We hope that you can join us on the evening of Friday, April 14, 2023 at Health & Harmony, when we recognize the outstanding advocacy and leadership of Laurel J. Bessey, MD, recipient of the 2023 Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, Young Physician Leadership Award.
The highly competitive and prestigious Viste Award was established in 2006 in memory of Dr. Viste, a compassionate and passionate physician leader who exemplified commitment to patients, community and the profession of medicine. Nominations for this award must come from physician peers and the recipient must demonstrate activities and values that promote Dr. Viste’s exceptional legacy.
Dr. Bessey, a psychiatrist with UW Health Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute and Clinic and the Associate Program Director for Psychiatry Residency, received multiple nominations highlighting her advocacy and leadership at the local, state and national level. The Foundation Board felt strongly that she was an outstanding physician to carry on Dr. Viste’s legacy and join the other notable recipients of this award. She is very active in the national conversation regarding graduate medical education and has sought out and pushed for ways to improve the quality and experience of psychiatric training. She is a well-respected physician recognized for her excellence in mentoring and teaching.
In addition to presenting an engraved award to Dr. Bessey, the Foundation will contribute a donation in her honor to MEDiC, a student-led organization that runs six free health clinics throughout the Madison area. “We feel so honored to receive this donation," stated Tien Vo, MEDiC Director of Development. “On behalf of our MEDiC student leaders and volunteers, we are proud to continue improving health accessibility by providing opportunities for UW health professions students to serve the greater Madison community."
At the event, in addition to the award recognition, there will be a great social time with colleagues, a lively raffle and wine pull and time to tap and sing along to fabulously fun and talented Piano Fondue, Dueling Pianos. We will recognize several other notable physicians in the state, including our Superhero of Medicine, Karen Watson, MD, and incoming Wisconsin Medical Society President Don Lee, MD.
Proceeds from this event support health initiatives across the state and our well-trained and dedicated physician workforce in Wisconsin.
To partner with the Foundation as a sponsor, click here or contact Mikaela Powers.
In addition to the Foundation celebration and dinner, Health & Harmony includes the Wisconsin Medical Society’s medical education conference and annual business meeting, which will be held April 14 and 15 at the Monona Terrace in Madison. The education conference will focus on justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in health care.
We hope you can join us! Purchase an education conference ticket for just $149 and get one Foundation event ticket for free. Additionally, WisMed members get discounted CME registration! Contact education@wismed.org to get your coupon code. Register here for part or all of the Annual Event.
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