Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation visits Marathon County

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation attended the Marathon County Medical Society meeting in November. It was great to be back in person, hearing about the community, the struggles they are facing and how Marathon County Medical Society members are coming together to help and support their community.

The Foundation is proud to support Marathon County Medical Society’s efforts in a variety of ways this past year including managing the fund they created to award scholarships to medical students from Marathon County. This year the recipient of their scholarship was Medical College of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student and Wausau native Anna Visser.

Anna stated, “In the future, I plan to remain in Wisconsin, filling the shortage of psychiatrists in rural areas that our state so desperately needs. I will continue treating my patients as whole persons rather than simply their diagnoses, addressing their concerns and providing reassurance.” Her story and plans to support the health of Wisconsin is inspiring and enforces the importance of our scholarship program.

In addition, Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation funded a grant for Keep Area Teens Safe (KATS) – a new organization that opened in 2021. KATS is providing much-needed services that decrease the impacts of teens entering into human trafficking, drug addiction and untreated mental illness. Truly a remarkable and valuable program in the area.

Community health grants make it possible for the Foundation to invest in Wisconsin communities – urban and rural – to support organizations that are driving change in the health priorities set by Wisconsin physicians.

We were honored to be invited to the Marathon County Medical Society meeting and know that we are in this together as we continue to support equity and access to health for all Wisconsin communities.

Learn more about how the Foundation supports medical education and programs to increase health equity and access at foundation.wismed.org.

From now until the end of the year, Foundation and Society Board members will match donations to the Foundation up to $10,000! Your gift helps advance the health of Wisconsin by supporting medical education and programs to increase health equity and access in Wisconsin. Give today to double your impact!

The Family Friendly Mixers that were scheduled for next week have been cancelled. Please watch your email and Medigram for other upcoming events!

District 6 Family Friendly Mixer, Sheboygan – Cancelled 
District 1 Family Friendly Mixer, Milwaukee – Cancelled 

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Get involved – apply by January 2 for a WisMed office

Applications are being accepted for several Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) offices, and all nomination materials are due to WisMed’s Nominating Committee by Monday, January 2, 2023.

Please consider applying for the following offices:

• President-Elect for 2023-2024
• AMA Delegate for 2023, 2024 and 2025 (three positions) – George Lange, MD, of River Hills (incumbent, eligible for reelection; 2024 and 2025)
• AMA Alternate Delegate for 2023, 2024 and 2025 (five positions) – Don Lee, MD, of Franklin (incumbent, eligible for reelection; 2024 and 2025)

Please 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
• AMA Delegate and AMA Alternate Delegate candidate questionnaire form
• President-elect candidate questionnaire form
• a completed Disclosure of Significant Affiliations (conflict of interest) form

The Nominating Committee will meet Friday, January 20, 2023, at 4 p.m. via Zoom. The Committee will interview and evaluate the candidates for WisMed offices and prepare a slate of nominees for presentation to the membership.

President-Elect description

The President-Elect helps WisMed develop innovative ways to maintain its relevancy, increase membership and engage physicians in WisMed initiatives that improve the practice of medicine and the health care environment.

The physician who is elected as President-Elect makes a three-year commitment to WisMed. The physician serves as President-Elect in the first year, automatically succeeds to President the second year and serves as the Immediate Past President in the third year. During this three-year period, the physician will have many duties, some of which include attending Board meetings and annual meetings, working with WisMed Councils/Committees/Task Forces, serving as a spokesperson, visits to county medical societies. The amount of time spent on WisMed activities will vary, but candidates might expect to spend 12–15 days per year on various meetings and other tasks. Some activities might occur on weekends.

AMA Delegates/Alternates description

AMA Delegates and Alternate Delegates innovate and collaborate to advance changes in laws and policies at the national level to benefit physicians across the country, including in Wisconsin.

AMA Delegates/Alternate Delegates attend WisMed, AMA and regional meetings, support campaigns to elect Delegates to AMA committees, serve on special committees and review resolutions and policy positions to advance the interests of Wisconsin physicians and improve the practice of medicine throughout the United States. While the amount of time spent on WisMed activities will vary, candidates should plan to spend 17–20 days per year on various meetings and other tasks. Some of the activities might occur on weekends.

All materials can be submitted via the candidate questionnaire form. Alternatively, communications can be emailed to Stephanie Taylor or mailed to the Nominating Committee at: Mike Flesher, CEO, Wisconsin Medical Society, PO Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701. Access the candidate questionnaire for AMA Delegate and AMA Alternate Delegate or President-elect and the conflict of interest form.

­Those serving on 2022-2023 Nominating Committee are:

• District 1—Arthur Angove, DO; Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD; David Galbis-Reig, MD; Joshua Gershtenson, MD; Cynthia Jones-Nosacek, MD; Anthony Rieder, MD; David Tylicki, MD
• District 2—Lynn Broderick, MD; Michele Brogunier, MD; Amy Doherty, DO; Michael Grajewski, MD; Natalie Wheeler, MD
• District 3—Hilary Bingol, MD; Michael White, DO
• District 4—Lopa Kabir-Islam, MD; Michele Montgomery, MD
• District 5—Joanne Pasiuk, MD
• District 6—Bradley Burmeister, MD; Kenneth Pechman, MD
• District 7—Alison Jones, MD
• District 8—Leo Bay, MD
• Specialty Sections—Leslie Abitz, MD
• Resident/Fellow—Hannah Johnshoy, MD
• Medical Students—Kyle Cass, Medical College of Wisconsin; Alyssa Fleischman, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Note: WisMed will post the completed candidate questionnaire and cover letter on the WisMed website. WisMed will post the conflict-of-interest form of all candidates selected by the Nominating Committee as nominees on WisMed’s website after nomination by the Committee.

For questions or more information, email Stephanie Taylor.

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Wanted: nominate yourself or a fellow physician for the 2023 WISMedPAC board!

Are you interested in the political process and how it affects the medical profession? If so, please consider nominating yourself, a medical student or a fellow physician for the WISMedPAC board.

We are currently accepting nominations to the WISMedPAC Board of Directors. WISMedPAC is the Wisconsin Medical Society’s (WisMed) political action committee and its board is responsible for guiding WisMed’s political contribution efforts. The WISMedPAC board is critical to the success of our fundraising and advocacy efforts.

The WISMedPAC board meets quarterly via Zoom and works to ensure that physicians are active participants in the political process here in Wisconsin and in Washington D.C. Primary responsibilities include directing PAC contributions to candidates who are seeking leadership roles and the leadership committees on both sides of the aisle at the state level. In addition, the board provides advice and input on the staff’s efforts to raise money from physicians.

Nominations are due by Thursday, January 5. Simply submit your name or the name of a physician or medical student and any questions to Heidi Green at heidi.green@wismed.org or 608.358.6116. WisMed members and medical students (member or non-member) are eligible for one-year terms. The WISMedPAC board executive committee will submit the nominations to the WisMed Board of Directors on January 21 and the Board will appoint between eight and 16 new WISMedPAC board members for 2023.

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Weigh in on new WisMed policy proposals

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) members have submitted four new policy proposals which are now posted on PolicyLink* and are open for members to register support, opposition and/or comments. The comment period for this round of policy proposals will be open through Monday, December 12, 2022.

The proposals include:

• Addressing the Black Maternal and Infant Mortality Crisis in Wisconsin
• Closing Wisconsin Firearm Loopholes and Expanding Community Safety Measures
• Expanding Access to Evidence-Based Reproductive Health Care
• Increasing Access to Gender Affirming Care in Wisconsin

To participate in WisMed policymaking:

1. Visit policylink.wismed.org
2. Login with your WisMed username and password*
3. Click “Comment on Proposal” from the menu at the top of the page
4. Select “Comment Period 1”
5. Click on a blue proposal title
6. When ready, click on support, oppose or suggest amendments and submit any comments in the text box below
7. Click “Submit Comment” button at the bottom of the page

After the close of this comment period, proposed policies will move to the Policy Review Committee (PRC) which will review each proposal and member comments to help inform their recommendation to the WisMed Board of Directors (BOD). The BOD will decide whether to adopt, not adopt or make changes to the proposal.   

Have a policy that you want to submit for consideration?
While in PolicyLink click on “Submit Proposal” (in the menu bar at the top of the page) and enter your proposed policy. Policies submitted during this period will fall into the next submission funnel to be posted on March 24, 2023.

For questions about PolicyLink or WisMed’s policymaking process, contact Mark Grapentine.

*PolicyLink requires your WisMed username and password. Click here to retrieve your username or password, or call 866.442.3800 or email membership@wismed.org for assistance.

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Better ways to make year-end charitable gifts

Many of us make charitable gifts toward the end of the year. However, not enough of us do so in the most beneficial manner. Here are the common ways to give and the benefits of each method.

Cash gifts – Straight-forward and deductible if the tax return is itemized.

Giving appreciated investments – A charity can sell the gifted shares and the related capital gain tax is 0% for the charitable organization. The donor typically deducts the full market value of shares as an itemized deduction. Even if the donor can’t itemize deductions, they still benefit by passing the unrealized capital gain to charity.

Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) – After age 70 ½, IRA owners can transfer funds from their IRA directly to charity. Dollars transferred are not included in taxable income, even if claiming the standard deduction. QCD transfers also count toward required minimum distributions.

Bunching deductions – By making 2 years of charitable gifts in a single year, donors may be able to itemize deductions one year and take the standard deduction the next year instead of taking the standard deduction for both years.

Donor advised fund (DAF) – This is a way to bunch deductions and charitable gifts for multiple years. The gift to the DAF triggers a current year tax deduction, and distributions to charity can be spread over multiple years at the donor’s discretion.

For personalized help eliminating debt, investing smart and securing retirement, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

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

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Last chance – UW resident and fellow opt-in deadline December 2

University of Wisconsin residents and fellows are eligible for free Wisconsin Medical Society membership thanks to the UWHC Graduate Medical Education Office as long as they submit the brief opt-in form by December 2.

WisMed works to take care of Wisconsin physicians. Join today to grow your network, enhance your leadership skills, protect your financial health and more!

Please call 800.762.8975 or email membership@wismed.org with any questions.

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William Finlayson, MD, Milwaukee OB-GYN honored for contributions to community

Milwaukee physician and Wisconsin Medical Society member William Finlayson, MD, was honored for his contributions to the Milwaukee community with a road in his name.

In addition to being a beloved physician, Dr. Finlayson is a champion for eliminating housing discrimination, literacy, financial literacy and preserving Black history. Dr. Finlayson was part of the fair housing movement and encouraged former classmate Martin Luther King, Jr. to speak in Milwaukee. Dr. Finlayson also founded the city’s first Black-owned bank to counteract racist lending practices. Alderman Russell Stamper III described Dr. Finlayson as a legend with Alderwoman Milele Coggs noting that his impact is felt by many people in Milwaukee.  

Dr. Finlayson said during the ceremony, “Milwaukee is a great community – we shall make it greater, and I will be a part of that!”

Dr. Finlayson attended Meharry Medical College and completed his residency at the University of Minnesota Medical School, after which he chose Milwaukee as his home. He also served as president of the Cream City Medical Society, Milwaukee Gynecological Society and a delegate to the Wisconsin Medical Society.

Learn more about Dr. Finlayson and watch the video here. 

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Single-dose COVID-19 vaccine vials now available

HHS has opened ordering for a limited amount of the updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people 12 years of age or older in single-dose vials. Deliveries will begin several days later. This vial option is in response to widespread requests from our vaccine administration partners for the greater flexibility it provides.

This limited availability of single-dose vials is designed to allow partners to offer the updated COVID-19 vaccines in more places, such as physicians’ offices or mobile clinics that may not have the capacity or demand to keep multi-dose vials of COVID-19 vaccine on hand. It is the latest step in improving access for COVID-19 vaccines and creates the potential for more equitable availability of this lifesaving product.

Single-dose vials will be available at a minimum order quantity of 50 doses and will be limited to no more than 150 single-dose vials per order. Click here to learn more.

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