Retirement Community, Urinary Incontinence Lecture
01/16/2020 Harwood Place Retirement Community, Urinary Incontinence Lecture
 

MCW STUDENTS, FACULTY, RESIDENTS AND CLINICAL/RESEARCH FELLOWS MENTORED:
Medical Students
08/31/2018 - Present, AGS Faculty Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
09/2018 - Present, Ambulatory Students/Residents Clinic Rotating, Medical College of Wisconsin
09/2021 - 03/2024 Joshua George, Clinical Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
03/2023 - 03/2024 Leah Gerlach, Residency Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
03/2023 - 03/2024 Anna Kerschner, Residency Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
03/2024 - 03/2025 Clara Martin, Residency Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
03/2024 - 03/2025 Emily Igwe, Residency Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
03/2024 - 03/2025 Akshaaya Lakshmaman, Residency Advisor, Medical College of Wisconsin
 
Residents
07/01/2017 - 06/30/2020 Cory Ganshert, DO, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2017 - 2020 Evan Henricks, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/01/2018 - 06/30/2022 Paige Scholer, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2018 - 06/2022 Totini Chatterjee, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2018 - 06/2019 Julia Herbert, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2018 - 06/2019 Lindsey Schindler, DO, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2018 - 06/2020 Kun Zhang, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2019 - 06/2023 Kieran McAvoy, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2019 - 06/2020 Hira Chaudhary, DO, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2019 - 06/2023 Will Lyon, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/01/2020 - 06/30/2024 Jennifer Woodard, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2020 - 06/2024 Rachel Saltness, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2020 - 06/2023 Ellen Schmitt, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2021 - 06/2024 Stephanie Strohbeen, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2021 - Present Rachel Maudal, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2022 - Present Eric Baeuerle, MD, PhD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2023 - Present Raymond Van Ness, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/2023 - Present Gene Qian, MD, MPH, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/01/2024 - Present Sarah Marowski-Richmond, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
07/01/2024 - Present Molly Frank, MD, Residency/Fellowship Mentor, Medical College of Wisconsin
 


BIBLIOGRAPHY
Editorials, Letters To Editor, Other
1. O'Brien, C, Transformational Times, A Small but Mighty Geriatrics Mentorship Program, 7/22/2022
 
Abstracts
1. Cara O'Brien, Evan Henricks, Angela Beckert, Kathryn Denson, Edmund Duthie, An 18 year Experience with an Innovative Geriatrics Training Model: Implications for the Workforce, Innovation in Aging, Volume 5, Issue Supplement_1, 2021, Pages 757–758, https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.2808
2. O’Brien C and Beckert A. Weight Loss in the Elderly: A Multifactorial Diagnosis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2017(65, S1), S86.
3. O’Brien C. and Beckert A. A Catatonic Conundrum: A Case of a Frozen Geriatric Patient. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2018(66, S2), S19.
4. T. Chatterjee, C. C. O’Brien. Development of Type I Diabetes Mellitus in an Older Patient with Gastric Cancer. Internal Medicine-Geriatrics, MCWAH, Wauwatosa, WI. (S166-167). J Am Geriatr Soc, 70: S1-S345. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17755
5. P. E. Scholer, C. C. O’Brien. A rash conclusion: proton pump inhibitor-induced SCLE in a geriatric patient. Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI. 2022(s24). (2022). J Am Geriatr Soc, 70: S1-S345. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.17755
6. McAvoy KE, Naik K, O’Brien C, Diagnosis and Treatment of May-Thurner Syndrome in a Geriatric Patient, American Geriatrics Society Annual Scientific Meeting, 05/13/2021