On Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Fluno Center, School of Medicine and Public Health faculty honorees, donors, and leaders gathered for the inaugural SMPH Faculty Investiture Celebration. The event celebrated and honored incredible faculty and recognized the outstanding individuals who make their pioneering work possible through generous faculty support gifts.
This is the first time a school-wide, centralized investiture ceremony has been held, with one of the goals being to provide a consistent experience for all generous donors who establish endowed faculty positions and the faculty who are benefitting from their generosity.
The faculty investiture ceremony is a formal gathering that signifies that a faculty member now holds an endowed professorship, chairship, or fellowship, which are supported through philanthropy. An endowed faculty position is the highest honor the school can bestow on its faculty members. It represents an investment in talent and the future, pushing forward the school’s mission of advancing health and health equity through remarkable service to patients and communities, outstanding education, and innovative research.
Endowed positions enable the school to recognize and advance faculty members’ passionate pursuit to understand, treat, and eventually cure devastating diseases. Furthermore, it allows the school to invest in the next generation of healthcare leaders. The ceremony honored the accomplishments of inspiring and innovative endowed faculty and recognized its philanthropic partners who lead the charge to usher in a new era of medicine.
At the event, a chair, director, or representative talked about each faculty member’s accomplishments and said a few words about the donor behind the endowed position. Dean Robert N. Golden, MD, presented each faculty member with a medallion, which represents all they and the donors have accomplished, and will accomplish into the future. Each recipient also received a plaque that can hold the medallion and be displayed on a wall.
“Our faculty members represent harmonious notes, who join together within and across our departments, centers, and institutes, creating the beautiful sonata that is our School of Medicine and Public Health,” Golden said during his opening remarks at the event. “And we are fortunate to have such charitable patrons who are so dedicated to advancing our missions. You fuel our academic and clinical engines with your altruism and encouragement.”
The event is part of Wisconsin Medicine, the philanthropic partnership between UW Health and UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Together, we are championing patient care, research, and education.
See more photos from the ceremony
Faculty honorees
DANIEL M. ALBERT CHAIR RETINA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Melissa Skala, PhD
Professor, Department of Medical Physics
Founded by Dr. Alice McPherson, the Retina Research Foundation established this chair to advance and support research on diseases and disorders of the retina within the McPherson Eye Research Institute.
ANTHONY J. ARENAS PROFESSORSHIP IN LUNG TRANSPLANTATION *
James Maloney, MD
Professor, Department of Surgery
Jerome and Marie Arenas established this professorship to support a faculty member specializing in the management of lung disease.
SUSAN BEHRENS, MD (CLASS OF 1975) SURGERY EDUCATION CHAIR *
John Rectenwald, MD, MS
Professor, Department of Surgery
Dr. Susan Behrens established this chair to support a surgical educator who provides leadership and is dedicated to improving the art and science of the practice of surgery by example and through research.
JEANNE BISSELL PROFESSOR IN REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE
Jennifer Higgins, PhD, MPH
Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Established by Jeanne Bissell, this professorship provides support to a faculty member who serves as an educational advocate and clinical guide for reproductive justice.
JOHN W. DOOLITTLE AND HELEN DOOLITTLE PROFESSORSHIP
Melanie Schmitt, MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
This professorship was established through the estate of Dr. John W. Doolittle to advance and support the research and scholarly activities of a faculty member within the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
JOHN W. DOOLITTLE AND HELEN DOOLITTLE PROFESSORSHIP
Kimberly Stepien, MD
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
This professorship was established through the estate of Dr. John W. Doolittle to advance and support research and scholarly activities within the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.
ENDOWED PROFESSOR OF HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
Kari Wisinski, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine
This professorship supports a faculty leadership position with the Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care.
JEAN R. FINLEY PROFESSORSHIP IN PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
Christian Capitini, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Established through the estate of Jean R. Finley, this professorship supports research in the field of pediatric hematology and oncology.
FREDERICK GAENSLEN PROFESSORSHIP IN ORTHOPEDICS
Bryan Heiderscheit, PT, PhD
Professor, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation
This professorship was established through a bequest from Clara F. Gaenslen in memory of her husband, Dr. Frederick J. Gaenslen, the first chair of the orthopedic surgery department. This professorship will advance and support research in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation.
GLAXO WELLCOME CHAIR FOR THE STUDY OF TOBACCO DEPENDENCE
Timothy Baker, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine
This chair was established by Glaxo Wellcome, Inc. to advance and support smoking cessation research, education and programs within the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.
CAPRICE C. GREENBERG PROFESSORSHIP IN HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH *
Heather Neuman, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
The Surgical Science Foundation established this professorship to support a faculty member specializing in health services research within the Department of Surgery.
GROSSMAN CHAIR IN HEALTHCARE LEADERSHIP
Peter Newcomer, MD
Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
Established to honor Dr. Jeffrey Grossman’s career and his positive impact on UW Health, this chair was established to support a faculty member who transcends the usual boundaries of their position to provide true “servant leadership” to the academic healthcare system.
NELSON M. HAGAN CLASS OF 1929 CHAIR
Juliet Aylward, MD
Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology
A bequest from the Marjorie Hagan Revocable Trust established this chair in memory of her husband Nelson M. Hagan to advance and support Mohs Micro Controlled Surgery within the Department of Dermatology.
DR. BRUCE AND JUDITH HARMS SURGERY PROFESSORSHIP *
Charles Heise, MD
Professor, Department of Surgery
Dr. Bruce Harms and Judith Harms established this professorship to support a colorectal surgeon within the Division of General Surgery.
EVAN P. AND MARION HELFAER PROFESSORSHIP OF DERMATOLOGICAL CANCER
Vijay Setaluri, PhD
Professor, Department of Dermatology
Established by the Evan and Marion Helfaer Foundation, this professorship supports an accomplished faculty member who specializes in dermatological cancer.
PHILLIP AUGUST AND SARAH NEELY HERRMANN PROFESSORSHIP IN GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
Kelly Lavin, MD
Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
Nina and James Donnelley established this professorship to advance and support the area of General Internal Medicine.
HUMAN ONCOLOGY PROFESSORSHIP *
Zachary Morris, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Oncology
Established with a gift from an anonymous donor, this professorship assists the School of Medicine and Public Health in recruiting, retaining, and recognizing outstanding faculty within the Department of Human Oncology.
FRED LEE, SR., MD, CHAIR *
Scott Reeder, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Radiology
Dr. Fred Lee, Sr. cared deeply for patients, and he believed in and lived
a life of collaboration and multidisciplinary discovery. This chair was established to advance collaborative research between physicians in the Department of Radiology and engineers within the College of Engineering to identify new areas of research and innovation to benefit human health.
ESTHER LOUND MILLARD PROFESSORSHIP IN COMMUNITY HEALTH
David Rakel, MD
Chair, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Established through the estate of Esther Lound Millard, this professorship supports a faculty leader who continues to expand the role of the School of Medicine and Public Health in promoting the health of communities.
MORGRIDGE DISTINGUISHED CHAIR IN HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH *
Corrine Voils, PhD
Professor, Department of Surgery
The Morgridge Distinguished Chair in Health Sciences Research was established by the Surgical Science Foundation to support a faculty member who has demonstrated excellence in health services research.
O’CONNOR FAMILY PROFESSORSHIP IN PEDIATRICS *
Mary Ehlenbach, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
This professorship was established by Dr. Richard and Sheila O’Connor to support ambulatory pediatric health care delivery with an emphasis on the care of children with chronic conditions.
RENNEBOHM RESEARCH PROFESSORSHIP
Anjon Audhya, PhD
Professor, Department of Biomolecular Chemistry
Committed to advancing research, the Oscar Rennebohm Foundation established this professorship to support a leader who is focusing on the research agenda within the School of Medicine and Public Health.
KENNETH D. SKAAR, MD, CHAIR OF PRIMARY CARE
Elizabeth Trowbridge, MD
Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine
Cynthia R. Cannon and Ruth M. Skaar established this chair in honor of their father and husband, respectively, Dr. Kenneth D. Skaar. The Skaar Chair supports an outstanding faculty member of the Primary Care Program within the Division of Internal Medicine.
STEM CELL AND REGENERATIVE MEDICINE RESEARCH PROFESSORSHIP *
Timothy Kamp, MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine
Established by a group of donors from Milwaukee who are passionate about stem cell research, this professorship will help recruit, retain and recognize an outstanding director of the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center.
JUDY AND SAL TROIA FACULTY FELLOW IN IBD LEADERSHIP *
Sumona Saha, MD, MS
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
Established with a gift from Sal and Judy Troia, this faculty fellowship supports the teaching and research of a faculty member in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program.
MONROE E. TROUT CHAIR IN VISION RESEARCH *
Michael Altaweel, MD
Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Dr. Monroe E. and Sandra Lemke Trout established this chair to further research in macular degeneration and other retinal degenerative diseases within the McPherson Eye Research Institute.
TIMOTHY WILLIAM TROUT CHAIR IN EYE RESEARCH *
Akihiro Ikeda, DVM, PhD
Professor, Department of Medical Genetics
Dr. Monroe E. and Sandra Lemke Trout established this chair within the McPherson Research Institute to honor and promote the memory of their son, Timothy William Trout. The appointed faculty member will perform research on (in preferential order): macular and retinal degenerative diseases, glaucoma or Fuchs’ Corneal Dystrophy, or another vision illness in the absence of an outstanding researcher on those specific diseases.
DR. HERMAN AND AILENE TUCHMAN CHAIR IN CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY
Anne O’Connor, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
This chair was established by Dr. Herman Tuchman to advance and support patient care through high-quality clinical and translational research associated with cardiology and heart-related topics.
UW CENTER FOR TOBACCO RESEARCH AND INTERVENTION RESEARCH PROFESSOR
Danielle McCarthy, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine
This professorship was established to advance and support research in the prevention and treatment of tobacco dependence at the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.
UW CENTER FOR TOBACCO RESEARCH AND INTERVENTION RESEARCH PROFESSOR
Megan Piper, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine
This professorship was established to advance and support research in the prevention and treatment of tobacco dependence at the Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention.
UW MEDICAL FOUNDATION PROFESSOR OF PATHOLOGY AND LABORATORY MEDICINE
David Evans, PhD
Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
This professorship was established to advance and support education and research in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
ENID AND JERRY WEYGANDT PROFESSORSHIP IN PEDIATRIC CRITICAL CARE *
Peter Ferrazzano, MD
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Jerry and Enid Weygandt established this professorship to support pediatric critical care within the Department of Pediatrics.
* Matching gift support was provided through the generosity of John and Tashia Morgridge