President's Message

John Kryger, MD '92

Spring brings a new energy to the medical school. We feel the excitement as one school year comes to completion and we begin planning for the next. In all of this, I am reminded of the great mission that is served by our University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) to provide such superior medical education. The commitment to our students, faculty, school, state and society is tremendous!

Our unique school-which combines medicine and public health, our innovative leaders and the novel changes that are being made to the curriculum-place us among the best in the country. As alumni, we take great pride in the accomplishments of our medical school.
Your Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association (WMAA) leadership works very hard to create more and more opportunities for everyone to share in this pride by participating in a variety of activities throughout the year. Please watch for opportunities in your community and make an effort to step forward and get involved. I am certain you will find the rewards gratifying and beyond your expectations.

In March, we had a great Winter Event at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a fun tour and reconnecting of friends. I took a moment to describe the success of our fundraising campaign to renovate the gross anatomy labs. The SMPH remains committed to preserving the time-honored tradition and values of gross anatomy dissection on cadaveric donors.

However, there is so much more we can achieve with updated facilities. After much discussion and planning, the school will continue to offer gross anatomy at the Medical Sciences Center (the old Medical School). This will provide great financial savings and will be a much wiser utilization of our resources. So much of our success as an alumni organization-and as a medical school-relies on the generosity of alumni and friends.

It is with this excitement that I also wish to announce our campaign to boost Middleton Society membership. The Middleton Society recognizes donors who have given at least $10,000 to the school (which can be made in installments over a 10-year period).

We believe that increasing membership by 50 percent in the coming two years is a very attainable goal. When I announced this at the Winter Event, two people immediately declared their commitment to the Middleton Society. At that moment, I realized we are truly fortunate to have alumni who are eager and willing to contribute. This campaign will require many more of you to step forward with that kind of enthusiasm.

As part of this campaign, I invite you to take advantage of an amazing opportunity to enhance your gift by becoming part of the "Great People Medical School Scholarship" campaign. The UW Foundation will enhance your gift by matching it with 50¢ on the dollar. In my recollection, there has been no greater opportunity or time to contribute to our medical school.

The culmination of spring is Medical Alumni Weekend, which is right upon us. Highlights will include the Class of 1959 50th reunion, the Awards Banquet and catching up with old friends. It's an opportunity you will not want to miss!

Please enjoy this installment of the Quarterly. I look forward to seeing you on Alumni Weekend and at other events of WMAA. On Wisconsin!