Welcoming the new students at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

   

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) President Don Lee, MD, welcomed students in person on their first day of school at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH) during their orientation on Monday, August 21, and then again, during their White Coat Investiture and Gold Humanism Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Friday, August 25. It was a great honor to be present both when the students first opened the cards of welcome written by the many Wisconsin physicians who sponsored students’ very first white coat through the Foundation’s White Coat Program, and again, as students donned their white coats in front of family and faculty in Memorial Union.

In addition to sponsoring a white coat, the physicians who donate to the Foundation also support Research Fellowships, Scholarships, mentoring and the Foundation’s annual Operation Education program – which enables specialty exploration. From the first day arriving at medical school in Wisconsin, physicians across the state rally together to ensure students receive a warm welcome to the medical profession and continued support throughout their careers. The Foundation and WisMed are continually listening to students and physicians to better understand the demands and concerns facing medical education and practice and also to celebrate moments of unity in the profession.

Thanks to all who participate in the annual White Coat campaign. You can support the future of medicine in Wisconsin by donating to the Foundation’s scholarship program here. If you would like to learn how you or your county medical society can establish a legacy of support for students, please contact Elizabeth Ringle with any questions.

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Understanding the September Effect

If you ask the average investor which month is the most volatile for the stock market, they’ll probably say October. It’s a reasonable answer, but it’s incorrect.

Despite October’s reputation for market-defining events—such as the crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression, Black Monday’s drop in 1987 and the federal bank bailout at the start of the Great Recession in 2008—over the last 25 years, September returns of the Standard & Poor’s 500 stock index have been worse.¹

This phenomenon has become known as the September Effect. And as you can see in the chart below, this isn’t just a U.S. market anomaly, but a global trend that has been affecting stock markets worldwide.

The September Effect Could Have Multiple Causes

Ask four market strategists what causes the September Effect, and you’ll likely get four different opinions. While statistics show September is more volatile, much of the theory about the September Effect is anecdotal.

Here are a few:

Election Season—September usually begins the U.S. election cycle, which can cause investors to reposition their portfolios if they anticipate a power shift in Washington, D.C. While the 

• September Effect isn’t limited to U.S. markets, U.S. elections can have a ripple effect worldwide. With the midterm election behind us, and the 2024 presidential election a year off, the impact of the election may be more muted this year.

  But politics may still play a role this year. Both the House and Senate will return from their August breaks and will have a few weeks to try to pass spending bills before the end of the current fiscal year on September 30. There could be some headline risk in September due to the possibility of a government shutdown on October 1. Markets may react as they did during the debt ceiling negotiation earlier this year.

• Seasonal Rebalancing—With the end of summer children return to school, vacations end and investors start to position themselves for the final quarter. Trading volume tends to pick up in September as portfolio managers look to the new year. Also, institutions and other large investors may need to update portfolios for year-end reporting. This extra layer of trading can lead to a pickup in volatility.
• Market Psychology—While market psychology and investor sentiment may be hard to quantify, they may be among the most likely reasons for the September Effect. Stocks may be volatile in September because investors expect them to be. The follow-the-herd mentality is hard to resist, especially for some investors. As a result, the September Effect can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Avoid the September Effect – Stick with Your Strategy

Market timing is a challenge because some of the most significant gains happen when you least expect them, while some of the worst days occur when everything seems to be going great. We would all love to miss the worst market days, but it’s difficult to avoid them and still capture the best ones.

So, don’t get wrapped up in thinking about things you can’t control, such as the September Effect. Your investment strategy reflects your goals, time horizon and risk tolerance, and our approach takes into consideration market fluctuations.

¹The S&P 500 Composite Index is an unmanaged index that is considered representative of the overall U.S. stock market. Index performance is not indicative of the past performance of a particular investment. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Individuals cannot invest directly in an index. The return and principal value of stock prices will fluctuate as market conditions change. And shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost.

Resources

Your loan servicer should be able to help, but black and white documentation is always best.

1. Account adjustment and consolidation
2. The new SAVE repayment plan

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.  

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional before making any financial decisions.

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Opioid CME available on demand

Have you completed your opioid education requirement yet? The biennium attestation deadline for your license renewal is October 31, 2023. The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) offers a series of on-demand webinars to meet the Opioid Prescribing Requirement.* All on-demand webinars in the opioid prescribing series have been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ and Maintenance of Certification Part II points for certain specialties. Webinars range from one to two hours in length and can be combined with other education to meet the Opioid Prescribing Requirement. Additionally, WisMed members can access webinars at a discounted rate.

Visit our Education Center to view our entire catalogue of programs. Interested in having in-person education? Email [email protected] for details or assistance logging in.

*The Opioid Prescribing Requirement states that each license holder will be required to take 2 of the required 30 hours on responsible opioid prescription. Multiple courses may be combined that add up to 2 hours. Physicians who do not hold a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration number to prescribe controlled substances are exempt. The new ruling, expected to take effect October 1, 2023, states that training can pertain to “prescribing opioids and other controlled substances” and MEB approval is no longer a requirement. More details are available in the August 17, 2023 Medigram.

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Wisconsin Area Health Education Centers scholarship deadline October 15

The Wisconsin Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Scholars two-year program is designed to enhance and broaden your health training with a combination of didactic education and community-based field placement in a Wisconsin rural or underserved community.

To be eligible, students seeking an MD or DO degree (or one of several other health degrees) must:

1. Be two years away from getting your degree (Fall 2023 Cohort must graduate spring, summer, or fall of 2025).
2. Commit to active participation for two consecutive years while concurrently working toward your degree.
3. Plan to enter the workforce or residency program upon graduation from your current degree program and have an interest in working in a rural and/or underserved area within Wisconsin.
4. Be currently enrolled in or accepted to one of the approved degree programs that are at least two years in length.

AHEC Scholars stand out as exceptional and committed health professions students. Through this two-year program, you will:

• Expand your knowledge of the health challenges and contexts of rural and underserved populations in Wisconsin to help you become a better professional
• Build a professional network within a variety of health disciplines
• Earn a $1,500 stipend over the course of your commitment
• Receive a digital badge to recognize your achievement
• Gain a competitive edge in marketing yourself to employers

Click here to learn more and apply before October 15, 2023.

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Providing Culturally Relevant Care to the Latinx/e Community – free webinar

The free training for health care professionals, Providing Culturally Relevant Care to the Latinx/e Community, will be held online on Monday, October 9 from 4-6 p.m. and Monday, October 16 from 3-5 p.m. The sessions will present the same information. This course is funded by a grant from the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s Henry and Irene Anderson Fund to the Latino Health Council. The mission of the Latino Health Council is to promote and support the health and well-being of the Latino community through education, advocacy, consulting and networking.

The training will be led by 2022 Superhero of Medicine recipient and Associate Professor in the University of Wisconsin Family Medicine Department, Patricia Tellez-Giron, MD, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at UW Health, Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, MA, DDM, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director at RISE Wisconsin, Fernando Cano Ospina. This webinar will give you tools to be able to provide better care for your Latinx patients and families and will focus on the following learning objectives:

• Describe the barriers faced by emerging Latinx/e communities in receiving quality culturally sensitive care.
• Explore the fundamental concepts at the intersection of immigration and health care. 
• Learn about community assets and key strategies to provide culturally and linguistically relevant care to the Latinx/e communities.

The Latinx/e communities are now the largest non-White racial or ethnic group in the nation and in Wisconsin, account for 19% of the US population and 7.5 % of our state. A community with many protective factors and resilience, the Latinx/e community continues to be impacted by systemic inequities that have led to a higher burden of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and mental health illnesses.

The impact of specific social determinants of health like a broken immigration system, the lack of access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services, higher poverty rates and personal and cultural beliefs are disproportionally affecting the health of the Latinx/e community. All physicians and health care staff are encouraged to participate. Please register for the event here. Questions about the training can be directed to the Latino Health Council at [email protected].

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is proud to support physician-championed community health programs to increase health equity and access in Wisconsin. To learn more about the Foundation Grant program, please contact Jaime Craig at [email protected]. Your gifts to the Foundation will go to support other important programs in Wisconsin providing direct support to people in need. Give to the Foundation here.

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WisMed mourns loss of Oladapo Igandan, MD

We are deeply saddened by the death of Oladapo Igandan, MD. Dr. Igandan, 49 years of age, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 11, 2023. He is survived by his wife, children, mother and siblings.

Dr. Igandan was an internist practicing hospital medicine. He was a member of the hospital medicine department at Mayo Health System in Eau Claire, Wis. where he had worked for more than five years. He was known to be a good teacher and he worked regularly with medical students, residents and APP staff. Dr. Igandan achieved the rank of Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and Science and was board certified in internal medicine.

He worked on quality projects during his career and was instrumental in adopting the MEWS scoring system for inpatient care which may identify patients at risk of clinical decompensation.

Dr. Igandan enjoyed spending time with his family, watching soccer, traveling and listening to jazz and soul music. He was well liked by all, and will be missed by all those who knew him. His funeral occurred on August 25 in Eau Claire, Wis. Dr. Igandan’s obituary can be found here.

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Savings for WisMed members

Through WisMed Perks, Wisconsin Medical Society members can access vendor discounts on a variety of products and services, including hotels, office supplies and technology. Below are a few examples. 

Hotel Discounts

Seize the remainder of summer by booking your next hotel stay with Hotel Engine! Use your member-only savings to access top deals from leading global hotel brands. Sign up for free and start saving today.

Travel Savings Center

WisMed members have access to exclusive travel savings from car rentals, hotels, and ticketing discounts to condos, villas, cruises, guided tours and group travel packages. Find exclusive savings from brands like Avis and Budget, Wyndham, Collette and member-exclusive hotel discount aggregators. 

Check back often for new providers and promotions! Whether you simply want to get from here to there or make your dream vacation a reality, WisMed members have all the tools right at your fingertips. Learn more here.

Office Supplies

For a limited time, members can get free next business day delivery on all online ODP Business Solutions™ orders of $30 or more (previously $50). Plus, online orders of less than $30 now ship for $4.95 (previously $9.95). Shop now here.

Technology

Save up to 72% off Lenovo’s coolest tablets, laptops, accessories, software and more now through September 10, 2023. Plus, sign up for MyLenovo Rewards and get free expedited delivery. Click here to shop, or if you need assistance with purchases, call 1.800.426.7235.

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