Dr. Witthaus was raised and educated in Missouri, starting with undergraduate and medical school at the University of Missouri (Go Tigers!). He then completed family medicine residency and an academic family medicine fellowship at Saint Louis University (SLU), where there was a focus on urban underserved medicine with their innovative Longitudinal Underserved Community Curriculum. While at SLU, he cared for patients at Family Care Health Centers (a Federally Qualified Health Center serving under and uninsured patients), where he implemented a Gender Affirming Care program to help transgender and non-binary patients receive much-needed services. After completing fellowship in 2018, he moved to Chicago to start a career at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). In 2020, Dr. Witthaus joined the inaugural group of Physician House Advisors in the COM-Unity program to create a sense of belonging and to foster relationships that support medical students’ professional and personal development during medical school. In 2024, Dr. Witthaus took on the role of Medical Director for the Family Medicine Center at the University Village Clinic. He loves the variety of his work brings, whether it’s caring for patients in the clinic and hospital, working on processes to improve patient care, engaging with our thoughtful staff, teaching and learning from our dedicated residents, or helping medical students with career planning and professional development. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, watching movies and musicals, and going to restaurants with his partner. Dr. Witthaus is thankful to be at UIC where everyone is encouraged to bring their whole, authentic selves to work and where he strives to create an environment where patients are comfortable to do the same.

Clinic Location: Family Medicine Center at University Village

Clinical Interests: Broad family medicine practice for all ages, but have a particular focus on LGBTQ+ inclusive care, gender-affirming care, behavioral health, children’s health, and chronic disease management.

Undergraduate: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Medical School: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Residency: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO
Fellowship: Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO

Diplomate, American Board of Family Medicine
Illinois State Medical License

American Academy of Family Physicians
Society of Teachers of Family Medicine

Witthaus M and Secrest S. Assessing Disparities in Primary Care Provider Relationships among Sexual and Gender Minorities. Poster on Research in Progress at the 2017 North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Meeting.

Hayon R, Witthaus M, Sell J, Drutchas A, Gonzalez C, Link C, and Gross S. The Trans* Health Toolkit: Towards Improving and Standardizing Our Practice. Oral Presentation on Works In-Progress at the 2017 Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Annual Spring Conference.

Witthaus M, van den Berk-Clark C, White M, Scherrer J, Wan B, and Jacobs C. The Effect of Opioid Policy Environment on Physician Prescribing Habits and Attitudes. Oral Presentation on Completed Research at the 2016 North American Primary Care Research Group Annual Meeting.

Breeden MA, Jacobs CK, Witthaus M, et al. Prescribing Patterns and use of Risk Reduction Tools after Implementing an Opioid Prescribing Protocol. J Am Board Fam Med. 2020.

Zubatsky M, Witthaus M, Scherrer JF, et al. The association between depression and type of treatments received for chronic low back pain. Fam Pract. 2019.

Hayon, R, Sell, J, and Witthaus M. Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Health Issues. In: Usatine RP, Smith MA, Mayeaux EJ, Chumley HS, eds. The Color Atlas and Synopsis of Family Medicine. 3rd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2019.

Heiden-Rootes KM, Salas J, Gebauer S, Witthaus M, Scherrer J, McDaniel K, and Carver D. Sexual Dysfunction in Primary Care: An Exploratory Descriptive Analysis of Medical Record Diagnoses. J Sex Med. 2017;14(11):1318-1326.