The John D. and Virginia Riesch Scholarship was established with the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation in 2007 and is awarded annually to a medical student and a nursing student who exemplify qualities that promote the highest level of patient care—empathy, recognition of colleagues and support staff, a passion for learning, and a desire to share knowledge with colleagues and patients. Suseela Raj, 2026 recipient of the John D. and Virginia Riesch Scholarship, embodies these values through her commitment to service, leadership, and community-centered care.
Raj is from Green Bay, Wisconsin, where she was raised in a multicultural and multireligious household. Her mother is from rural Wisconsin, and her father immigrated from Malaysia, giving Raj a broad worldview shaped by diverse cultural experiences. She completed her undergraduate studies at St. Norbert College, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in biology, and is currently a third-year medical student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM) Program.
Through her education and experiences, Raj has developed a strong commitment to serving rural and underserved communities. She plans to practice in rural Wisconsin and is particularly interested in pursuing a career in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, where she hopes to improve access to care for patients with chronic pain and physical disabilities.
Raj demonstrates her dedication to community health through extensive volunteerism and leadership. She volunteers with Heartland Hospice, providing companionship to patients, and works with the Center for Veterans Issues in Green Bay, where she delivers monthly health education presentations and builds relationships with veterans in her community. She has also contributed to interdisciplinary initiatives through a Path of Distinction in Interprofessional Practice and Education, collaborating with other health professionals to improve patient care and education.
In addition to her service work, Raj has an impressive record of academic and research achievement. She has contributed to research in transplant nephrology, serving as first author on a study examining vitamin D and post-transplant infection, which was published in Microorganisms. She has presented her work at national conferences and has been involved in additional publications and case presentations, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing medical knowledge.
Raj also holds leadership roles in professional organizations. She serves on the Brown County Medical Society Executive Committee as a student liaison and has held leadership roles within the American Medical Association and the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association. Through these roles, she advocates for medical students, rural health initiatives, and underrepresented communities in medicine.
Raj’s compassion, dedication to service, and passion for learning position her to become a thoughtful and impactful physician. These qualities make her an exemplary recipient of the John D. and Virginia Riesch Scholarship. In response, Raj shares her gratitude for the support, recognizing the importance of investing in future physicians who are committed to serving their communities.
The Foundation’s scholarship program exists to uplift the next generation of health care professionals in Wisconsin. You can support this initiative by donating to the Foundation’s scholarship program. If you would like to learn more about how you can establish a legacy fund, please contact the Foundation with any questions.
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