Health & Harmony is here! Thank you to our sponsors!

A huge thank you goes to each and every sponsor for supporting the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s (Foundation) mission to increase health equity across Wisconsin. We would like to extend a very special thank you to our Diamond Sponsor, Gilead, and our Gold sponsors, ProAssurance and Guardant Health. All Health & Harmony sponsors are helping the Foundation support future health care professionals, uplift our physician workforce, and encourage youth to live healthily and consider careers in health and medicine.

2 Roots Art & Wine Gallery    •    Brown County Medical Society     •    Dane County Medical Society    •    Doctors David Falk and JoAnne Robbins    •    La Crosse County Medical Society    •    Medical Society of Milwaukee County    •    Michael J. White, MD    •    Michelle Graham, MD    •    Waukesha County Medical Society    •    Western Wisconsin Medical Society

Medical Student Sponsor: Thank you to Barbara Hummel, MD, for your sponsorship to support medical students!

We are so excited to see you at Health & Harmony on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Madison Marriott West in Middleton. We have incredible auction prizes thanks to our many in-kind donations. The Health & Harmony Foundation Silent Auction at Health & Harmony offers something for everyone. Set up your bidding profile today for seamless online bidding through the Givi app or online. Placing a bid is as easy as logging in using the email used to register for Health & Harmony and entering your preferred payment method. You can set maximum bids to stay ahead of the game! If you have any questions about the Silent Auction or bidding, please reach out to Yoshie Wingate at [email protected].

Proceeds from this event support health initiatives across the state and our well-trained and dedicated physician workforce in Wisconsin. Not able to make it to the event? You can still support the Foundation mission when you donate here. 

Learn more about the event here, including complete schedule and speaker info, and register here. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

Plan your time at Health & Harmony, May 1-2

One of Health & Harmony’s defining features is convenience. Educational sessions, meetings, celebrations, and networking opportunities all take place at the Madison Marriott West, creating a seamless and engaging weekend experience.

Click here to learn more and view the schedule. Event registration provides access to a series of signature gatherings, including:

Friday, May 1 – Foundation Fundraising Dinner

• Silent Auction and Golden Ticket Raffle: Enter for chances to win amazing prizes such as an iconic destination vacation while supporting the Foundation’s mission
• Awards: Celebrate Rolf Lulloff, MD, as 2026 Superhero of Medicine
• Keynote Speaker: Hear from Ricardo Nuila, MD, author of The People’s Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine

Saturday, May 2 – Wisconsin Medical Society Annual Meeting, Presidential Inauguration, and Awards

• Annual Meeting: Receive WisMed business, advocacy, and clinician health and wellness program updates
• Educational Conference: Engaging CME focused on public health in Wisconsin
• Presidential Inauguration and Awards: Recognize excellence in medicine and welcome incoming WisMed President Michael White, MD

These events celebrate leadership, recognize excellence, support the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation, and create opportunities for connection, all included with registration and conveniently hosted in the same location.

Click here to learn more about the event, including complete schedule and speaker info, and register here. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.

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Doctor Day June 25, 2026 – Register Today

Doctor Day is the premier event for Wisconsin physicians of all specialties. This popular annual event brings together physicians and medical students from nearly 20 different physician organizations. This year’s gathering is set for Thursday, June 25, 2026 at the Monona Terrace in Madison.

Registration is now open at widoctorday.org, so sign up today. This year, Doctor Day takes a fresh approach, focusing on advocacy education, upcoming elections, and the key issues impacting Wisconsin physicians and their patients. While the event will not include legislative visits, attendees will engage in powerful sessions designed to help physicians make their voices heard and shape the future of medicine in our state. It will be the perfect time to plan for the upcoming 2027-28 state legislative biennial session. Learn first-hand how you can make a difference in the legislative process!

Contact Mark Grapentine with any questions.

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How to Be an Advocate as a Med Student

It’s exciting when medical students invite Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) staff to present about the importance of advocacy. WisMed Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD recently spoke to medical students from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Wausau and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison (pictured).

If you’re looking for an engaging speaker for your next event, the WisMed Speakers Bureau can connect your organization with knowledgeable physicians and health care leaders who can present on a wide range of medical and health-related topics. Click here to learn more.

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Final Opportunity to Complete the DEA MATE Act Training Course Through WisMed

Health care professionals seeking to meet their Medication Access and Training Expansion Act requirements still have time to enroll in the highly rated DEA training course offered by the Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) in collaboration with Decera Clinical Education. However, this opportunity is coming to a close.

Course Availability and Expiration Notice

The course will remain posted on our website and available for purchase through May 30, 2026. After this date, the course will be permanently removed from the site and will no longer be accessible.

To ensure a smooth experience, learners should be aware of the following:

• The course must be completed prior to May 30, 2026
• After this date, the course will no longer be accessible
• No refunds will be issued for purchases made after May 15, 2026

We strongly encourage learners to plan accordingly and allow ample time to complete all course requirements well before the expiration date.

Exclusive Discounts Available

WisMed is pleased to offer discounted enrollment options:

• WisMed members: Use code WISMED100
• Nonmembers: Use code WISMED50

With the course set to retire at the end of May, now is the time to act. Don’t miss your chance to complete this trusted, high-quality training course. Enroll now!

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Beneficiary vs. Will

For many physicians, the primary goal of an estate plan is efficiency—ensuring assets move to heirs with as little friction, cost, and delay as possible. Broadly speaking, there are two primary ways to achieve this: the "Direct Path" of designations and the "Legal Roadmap" of a Will or Trust.

Path A: The Direct Path (POD, TOD, and Beneficiary Designations)

The most direct way to transfer assets is to name a recipient directly on the account or title. These "will substitutes" allow assets to bypass the probate court entirely, usually requiring only a death certificate for the transfer. However, they don’t allow for complex "what if" scenarios, such as protecting an inheritance from a beneficiary’s creditors or managing funds for minor children.

• Bank Accounts (POD): A "Payable on Death" (POD) designation on checking or savings accounts keeps these funds liquid and accessible to heirs immediately.
• Taxable Brokerage Accounts (TOD): By adding a "Transfer on Death" (TOD) registration to your taxable accounts, you can direct specific percentages to children or elsewhere without these assets being tied up in a will.
• Real Estate (TOD Deeds): In many states, including Wisconsin, a Transfer on Death Deed allows you to designate a beneficiary for your home or other real estate. Like a beneficiary form for an IRA, this deed keeps the property out of probate while allowing you to maintain full control during your lifetime.
• Retirement Accounts (403(b), IRA, 457) and Life Insurance: These are essentially contracts. The beneficiary form you signed years ago (and should review today) dictates who gets the money, regardless of what your will says.

Path B: The Legal Roadmap (Wills and Trusts)

The second path involves running assets through a formal legal document. This is necessary for assets that don't have a direct designation feature (like personal property) or when you need a "manager" for the assets after you’re gone.

• The Will: A will acts as a catch-all for anything not transferred via the Direct Path. However, assets passing via a will must generally go through probate. This court-supervised process is public and can be slow, which is why many people aim to minimize the number of assets governed by the will.
• The Revocable Living Trust: A trust acts as a private entity that owns your assets. You control it while alive, and a successor trustee takes over upon your passing.
• The Advantage: Unlike a will, a trust avoids probate.
• The Control: A trust allows you to dictate how and when money is distributed (e.g., "distribute 25% at age 25, the remainder at 35"). This could be important if you have minor children, high-value accounts, or if you want to protect a beneficiary with special needs or spendthrift tendencies.

Which Path Should You Take?

For most medical professionals, the answer could be both, used in coordination.

1. Use the Direct Path for liquid accounts and real estate where you want a simple, immediate transfer to adults who can manage money.
2. Use a Trust for complex family situations, significant taxable wealth, or when you want to provide asset protection for your heirs.
3. Use a Will as a "safety net" to name guardians for minor children and to catch any miscellaneous assets that you forgot to add to the trust.

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

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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Upcoming: Walk With a Doc at McKee Farms Park on Saturday, May 1

Join Wendy Molaska, MD, for a Walk With a Doc on Saturday, May 1 at 9 a.m. at McKee Farms Park to learn about health and meet new people. May's health talk will be about the attitude of gratitude and we'll celebrate the one-year anniversary of Walk With a Doc in Fitchburg!

Feel free to bring a friend, your children, or your pets — everyone is welcome! Participants are encouraged to ask questions and walk at their own pace. It’s been great having participants of all ages.

You're invited to join us for Walk With a Doc the first Saturday of each month at 9 a.m. at McKee Farms Park, location made possible by sponsorship from YMCA Dane County, Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation), Wisconsin Medical Society, and our wonderful physician leaders and clinics. You can pre-register here.

Dane County Medical Society Launching Walk With A Doc

Join the Dane County Medical Society for their Walk with a Doc, kicking off May 17. It will be held every 3rd Sunday of every month, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Brittingham Park in Madison.

This event is free and welcoming for all ages and abilities, with a path that accommodates wheelchairs and strollers. Walking promotes health and community - and provides an opportunity for those in the Madison area to join in on a brief health talk with physicians.

If you are interested in starting a Walk With a Doc program in your own community, or if you would like to participate as a physician speaker, please contact Yoshie Wingate for more information.

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Physician Wellness Resources for WisMed Members

As part of our mission to support physician well-being, the Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) offers physician wellness resources for all WisMed members.

Marvin is a confidential counseling and coaching service with flexible hours available via teletherapy to all Wisconsin Medical Society members.

Core Choice, provided by Erica Larson, DO, focuses on your complete wellness. Dr. Larson uses a holistic approach with a comprehensive assessment and advanced diagnostics, and all Wisconsin Medical Society members receive a 25% discount on the assessment.

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