VOLUME 17 • NUMBER 2 • 2015 FOR ALUMNI, FRIENDS, FACULTY AND STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH Quarterly Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine ENSURING CARE FOR AN UNDERSERVED POPULATION MATCH DAY p. 8 GLOBAL HEALTH p. 10 ALUMNI AWARDS p. 16 There’s More Online! Visit med.wisc.edu/quarterly QUARTERLY AUGUST 2015 The Magazine for Alumni, Friends, Sunday, August 30 White Coat Ceremony, Faculty and Students of the University of Wisconsin CONTENTS School of Medicine and Public Health Union South, UW-Madison QUARTERLY • VOLUME 17 • NUMBER 2 EDITOR Kris Whitman SEPTEMBER 2015 ART DIRECTOR Christine Klann Thursday, September 17 Mini Med School: Infectious Disease–Megabugs, Health Sciences Learning Center PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHER John Maniaci Friday, September 25 Middleton Society Event, PRODUCTION Gordon Commons, UW-Madison Michael Lemberger WISCONSIN MEDICAL OCTOBER 2015 ALUMNI ASSOCIATION (WMAA): OCTOBER 16-17 • HOMECOMING WEEKEND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Karen S. Peterson Friday, October 16 Reunions for Classes of 1970, ’80, ’85, ’90, ’95, 2000, ’05 and ’10 EDITORIAL BOARD Christopher L. Larson, MD ’75, chair (details to be announced) Kathryn S. Budzak, MD ’69 Saturday, October 17 UW vs. Purdue Patrick McBride, MD ’80, MPH Maureen Mullins, MD ’79 CALENDAR Sandra L. Osborn, MD ’70 Patrick Remington, MD ’81, MPH NOVEMBER 2015 Wade Woelfle, MD ’95 Thursday, November 19 Green Bay Statewide Outreach Event EX OFFICIO MEMBERS (details to be announced) Robert N. Golden, MD, Andrea Larson, Karen S. Peterson, Jill Watson, Kris Whitman BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2014–2015 OFFICERS Steve Merkow, MD ’80, president Susan Isensee, MD ’83, president-elect Ann Ruscher, MD ’91, treasurer Donn Fuhrmann, MD ’76, past president Patrick McBride, MD ’80, MPH, past president BOARD MEMBERS Karen Adler-Fischer, MD ’80 Rural Health Match Day 14 Alumni Notebook Mathew Aschbrenner, MD ’06 The successful Wisconsin 8 Medical students and 24 Alumni Profile Mark Fenlon, MD ’84, MBA 4 Academy for Rural their loved ones thrill to Dirk Fisher, MD ’79 Medicine bolsters the the news about residency Kent Haselow, MD ’92 26 Awards matches. John Kryger, MD ’92 physician workforce for Daniel Jackson, MD ’03 underserved areas. 28 Spotlight Christopher L. Larson, MD ’75 Kyla Lee, MD ’98 30 Giving Back Ann Liebeskind, MD ’98 Meghan Lubner, MD ’03 32 Connections Kathryn E. Nixdorf, MD ’06 (national) Leon E. Rosenberg, MD ’57 (national) 34 Healer’s Journey John Siebert, MD ’81 Global Health Spring on Campus (above) Alex Tucker, MD ’75 10 Connected through their The Wisconsin State Capitol is a popular attraction 36 Student Life Steven Wiesner, MD ’85 (national) service in Liberia and through during warm spring and summer days. Michael Witcik, MD ’07 their affiliations with the 38 Research Advances BOARD ADVISORY COUNCIL SMPH, three individuals share Kathryn S. Budzak, MD ’69 their perspectives about that On the Cover 40 Perspective Philip Farrell, MD, PhD country’s Ebola crisis. Kay Gruling, MD ’88 QUARTERLY is published four times a year by the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association (WMAA) Living her dream, Michelle Clark-Forsting, MD ’12, Charles V. Ihle, MD ’65 and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) MPH, soon will begin caring for patients near her Thomas Jackson, MD ’67 For editorial information, call (608) 263-4613 rural Wisconsin hometown. Robert Jaeger, MD ’71 For address corrections and to reach the WMAA, call (608) 263-4915 Sandra L. Osborn, MD ’70 Anne Schierl, MD ’57 E-mail us at [email protected] Wade Woelfle, MD ’95 Visit us on the web at med.wisc.edu/quarterly QUARTERLY 1 MESSAGES ROBERT N. GOLDEN, MD STEVE MERKOW, MD ’80 ceremony. We are proud of the SMPH ello fellow Badger medical alumni! That weekend, I also competed in the students and faculty members and the On behalf of the Wisconsin Medical Crazylegs Classic. As a former runner, UW Hospital and Clinics resident who were HAlumni Association (WMAA), I express I decided to take the sport up again a year selected for membership in AOA this year. thanks to all who attended our Winter Event, before I turned 60. The day before my 60th As summarized in the Giving Back featured on page 14. I think the evening, birthday, I ran the Madison Mini-Marathon. article, two remarkable individuals, Dr. Jim “A Taste of Wisconsin,” was the best ever. Now, as I train for more races, I’m taking Berbee and Karen Walsh, are accelerating The Fluno Center provided a comfortable, advantage of a phone app that tells me the pace at which our Department of spacious venue for a record turnout. Medical when I should train for certain distances, Emergency Medicine is evolving into one students, alumni and their guests enjoyed a rest, cross-train, etc. My biggest challenge of the nation’s leading departments in that wide variety of savory Wisconsin fare. I was is making sure I can work these things in field. The Berbee Walsh gift provides for thrilled to be able to mingle with medical with my other responsibilities. It’s the story of an expanded emphasis on research and students to learn about their interesting our lives! academic development, as well as major backgrounds and experiences, as well as As you are aware, the proposed state enhancements in patient care. their future plans following their education budget cuts likely will cause a severe It is clear that the Wisconsin Idea strongly at the University of Wisconsin School reduction in the SMPH’s operating budget, resides in those who have trained and work of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). affecting everything from faculty recruitment at the SMPH. For example, see the article I also enjoyed the opportunity to catch up and retention, research, education and featuring the UW-Madison Global Health with friends and meet people. We hope the infrastructure to support the school’s Institute—which weaves together stories for an equally successful turnout for our missions. Our financial support has never TODD BROWN/MEDIA SOLUTIONS about our faculty and alumni who have been upcoming events. been more important. If you have thought Middleton Society donations support and involved with the Ebola crisis in Liberia—and If your class is hosting a reunion this fall, about donating to the institution that provided t’s wonderful to embrace spring and transition of another icon, Dr. Norm Fost, encourage scientists, clinicians, teachers and the Alumni Profile of Dr. David Duppler, I encourage you to attend the Homecoming us the benefit of our careers, please follow students who translate hope into action. early summer after a long, cold winter. as he “retires.” Because “retiring” is not a who took a leave from his medical practice Weekend events—you won’t regret it! Dates your heart and donate at whatever level In this issue of , we look back Thank you fellow alumni for your past I Quarterly word that one readily applies to Dr. Fost, we to serve our country at the front lines in are listed on the inside cover of Quarterly you can. at our successful Winter Event, hosted by believe he will continue to serve our school and/or potential future support. I look forward Afghanistan. These are truly inspiring people and on the WMAA web site (www.med.wisc. Additionally, as these cuts take hold, to seeing you at future alumni events! the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association and our missions for years to come, sharing who are making a difference in the world. edu/alumni) and Facebook page. My Class scholarship donations will be critical to help (WMAA) with the goal of establishing his expertise and passion for bioethics. Other wonderful rites of spring abound, of 1980 will celebrate our 35th reunion this reduce students’ indebtedness and ensure Steve Merkow, MD ’80 meaningful connections among alumni and We look forward to the next chapter in his including graduation, alumni reunions and fall, and I’ll be there, wondering how time has that we have well-trained physicians for our medical students. We also review some of evolving role here. President, Wisconsin Medical Alumni the annual transition of medical students gone so fast since we graduated and started society’s future needs. The recent WMAA Association the most glorious harbingers of spring at the Another wonderful transition is the to the next phases of their education. Stay our careers. Scholarship Reception (see page 17)—which University of Wisconsin School of Medicine appointment of one of our school’s tuned for highlights of these and other events When I was on campus for the annual brought together many generous donors and and Public Health (SMPH): Match Day and longstanding and dedicated leaders in in the next issue of Quarterly. WMAA Awards Banquet in April (see enthusiastic, grateful student recipients— the WMAA awards. the field of cancer, Dr. Howard Bailey, to page 16), I was pleased to celebrate the provided a strong reminder of the difference As we embrace the onset of this season’s the vitally important leadership position of Robert N. Golden, MD success of so many of our alumni, including these gifts can make. warm weather, it is fitting that we also director of the UW Carbone Cancer Center. Dean, University of Wisconsin School of my close friend and medical school With these things in mind, please embrace our WARM Program (Wisconsin In addition, we are delighted that Dr. Ruth Medicine and Public Health classmate, Dr. Pat McBride. After 11 years consider joining the Middleton Society, for Academy for Rural Medicine). WARM O’Regan has joined our faculty as the Vice Chancellor for Medical Affairs, as the SMPH associate dean for students, he which cumulative support and/or pledges provides rays of sunlight throughout rural head of the Division of Hematology and UW-Madison has chosen to step out of that role and focus count toward reaching the $10,000 Wisconsin as we develop a strong, vibrant Oncology in the Department of Medicine.