About
Michael Wilhelm, MD, is a UW Health Kids pediatric critical care medicine doctor. He cares for critically ill children hospitalized in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with heart disorders. He’s also an associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
Dr. Wilhelm diagnoses and treats heart conditions or complications such as inflammation, infection, defects and other disorders. He consults with infectious disease experts and other specialists to manage complications such as lung and breathing problems. He also treats with advanced heart failure who need a heart transplant. He manages their care before and after transplant surgery.
Understanding the emotional stress of critical illness, Dr. Wilhelm personalizes care for patients and their families and loved ones. He hears their concerns and explains treatments in understandable ways. He engages them in care decisions and informs them about resources for extra support.
In addition to patient care, Dr. Wilhelm is the director of quality and safety for the UW Health Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). He evaluates medical advances and assesses their use and effectiveness in the PICU.
Outside of work, Dr. Wilhelm enjoys playing golf.
My goal is to provide the best care for every child in the way that they and their family need it — especially through stressful times.
- English
Practice locations
American Family Children's Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
Education & credentials
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatrics
- State University of New York, Brooklyn, NY
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
- Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, CT
Research & publications
Dr. Wilhelm's laboratory investigates the mechanisms by which cells in the brain communicate to contribute to learning and memory in the developing brain. This work aims to improve how we protect the most immature brains when they are subjected to inherited or acquired diseases. Dr. Wilhelm is investigating the signals nerve cells use to strengthen or weaken their connections in response to inputs from other cells. He is also investigating the ways by which nerve cells and heart cells die in response to the stresses involved in critical illness. All this work is focused on improving the outcomes of our smallest critically ill patients.