ADVOCATE - Key Persons

Born in Chicago, IL. Dr Balin grew up in the suburbs of Chicago until moving to Grand Isle, Nebraska where he graduated from High school. He then went on to attend the prestigious Harvard University for Undergrad. Dr Balin then moved onto the University of Missouri-Columbia to attend Medical School and stayed there to complete his Family Medicine Residency (where he served as Chief Resident). Dr Balin and his wife then made the move to Wisconsin, where he started with Dean clinic working in Oregon, WI. Dr Balin practiced Full Spectrum Family Medicine care including OB, inpatient, nursing home and home visits for most of his career. The doctor held a number of leadership positions while at Oregon clinic, including chairing the Family Medicine Department. Dr Balin looks forward to practicing in a model where he can spend longer with patients and leave the decision-making to patients and doctors instead of administrators. One area of special interest is in procedures and Dr Balin has extensive training and experience to be able to offer procedures such as prolotherapy, vasectomy and more complex skin procedures to patients

Dr Karen Shulman was born in upstate New York , but raised from a young age in Southern Ontario. She attended the University of Waterloo, studying Kinesiology and then went on to Medical School at Western University in London, Ontario. She completed her Family Medicine Residency in London before starting her career as a physician in the United States. Dr Shulman worked for 3 years in Western Massachusetts before moving to Marshfield Wisconsin to work at Marshfield Clinic. She has worked as a Family doctor in a rural clinic in Stratford, Wisconsin for over 20 years. More recently she also took over an Administrative role as Medical Director of Adult Primary Care for Marshfield Clinic Health system. Now Dr Shulman is really looking forward returning to her true passion of providing comprehensive primary care to a variety of different patients and different medical conditions. While Dr Shulman is new to Madison, she is excited to be living closer to her 2 sons who are already in Madison. Her daughter is not far way in LaCrosse. Dr Shulman and her husband Doug enjoy cycling, hiking, diving, and traveling when they have time.

Dr Aughey was born and raised in Wisconsin Rapids WI. Attended UW Stevens Point for his undergraduate degree, graduating with a BS in Chemistry. After working a few years in the private sector, he returned to medical school and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison Medical School in 1993. Mike went on to complete his residency training at the Family Medicine Department of Wake Forest University in Winston Salem NC and graduated as Chief Resident in 1996. He decided to move back to Wisconsin, so him and his wife Barb moved to Sun Prairie, WI where he joined SSM Health Dean Medical Group . He has spent the last 20+ years practicing broad spectrum Family Medicine. He is excited to bring these years of experience to AdvocateMD. Dr Aughey believes the patient-doctor relationship is as important as the medicine itself, in providing high quality care. Mike lives with his wife Barb (an RN) in Sun Prairie. They have three adult children - including a daughter in Medical School. He enjoys many outdoor activities (hiking, kayaking, and cross-country skiing) and traveling with his family.

Born and raised in Orlando, FL. Dr. Hemkes left Florida to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated with Distinction with a BS Biology minor in Chemistry in 2002. She went on to attend medical school at the the University of South Florida in Tampa graduating in 2006. Then Dr. Hemkes returned to North Carolina to attend one of the top Family Medicine residency programs at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC, completing residency in 2009. For the last ten years the doctor has had experience in a diversity of roles and setting. She has worked in Emergency departments, in the inpatient setting as a hospitalist , and outpatient clinics as a traditional Family medicine doctor. Dr. Hemkes has worked in urban settings such as inner city Chicago and also in settings as remote as rural Alaska. She believes that this diversity of experiences has improved her skills and knowledge but also allowed her to become a more empathetic healer. After being an employed doctor for 10 years, she was excited to find this new model of care called "Direct Primary care". Dr. Hemkes believes that DPC empowers the physician and the patient . She will advocate for your health as if you were a member of her family. Everyone deserves a healthcare advocate.