Class Notes
Read the latest class notes from Quarterly, the magazine for alumni, friends, faculty and students of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in Madison.
Class of 1968
David Harter retired from private practice in radiation oncology last year. He enjoys living in Florida with his wife, Diane-their backyard is on the St. Lucie River. Their two daughters and their families also live nearby. David is proud of the SMPH and grateful for having the benefit of a Wisconsin education.
Class of 1971
"It is harder to end a practice than to start one," says Allen Alleman of Federal Way (Washington) Family Physicians. He'll work another year or so, and then he will be a "snow-bird."
Class of 1974
Gary Hartman was the lead surgeon on a team that successfully separated conjoined twins Angelica and Angelina Sabuco last November at Stanford University's Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. "It could not have gone better," reported Gary in a press conference. The surgery took nearly 10 hours, slightly longer than anticipated. The riskiest portion of the separation procedure, dividing the girls' livers, went slowly but smoothly. The closure of the girls' separation sites went more smoothly than expected, he added. "We were able to close the abdominal muscles without a graft, and the chest closure also went better than we anticipated." Gary joined Stanford School of Medicine in 2004 after serving as chair of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., since 1995 and simultaneously chief of pediatric surgery at Georgetown University since 1999.
Class of 1975
Lorris Betz will be delaying his retirement a little longer to accept (for the second time, previously in 2004) the request of the University of Utah to act as the interim president. He is currently senior vice president for health sciences, executive dean for the School of Medicine and CEO of the University of Utah Health System.
Class of 1980
In October 2011, Ruth Etzel, of Geneva, Switzerland, was initiated into the Collegium Ramazzini and received the silver Ramazzini medal in Capri, Italy. The Collegium Ramazzini is an independent international academy of 180 experts in the fields of occupational and environmental medicine. Ruth is senior officer for Environmental Health Research in the Department of Public Health and Environment at the World Health Organization and is known as a leader in creating public awareness of the various environmental risks to children and working collaboratively toward solutions. Her epidemiologic research interests include studying the health effects of exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollutants and identifying the environmental precipitants of asthma attacks.
Class of 1986
David Cassidy was given the Bronze Star for his meritorious tour of duty during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan with the 38th Infantry Division for duties performed as a task force surgeon. During subsequent duty as medical director at a U.S. Clinic in Bavaria, Germany, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for leadership involving the implementation of the very first Patient-Centered Medical Home in the European Theater of Medical Operations. David is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Class of 1988
As the Iowa state epidemiologist and medical director of the Iowa Department of Health, Patricia Quinlisk investigates the causes and sources of disease outbreaks. She is responsible for deciding how to handle the outbreaks, communicate with the public, treat those who are sick, protect those who are not and warn the public of any future potential risks.
Class of 1989
During the Annual Education Conference of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in Orlando, Florida, on March 2, 2012, Felix Ankel was a recipient of the ACGME Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award. He is one of only 10 residency program directors across all specialty programs nationally to receive this award in 2012. The ACGME recognizes program directors for finding "innovative ways to teach residents and to provide quality health care while remaining connected to the initial impulse to care for others." Felix is part of the emergency medicine program at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Class of 1990
Daniel Beck has just returned from his fourth medical mission trip to Antiqua, Guatemala. He is part of the Canadian group called Operation Walk. One of the lead orthopedic surgeons in the group recruited Dan to perform the anesthesia (mostly spinals with sedation) for the patients. The focus of the group is to perform knee and hip replacement surgery for Guatemalans who are in need and would not be able to have this surgery without the help of Operation Walk. Dan says, "It truly is a rewarding experience."
Class of 1991
Ann Heaslett accompanied the USA Track and Field LOOK Team (usatf.org) that went to the World Championship in Daegu, Korea, August 27-September 4, 2011. Her husband, Tim Yanacheck, managed the team and she supported it by crewing and giving a scientific presentation on "The Female Athlete Triad." The men's team took the gold medal and the women's team won silver. Ann no longer competes seriously due to hamstring tendonitis but still enjoys running and swimming.
Robert Kerwin is the chairman and founder of Madison Jazz Jam, an all-ages, all-abilities jazz jam. He is editor of Madison Jazz, a blog/website on the Madison jazz scene. Robert plays the saxophone and enjoys jamming with the Mighty Grove Marsheen, Blues by 5 and various other pickup groups. He practices at UW-Madison University Health Services.
Class of 1993
Orthopedic surgeon David Goodspeed was among the service members recently honored by UW Hospital and Clinics. A lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves, he was given a plaque at the hospital's Military Recognition Ceremony on Nov. 11. David was activated three times during the Iraq conflict, each time for about three and a half months. He was responsible for the orthopedic care of injured U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians. He practiced at Pennsylvania State Medical School for 11 years before returning to UW last summer. His father was a Marine and his grandfather fought in the Spanish-American War. "I figure doing some medical work in a combat support hospital or a forward surgical team was the least I could do," he says.
Post-Graduate
The American Psychiatric Association honored Andrew McLean by awarding him the 2010 Bruno Lima Award; he is one of two recipients of this national award, which "recognizes outstanding contributions of members to the care and understanding of the victims of disasters." Andrew has "a particular interest in working with and advocating for individuals with serious and persistent mental illnesses." He has been involved in clinician education and disaster mental health and resiliency issues.