Apply for a Wisconsin Medical Society office by January 3 - get involved

Applications are being accepted for several Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) offices, and all nomination materials are due to the WisMed Nominating Committee by Wednesday, January 3, 2024.

Candidates are sought for the following offices:

• President-Elect for 2024-2025
• AMA Delegate for 2025 and 2026 (two positions) – Tosha Wetterneck, MD, of Madison (incumbent, eligible for reelection; 2025 and 2026); Barbara Hummel, MD, of Milwaukee (incumbent, eligible for reelection; 2025 and 2026)
• AMA Alternate Delegate for 2024, 2025 and 2026 (three positions) – Corey Cronrath, DO of Eau Claire (incumbent, eligible for reelection; 2025 and 2026); Tony Thrasher, DO of Milwaukee (incumbent, eligible for reelection; 2025 and 2026); vacant position open for 2024 and 2025

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

The Nominating Committee will meet Friday, January 19, 2024, 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.

Those serving on 2023-2024 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; Robert Ripenhoff; David Tylicki, MD; Katheryn Hope Wilkinson
• District 2—Delaine Anderson; Amy Doherty, DO; Michael Grajewski, MD; Sophie Kramer, 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—Brandon Hidaka, MD, PhD
• District 8—Leo Bay, MD
• Specialty Sections—Leslie Abitz, MD
• Resident/Fellow—Isha Jain, MD
• Medical Students—Andrew Labott, Medical College of Wisconsin; Greigory Dimailig, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Communications to the Nominating Committee should be addressed to Mike Flesher, CEO, Wisconsin Medical Society, PO Box 1109, Madison, WI 53701. Communications also can be emailed to Stephanie Taylor.

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

For questions or more information, email Stephanie Taylor.

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Curiosity Unleashed at the Wisconsin Science Festival

The theme of last week’s Wisconsin Science Festival was Curiosity Unleashed, and it certainly was! The Wisconsin Science Festival is a yearly celebration of science with hands-on activities for people throughout the state. The Foundation was excited to join physician volunteers and medical students from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Doctors Ought to Care student group on Wednesday, October 18 at the Discovery Center in Madison, where over 1,000 elementary through high school students from across the state participated.

Attendees learned about the Foundation’s Prescription for a Healthy You Program and were able to experience hands on learning with real human organs. Volunteers shared their knowledge to inspire kids to make healthy choices to keep their own organs strong and to think about careers in health and medicine. Kids could hold an actual human heart, brain, liver, lungs, kidney and muscles. They were able to see the differences between a healthy liver versus a diseased liver and discuss lifestyle choices that contributed to having healthy organs. Prescription for a Healthy You is a program of the Foundation that promotes getting active, eating healthy, drinking water for thirst, mindfulness and exploration of careers in health and medicine.

It was wonderful to see how many children mentioned having an interest in a future career in the medical field. Their interest and in-depth questions piqued the ears of other students nearby and encouraged many conversations. One of elementary school students came back again and again to see the organs and ask more questions. His social media was full of photos of the doctors and medical students as he fully enjoyed his experience.

For more information on the Prescription for a Healthy You program or to volunteer at future events please contact Jaime Craig at [email protected].

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Eight mistakes that can upend your retirement

Pursuing your retirement dreams is challenging enough without making some common, and very avoidable, mistakes. Here are eight big mistakes to steer clear of, if possible.

1. No Strategy: Yes, the biggest mistake is having no strategy at all. Without a strategy, you may have no goals, leaving you no way of knowing how you’ll get there—and if you’ve even arrived. Creating a strategy may increase your potential for success, both before and after retirement.
2. Frequent Trading: Chasing “hot” investments often leads to despair. Create an asset allocation strategy that is properly diversified to reflect your objectives, risk tolerance and time horizon; then adjust based on changes in your personal situation, not due to market ups and downs.¹
3. Not Maximizing Tax-Deferred Savings: Workers have tax-advantaged ways to save for retirement. Not participating in your employer’s 401(k) or 403(b) may be a mistake, especially when you’re passing up free money in the form of employer-matching contributions.²
4. Prioritizing College Funding over Retirement: Your kids’ college education is important, but you may not want to sacrifice your retirement for it. Remember, you can get loans and grants for college, but you can’t for your retirement.
5. Overlooking Health Care Costs: Extended care may be an expense that can undermine your financial strategy for retirement if you don’t prepare for it.
6. Not Adjusting Your Investment Approach Well Before Retirement: The last thing your retirement portfolio can afford is a sharp fall in stock prices and a sustained bear market at the moment you’re ready to stop working. Consider adjusting your asset allocation in advance of tapping your savings so you’re not selling stocks when prices are depressed.³
7. Retiring with Too Much Debt: If too much debt is bad when you’re making money, it can be deadly when you’re living in retirement. Consider managing or reducing your debt level before you retire.
8. It’s Not Only About Money: Above all, a rewarding retirement requires good health, so maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, stay socially involved and remain intellectually active.

For personalized help with your financial plan, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750.

¹ 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. Asset allocation and diversification are approaches to help manage investment risk. Asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee against investment loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

² Under the SECURE Act, in most circumstances, you must begin taking required minimum distributions from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plan in the year you turn 73. Withdrawals from your 401(k) or other defined contribution plans are taxed as ordinary income, and if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal income tax penalty."

³ 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. Asset allocation is an approach to help manage investment risk. Asset allocation does not guarantee against investment loss. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

⁴ The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG Suite is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright FMG Suite.

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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