Medigram, the Society’s electronic newsletter for physicians, features timely news, upcoming events, answers to frequently asked questions and all the information you need to know to make your practice run more efficiently. Topics include legislative updates, legal information, practice management information, government regulations, and much more. Published weekly, Medigram is delivered via email on Thursdays.

If you have a Medigram story idea or would like to offer feedback, please email us or call 866.442.3800.

Welcome Dr. Arnold as new Society president
The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) is pleased to welcome Alicia Arnold, MD, board-certified radiologist as one of the youngest female presidents of the Society.

Learn about Vivent Health while enjoying wine and cheese with the Foundation
Register now for the June 24 Taste of the Foundation. Attendees will enjoy great wine from Stoller Family Vineyards and paired cheese from Fromagination in Madison while learning about Vivent Health.

Last chance to register for Doctor Day
Doctor Day 2021 will be held virtually on May 5 and it’s not too late to register! The event is being hosted through an event app that allows both website and mobile app access.

Movie trivia from the comfort of home!
Play movie-themed trivia from the comfort of your couch! Join your fellow Wisconsin Medical Society members for the next virtual WisMed Meet Up.

Last chance for 2020 investment contributions; prioritizing savings
Investment contributions for 2020 are not done yet. There’s still time to make health savings account, Edvest and backdoor Roth IRA contribution before filing taxes on May 17.

Welcome Dr. Arnold as new Society president

Dr. Arnold - new Society president

The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) is pleased to welcome Alicia Arnold, MD, board-certified radiologist as one of the youngest female presidents of the Society. Dr. Arnold shared some thoughts about leadership and participating in the Society.

Why did you want to be the Society’s President?
I am excited for the opportunity to serve our profession at the state level. Pre-pandemic, I was looking forward to being physically present at meetings across Wisconsin. I wanted to get to know more members and see how the Society could partner with local members to positively impact health delivery. Obviously much has changed since the Nominating Committee recommended me for President-elect. Now handshakes have been replaced by hands-up emojis on Zoom. Despite the changed circumstances, this year still has potential to be very impactful, and I intend to make the most of it.

What would you like to achieve as Society President?
This has been an unprecedented, tumultuous time for physicians. Our profession continues to be complicated by scope of practice issues, policy concerns and reimbursement constraints. Now advocacy efforts are also impeded by the ongoing pandemic. Politics have eroded scientific leadership, and I hope the Society can continue to lead the physician community through the pandemic. Challenging times are nothing new, but this anti-science assault on our profession has been at a different level than in recent eras. Once the pandemic has quelled, I’d like to see continued attention to racism as a public health issue. I appreciate the efforts that the Society has made in establishing the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, and I hope additional steps will be undertaken.

Why is Society involvement important to you?
The Society is a unique opportunity to directly affect the health of our state, through advocating for our physicians and our patients. The Society’s initiatives and advocacy impact our communities on a micro and macro level. The Society connects physicians across geographic areas, specialties and practice types.

Tell us about one Society initiative that you are excited about.
This past year the Society took steps to help physicians be financially secure with the formation of WisMed Financial. I think many of us know of stories of physicians who had to work years longer than they had initially planned or had trouble meeting their financial goals. We wanted to create a service where members could access the knowledge of an experienced financial professional. Physicians should be able to practice the profession they love, in the way they envision, and still have financial security.

Do you have advice for future physician leaders?
We all have contributions that we can make within the Society and the physician community. I ask members to be involved, providing energy, comments and communication. We need our members to be involved now more than ever. There are many ways to be involved, including providing feedback, donating to the PAC and attending meetings. There is room for you at the table whatever way you’d prefer to be involved. There are many opportunities for leadership within the Society. We need residents and medical students to carry on the torch. We welcome trainees and want your involvement!

What are some of your hopes for the Society’s future?
I would like to ensure that all physicians have an important voice in the Society and all physicians feel represented in our common profession. I hope the Society can be a conduit for enhanced communication and connection within the Wisconsin physician community. We heard from members at the annual meeting that community, networking and mentorship were highly desired from our membership. I hope that we are able to find new methods to establish meaningful ways to work together on common causes and with shared purpose. We would like to be where Wisconsin’s health care leaders come together to collaborate.

You spent years as a contributing medical correspondent. Do you have any funny stories?
Our family doesn’t usually eat fast food, but one time I had my kids in the car and needed to grab a quick bite for them to eat. I went through the McDonald’s drive-thru and ordered a couple Happy Meals. As I paid at the first window, I saw the cashier look at me quizzically. When I pulled up to the second window to collect the Happy Meals, there was a whole crowd of workers standing around the window. One yelled, “It IS Dr. Arnold! Look everyone, Dr. Arnold eats at McDonald’s!” From then on, if I ever stopped for fast food, I put on sunglasses first.

Reach out to Dr. Arnold on WisMed Community to congratulate her. 

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Learn about Vivent Health while enjoying wine and cheese with the Foundation

Register now for the June 24 Taste of the Foundation. Attendees will enjoy great wine from Stoller Family Vineyards and paired cheese from Fromagination in Madison while learning about Vivent Health.

Join Vivent Health CEO Mike Gifford to talk about how Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation funding helped with HIV prevention and education efforts in Milwaukee’s African American and Latinx communities. Vivent Health grew out of the Aids Resource Center and is now the nation’s leading HIV health care provider. Learn more about their journey and their work in Wisconsin while enjoying some wine and cheese!

Visit foundation.wismed.org/tastingseries to get your tickets. Supporting these events enables the Foundation to provide grants that advance the health of the people of Wisconsin.

Please contact Marje Murray with any questions.

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Last chance to register for Doctor Day

Doctors at the capitol

Doctors at the capitol

Doctor Day 2021 will be held virtually on May 5 and it’s not too late to register! The event is being hosted through an event app that allows both website and mobile app access. Registrants will be provided detailed instructions to access the site which allows attendees to access each component of Doctor Day with a simple click.

The morning sessions will prepare physicians with the tools and information they need to advocate on issues and will include insights from AMA leadership, policy and state budget updates and a review of the day’s priority issues – Telehealth and Medicaid.

Physicians will meet in groups with their elected officials during the afternoon. Each 30-minute visit has been scheduled based on the availability of elected officials, and will take place at either 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm or 3:00 pm. All attendees who registered with their home addresses will be scheduled to meet with their State Senator (or his/her staff) and the three Assembly Reps (or their staff) whose districts overlap with the corresponding Senate district, in one combined meeting. Doctor Day attendees are expected to attend their scheduled legislative visits. Missed meetings reflect poorly on the event organizers, sponsors and the physician community.  

Please register no later than end of business on April 30 in order to be scheduled for a legislative visit with your elected officials. Those who register after April 30 may attend all morning sessions but cannot be guaranteed a scheduled legislative visit.

Please contact Heidi Green with any questions.

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Movie trivia from the comfort of home!

WisMed Meet Up Virtual Trivia contest May 20 6-7 p.m.

Play movie-themed trivia from the comfort of your couch! Join your fellow Wisconsin Medical Society members for the next virtual WisMed Meet Up. Connect with your peers across the state while showing off your movie trivia knowledge.

WisMed Meet Up: Virtual Trivia Night
Thursday, May 20, 6-7 p.m.
Register here

WisMed staff will assign trivia teams. Prizes will be awarded!

All WisMed members are welcome. Contact membership@wismed.org for additional information.

Thank you to WisMed Assure for sponsoring this event.

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Last chance for 2020 investment contributions; prioritizing savings

Investment contributions for 2020 are not done yet. There’s still time to make health savings account, Edvest and backdoor Roth IRA contribution before filing taxes on May 17. All three accounts offer tax-free growth when used for their intended health care, education or retirement spending. The tax savings is significant. At 7% growth over 20 years, a tax-free account can be more than 30% higher than a taxable account. The old saying, “it’s not how much you make, but how much you keep” really applies here.

For those feeling behind on saving, here is the typical priority order for investing.

  1. Employer retirement plan to the employer’s maximum matching contribution.
  2. Employer retirement plan to the contribution maximum. 2021 per person limits are $19,500 under age 50 and $26,000 age 50+.
  3. Roth IRA or backdoor Roth IRA. Per person limits for 2020 and 2021 are $6,000 under age 50 and $7,000 age 50+.
  4. Health savings account. Limits for 2020 are $3,550 self-only and $7,100 family with a $1,000 catch-up contribution for those age 55+; and for 2021 are $3,600 self-only and $7,200 family with a $1,000 catch up contribution for those age 55+.
  5. Taxable investment account.
  6. Edvest 529 college savings accounts for kids. The 2020 deduction is limited to the first $3,340 contributed per beneficiary per year, but higher contributions are allowed. The deductible amount is increased to $3,380 for 2021.

Accounts 2, 3, and 4 can be interchanged depending on your personal circumstances. Accounts 5 and 6 may be interchanged as well. It might seem that Edvest has better tax advantages than a taxable account, so it should take priority, however it’s important for one’s personal savings to be on track before saving for others. Note – not everyone will qualify for all account types depending on tax status, amount of earned income or enrollment in a high-deductible health insurance plan.

If you would like help with your last minute 2020 contributions or could benefit from having a financial plan to ensure you are on track for your future, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

WisMed Financial

Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF®
WisMed Financial, Inc. part of the Wisconsin Medical Society

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