Dr. Margaret “Gretchen” Schwarze, professor of surgery at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, was recently elected as a member of the National Academy of Medicine for her pioneering work that has transformed how surgeons communicate with patients about major treatment decisions and informed consent for surgery.
Schwarze’s innovative empirical bioethics scholarship and internationally recognized groundbreaking framework, the Best Case/Worst Case tool, have also been applied in the disciplines of geriatrics, oncology, palliative and critical care medicine.
“I am honored to receive this professional recognition and grateful for the University of Wisconsin and the Departments of Surgery and Medical History and Bioethics for supporting this important work for patients and families,” said Schwarze, who is also a vascular surgeon at UW Health.
For Schwarze, this honor builds on other career achievements, including being named an inaugural member of the National Academy of Medicine’s Emerging Leaders Forum in 2017, as well as being named the Morgridge Professor in Vascular Surgery at the school.
She joins more than 2,400 members of the academy who are elected in recognition of outstanding professional achievement, according to the academy website.
Founded in 1970 as the Institute of Medicine, the National Academy of Medicine is one of three academies that make up the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in the United States. The academies are private, nonprofit, nongovernmental institutions that provide objective advice on matters of science, technology and health. The roots of the academies date to the founding of the National Academy of Science in 1863 by an Act of Congress signed by President Abraham Lincoln to serve as an advisory body to the nation.
Schwarze received her medical degree from Harvard and completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital. She completed fellowship training in vascular surgery and clinical medical ethics at University of Chicago Hospitals, as well as a research fellowship at the Transplantation Biology Research Center in Boston.
Her scholarly achievements in biomedical ethics applied to surgical decision-making are a shining example of multidisciplinary research excellence.
- Nita Ahuja
Her expertise in surgical decision making, informed consent, advance directives and end-of-life care has inspired research focused on improving communication between older patients and their surgeons so that patients can avoid unwanted treatment and make decisions that align with their values, preferences and goals.
Being elected to the National Academy of Medicine speaks to the quality of the life-changing care and research Schwarze has achieved, according to Dr. Nita Ahuja, dean, UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
“The National Academy of Medicine impacts national health policy and thereby the health of all Americans, and Dr. Schwarze is perfectly suited to advise in this role,” Ahuja said. “Her scholarly achievements in biomedical ethics applied to surgical decision-making are a shining example of multidisciplinary research excellence.”
