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.

Reminder: apply for COVID-19 vaccine enrollment and other updates
Physicians and other health care professionals who want to administer FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines need to apply and be approved by the State of Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program.

WisMed Foundation to donate PPE to practices serving vulnerable populations
The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) can help with personal protective equipment (PPE)!

Upcoming COVID-19 vaccines webinar with MCW’s John Raymond Sr., MD
Join Medical College of Wisconsin President and CEO John Raymond, Sr., MD, for a special town hall webinar, Wisconsin Medical Society: Vaccination Updates, on December 17, 12-1 p.m.

SARS-CoV-2 CME series now available on demand
In partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Medical Society COVID-19 Task Force, a SARS-CoV-2 CME series was presented over the past several weeks to a broad audience of physicians and received rave reviews.

Year-end giving and taxes – new WisMed OnCall
Year-end giving often provides most of the income for non-profit organizations and once coincided with tax planning. However, tax codes have changed and so have the needs of many non-profits.

Society seeking Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force members
The Society’s Board of Directors (Board) has established a Task Force to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion not only within the Wisconsin Medical Society but also in our population at large.

“Please, do this for your family and ours”
The Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition continues to produce public service announcements urging Wisconsin citizens to help combat the pandemic that has stressed physicians and other clinicians, the state’s health care system and Wisconsin’s economy.

Minnesota Medical Association extends member pricing to WisMed Members for Physician Well-being Conference
The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) has opened registration for their 5th Annual Physician Well-being Conference, to be held virtually on January 28, 2021.

Nominees sought for Society offices; deadline Jan. 4
Nominations are now being accepted for several Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) offices, and all nomination materials are due to the Society’s Nominating Committee by Monday, January 4, 2021.

Nominations open for 2021 Physician Citizen of the Year Award
The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Physician Citizen of the Year Award.

Insurance – a critical piece of your financial plan
Join WisMed Financial next week for the last episodes of the Lunch & Learn series focusing on a critical part of all financial plans – insurance.

Reminder: apply for COVID-19 vaccine enrollment and other updates

Physicians and other health care professionals who want to administer FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines need to apply and be approved by the State of Wisconsin’s COVID-19 Vaccine Program. Wisconsin’s Department of Health Services (DHS) is administering the application procedure; the page also links to an enrollment tool that can help applicants through the process. While supplies during the early stages will be quite limited, the one-time registration will qualify your entity for access when additional doses are readily available. The DHS Questions and Answers section of the COVID-19 Vaccine Program page supplies additional information.

COVID-19 Vaccine Webinar Available On-Demand
The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) has also worked to provide more information about the vaccines and the federal/state distribution process by partnering with other leading health care organizations. The Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Nurses Association and the Society promoted this December 7 informational webinar regarding the latest news on potential COVID-19 vaccines and the state’s process for distribution upon FDA approval and subsequent federal requirements. While vaccine news continues to develop rapidly, the webinar is a good resource for answering many common questions.

Seeking More Guidance from the State regarding Vaccine Availability
Since the early days of the pandemic’s rise in Wisconsin, the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC) – which has an advisory role to DHS – has developed guidelines for health care’s allocation of scarce resources during public health emergencies. As SDMAC debates recommendations regarding fair and equitable vaccine distribution, the Society’s COVID-19 Task Force has requested that the group provide a recommendation to the state on how independent physicians not affiliated with a large medical system can access COVID-19 vaccines when they become available.

Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for additional information.

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WisMed Foundation to donate PPE to practices serving vulnerable populations

Protect Our Future: WisMed Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) can help with personal protective equipment (PPE)! The Foundation and the Wisconsin Medical Society along with Action PPE have partnered to provide surgical masks and KN95 masks to Federally Qualified Health Centers and other unaffiliated medical offices serving vulnerable populations. There are also gowns and face shields available.

If your clinic is having difficulty either obtaining or paying for masks please contact Marje Murray, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation at marje.murray@wismed.org or 608.886.4276. To donate to the fund, click here.

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Upcoming COVID-19 vaccines webinar with MCW’s John Raymond Sr., MD

Join Medical College of Wisconsin President and CEO John Raymond, Sr., MD, for a special town hall webinar, Wisconsin Medical Society: Vaccination Updates, on December 17, 12-1 p.m. Brought to you by the Wisconsin Medical Society's COVID-19 Task Force, Doctor Raymond will share the latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccines and answer questions from attendees.

This webinar is free to attend, but registration is required.

Please email Anne Hauer with any questions.

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SARS-CoV-2 CME series now available on demand

In partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Medical Society COVID-19 Task Force, a SARS-CoV-2 CME series was presented over the past several weeks to a broad audience of physicians and received rave reviews. This five-part series was recorded and is now available on demand via the Society’s education center.

Topics include:

  • Virus Biology & Vaccine Development
  • The Current State of Therapeutics
  • Communicability and Public Health Response
  • The Convergence of Seasonal Flu and SARS-CoV-2
  • Combating COVID-19 Challenges in Disadvantaged Populations – a Case Study

For more information including the link to register, click here.

Please contact education@wismed.org with any questions.

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Year-end giving and taxes – new WisMed OnCall

WisMed OnCall podcast logo

Year-end giving often provides most of the income for non-profit organizations and once coincided with tax planning. However, tax codes have changed and so have the needs of many non-profits.

Mark Ziety, Executive Director of WisMed Financial and Marje Murray, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation discuss end of year giving in the latest episode of WisMed OnCall. Learn why it’s so important to the charities you support and how you can make a positive impact and earn a tax deduction now that most of us are filing using the standard deduction.

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Society seeking Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force members

The Society’s Board of Directors (Board) has established a Task Force to focus on diversity, equity and inclusion not only within the Wisconsin Medical Society but also in our population at large. The Board approved this purpose statement for the Task Force: 'The Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force will positively influence the Society’s advocacy and programming in recognition that our diversity makes us stronger.'

The Society is seeking members who want to serve on the Task Force or would like to share their ideas regarding the focus of the Task Force. The Society’s HR advisor, Peggy Niemer, JD, MBA, will facilitate gathering this information from interested members.

The Task Force will meet via Zoom every other week and will set short-term and medium-term goals during the first few meetings. If you are interested in serving on the Task Force or just voicing your opinions or concerns please contact Peggy Niemer or Society CEO Bud Chumbley, MD by December 18.

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“Please, do this for your family and ours”

The Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition continues to produce public service announcements urging Wisconsin citizens to help combat the pandemic that has stressed physicians and other clinicians, the state’s health care system and Wisconsin’s economy. The latest piece to air statewide on television and digital media, “Frontlines,” shows health care staff from around the state explaining how the daily fight to save lives and fight COVID-19 can take a tremendous toll. These frontline lifesavers then appeal to their neighbors to help by wearing masks, washing hands and staying six feet apart from others outside the home.

“Physicians and others on the health care team are there for Wisconsin every day – and more and more at great personal cost,” said Wisconsin Medical Society CEO Bud Chumbley, MD, MBA. “This latest PSA is aimed at showing the public that when they make smart decisions to be more COVID-safe, they not only help their own families but also the families of those who are taking care of all of us.”

The latest PSA started airing December 7. You can view previous PSAs and other materials at the Stop the COVID Spread! Coalition’s website, or contact the Society’s Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

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Minnesota Medical Association extends member pricing to WisMed Members for Physician Well-being Conference

The Minnesota Medical Association (MMA) has opened registration for their 5th Annual Physician Well-being Conference, to be held virtually on January 28, 2021. As a promotional sponsor for this event, Wisconsin Medical Society members can access this conference at the discounted MMA member price of $195, with the code JOYMEDPARTNER.

Bryan Sexton, PhD, an associate professor at Duke University and director of the Duke Center for Healthcare Safety & Quality will kick off the conference with his keynote presentation Bite Size Coping During Times of Uncertainty.

For additional information, including a full agenda and registration click here.

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Nominees sought for Society offices; deadline Jan. 4

Nominations are now being accepted for several Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) offices, and all nomination materials are due to the Society’s Nominating Committee by Monday, January 4, 2021.

Candidates are sought for the following offices:

  • President-Elect for 2021-2022
  • AMA Delegate for 2022 and 2023 (two positions) – George Lange, MD, of River Hills (incumbent and eligible for reelection); Charles Rainey, MD, JD of River Hills (ineligible for reelection)
  • AMA Alternate Delegate for 2022 and 2023 – Don Lee, MD, of Milwaukee; Nameeta Dookeran, MD, of Waukesha (both incumbents and eligible for reelection)

 All candidates must submit a curriculum vitae not to exceed three pages, a cover letter no longer than one page, a completed candidate questionnaire for the office the candidate is seeking and a completed Disclosure of Significant Affiliations (conflict of interest) form. The candidate questionnaire forms are available here.*

The Nominating Committee will meet Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. The Committee will interview and evaluate the candidates for Society offices and prepare a slate of nominees for presentation to the membership.

Those serving on 2020-2021 Nominating Committee are:

  • District 1—Arthur Angove, DO, of New Berlin; Joshua Gershtenson, MD, of Kenosha; David Galbis-Reig, MD, of Racine; Michelle Graham, MD, of Milwaukee; Cynthia Jones-Nosacek, MD, of Milwaukee; Aurora Lybeck, MD, of Hartford; Anthony Rieder, MD, of Wauwatosa.
  • District 2—Lynn Broderick, MD, of Madison; Michele Brogunier, MD, of Madison; Natalie Wheeler, MD, of Madison; Alan Schwartzstein, MD, of Oregon.
  • District 3—Hilary Bingol, MD, of La Crosse; Michael White, MD, of Onalaska.
  • District 4—Larry Gordon, DO, of Weston; Michele Montgomery, MD, of Wausau; William Raduege, MD, of Woodruff.
  • District 5—Bret Pasiuk, MD, of Fond du Lac.
  • District 6—Bradley Burmeister, MD, of Green Bay.
  • District 7—Cecil Berlie, MD, of Eau Claire; Lee Hofer, MD, of Eau Claire.
  • District 8—Charles Bertel, MD, of Ashland.
  • Specialty Sections—Vacant.
  • Resident/Fellow—Evan Henricks, MD, of Milwaukee.
  • Medical Students—Kyle Bevers, Medical College of Wisconsin; Noah Borchardt, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Communications to the Nominating Committee should be addressed to Clyde “Bud” Chumbley, MD, MBA, CEO, Wisconsin Medical Society, PO Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701. Communications also can be emailed to Noreen KruegerClick here to learn more about the nominating process and to download the candidate questionnaires and the conflict of interest form.*

Note: The Society will post the completed candidate questionnaire and cover letter on WisMed Community upon submission. The Society will post the conflict of interest form of all candidates selected by the Nominating Committee as nominees on WisMed Community after nomination by the Committee.

For questions or more information, email Noreen Krueger.

*WisMed Community is a members-only resource and will require you to log in. For questions or assistance please contact Anne Hauer.

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Nominations open for 2021 Physician Citizen of the Year Award

The Wisconsin Medical Society (Society) is now accepting nominations for its 2021 Physician Citizen of the Year Award. First established by the Society in 1982, the award recognizes and encourages Wisconsin physicians who volunteer their time and talents through civic and cultural activities—helping to improve the health and well-being of their communities.

Consider nominating a friend, colleague or personal physician for this award. The requirements for nomination are:

  • The physician must be a Wisconsin resident.
  • The physician must be a medical doctor (MD) or doctor of osteopathy (DO).
  • Except in unusual circumstances, the service to the community should be uncompensated.
  • Previous winners of the award are not eligible. (Email Noreen Krueger to find out if your nominee is a previous winner.)

Click here to complete the nomination formThe nomination deadline is December 31, 2020.

2020 Physician Citizen of the Year Award recipient, Jose Ortiz, Jr, MD, was recognized during the November Board of Directors meeting. Dr. Ortiz was honored with this award for his dedication to medical education, public health initiatives and his work with the Chippewa Valley Free Clinic. Dr. Ortiz brought activities of the Wisconsin Science Festival to the Eau Claire area and established and nurtured the Medical Experience Program to engage youth to consider careers in medicine. Please share your congratulations for Dr. Ortiz on WisMed Community.

Previous Physician Citizen of the Year recipients include Kenneth Gold, MD, of Beloit (2019); Gloria Halverson, MD, of Milwaukee (2018); Paul Durbin, MD, of Racine and Tim Westlake, MD, of Oconomowoc (2017); Michael Ostrov, MD, MS, of Madison (2016); Steven Manson, MD, of La Crosse (2015); and Gordon Haugan, MD, of Green Bay (2014).

For more information, contact Noreen Krueger.

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Insurance – a critical piece of your financial plan

Mark Ziety
Mark Ziety, WisMed Financial, Inc.

Join WisMed Financial next week for the last episodes of the Lunch & Learn series focusing on a critical part of all financial plans – insurance. Some of the insurance experts from WisMed Assure, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s insurance agency, will help host the presentations and discuss how insurance fits with financial goals.

Tuesday’s session will focus on how insurance needs change over time. For instance, life insurance is critical for young parents, but once the kids are out of the house and investments increase, is it still necessary? The session will also explore disability insurance and if it should be replaced with something else closer to retirement.

Thursday’s session is designed for people in or near retirement who are facing multiple insurance decisions. Attendees will learn how to bridge the gap between early retirement and Medicare at 65. The session will also clear up the alphabet soup of Medicare A, B, C and D, Medicare Supplements, Medigap and Medicare Advantage. Additionally, we’ll discuss long-term care insurance options since long-term care expenses are the greatest financial risk to retirement.

Please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750 with any questions and join either of next week’s Lunch and Learn sessions, which are scheduled from 12-12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

WisMed Financial

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

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