Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science La Crosse Program

Family Medicine Analyst Verified · Sep 15, 2026

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science La Crosse Program

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science La Crosse Program is a residency program specializing in Family Medicine, located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, directed by John M. Merfeld, MD and coordinated by Drew Berger. The program accepts applications through December 1, 2026. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (608) 392-9775. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

This is a community-based, Mayo Clinic Health System family medicine residency in La Crosse, Wisconsin, with a 50-year history and a curriculum built around continuity outpatient care, the biopsychosocial model, and whole-person, family-systems-oriented practice. Training emphasizes broad clinical exposure through extensive electives (cardiology, ICU, OB, orthopedics, sports medicine, wound care) plus dedicated rural rotations in nearby small communities, positioning graduates for generalist practice across rural and community settings rather than subspecialty fellowship. The program carries the Mayo Clinic name and infrastructure but is not framed as research-central; instead it highlights clinical excellence, board pass rates, and readiness for "diverse practice settings," with a distinct ACGME-accredited Osteopathic Recognition Track for DO residents wanting OMM integration. The program values collaborative, adaptable physicians committed to community-oriented, comprehensive care rather than narrow academic specialization.

Who it fits

An applicant whose ERAS narrative centers on rural or community-based full-spectrum family medicine, continuity of care, and whole-person/biopsychosocial patient relationships—particularly a DO applicant seeking integrated osteopathic training—will find this program's trajectory a natural match.

Research intensity

Low - research is not emphasized as central; scholarly engagement is mentioned only as one holistic-review factor, not a program pillar.

Career orientation

Community Practice

Important

The program requires that at least one of the three letters of recommendation come from a practicing, board-certified family physician, and PGY-1 D.O. residents must participate in the Osteopathic Recognition Track (with an option to opt out after the first year).

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