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Hi, my name is Erica Burger. I'm a psychiatrist from rural Wisconsin and live with my husband on a farmstead in rural Southwest Wisconsin. In a former life, I worked on organic farms and competed in endurance running events. Outside of medicine, I enjoy gardening, keeping my sourdough starter alive, embodied practices, learning local history, and cooking. I still run a little bit too.
My practice philosophy is informed by many wise mentors, evidence-informed medicine, biodynamic osteopathic medicine, internal family systems therapy, contemplative practices, foraging, and spending much of my life living in the rural Midwest.
I completed my B.A. degree in Sustainable Agriculture at Northern Michigan University in the Upper Peninsula (Marquette, Michigan) in 2009. After working as a home health aide during my senior year, I changed my course and began the pre-medical requirements once I realized that I wanted to directly help people and be a physician. I had been accepted into naturopathic medical school at Bastyr University and almost went that route - but deep down, knew that I wanted the knowledge base and rigor of conventional medical training.
Choosing more of the middle ground, I studied osteopathic medicine at Des Moines University and completed a Masters of Public Health degree from there as well. I completed psychiatry residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, and received the Compassionate Care award in 2018 and 2019, voted on by my peers.
Prior to medical school, I knew that I wanted to practice medicine in a truly holistic way - and not too different from how I saw the benefit of regenerative farming practices and local food systems for both individuals and communities when I was studying sustainable agriculture. I sought out mentorship from leaders in the field and continued to build my knowledge base regarding integrative medicine while learning conventional medicine.
Previously, I worked as an outpatient psychiatrist at Gundersen Health in La Crosse, Viroqua, and Boscobel, Wisconsin.
I'm a deep believer in the power of community, relationship, and helping people restore trust in themselves in order to heal.
Dr. Erica Burger, Psychiatrist
Marla Peterson, Clinic Assistant
Hello, my name is Marla. I am originally from the rural community of De Soto, Wisconsin, just across the Mississippi River from Lansing. I spent my childhood riding horses, working in the fields of the family farm and exploring the bluffs and valleys of the Driftless region.
I attended the University of Wisconsin and graduated with a B.S. in Human Ecology-Interdisciplinary, focus on Community Leadership. I then moved to Biloxi, Mississippi, where I spent a year and a half helping to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina, first as an AmeriCorps volunteer, then as Manager of a disaster recovery program.
After spending time on the Gulf Coast, I returned to Wisconsin and began working for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), where I spent over 10 years in various school-based roles before moving to the administrative side, spending nearly 10 years working as a Communications Specialist. I resigned from MMSD in the summer of 2021, after a 20-year career in public schools.
I enjoy solo travel, music, practicing yoga and spending time in nature. After spending a year in Norway in '21/'22, I am exploring the Balkan Peninsula in 2023. When I'm not traveling, I enjoy simplicity and solitude at my rustic cabin on three acres (with no running water, but a record player, stack of vinyl and library of books!), located in Ferryville, Wisconsin, not far from the clinic and my childhood home.
I believe in the power of community and connection, and I am delighted to be supporting the mission of Driftless Integrative Psychiatry, in a place I care so deeply about.
