Donor News: Advancing Philanthropy for the School of Medicine and Public Health

Recent changes at the University of Wisconsin Foundation have positioned the School of Medicine and Public Health for even greater philanthropic success.

An expanded Medical Advancement Group will work closely with medical school leadership to advance the School of Medicine and Public Health's tradition of teaching, research and service excellence.

New collaborations will work toward achieving a vibrant development program that engages individuals passionate about the School of Medicine and Public Health and connects them with philanthropic opportunities that will make the critical difference in future medical school accomplishments.

Nancy Francisco-Welke and Brad Jolin have been identified as the new leaders of the Medical Advancement Group, which in addition to the School of Medicine and Public Health will represent UW Hospital and Clinics, the School of Veterinary Medicine and the Waisman Center. Mark Lefebvre, who led the group for the past 17 years, has taken on a new role at the foundation as senior vice president for principal gifts.

Francisco-Welke has worked as the senior director of development for UW Hospital and Clinics for the past nine years and led the campaign to build the American Family Children's Hospital. Jolin has led the development efforts for the School of Veterinary Medicine for nearly four years.

Jill Watson has been appointed the new School of Medicine and Public Health director of development dedicated solely to medical alumni. She may be familiar to many alumni as the result of her work at the Foundation in support of the medical school for the past 10 years.

Watson plans to engage and reconnect alumni with the school.

"I want to hear their stories about the SMPH and learn how they impacted their lives and professional careers, and to talk with them about how they might give back to their medical school," she says. "Alumni gifts are key to helping the SMPH achieve its margin of excellence."

The UW Foundation raises, invests and distributes funds for the benefit of UW-Madison. If you have questions or would like to discuss your interest in supporting the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, please contact Watson at (608) 263-3173 or jill.watson@supportuw.org; Francisco-Welke at (608) 263-5960 or nancy.francisco@supportuw.org; or Jolin at (608) 263-5129 or brad.jolin@supportuw.org.

This article appears in the summer 2011 issue of Quarterly.