UW School of Medicine and Public Health Student named Robert Jason Gore Scholarship Recipient

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s Student Support Committee and Board of Directors is proud to announce University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH) and Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine student, David Sonnentag, as the 2024 recipient of Robert “Jason” Gore Scholarship. This scholarship was established to help support the medical education of a student who exemplifies the values Jason Gore lived: chivalry, honor and loyalty, values which will benefit the patients they serve.

David Sonnentag exemplifies these values with his work as an EMT, through the UWSMPH MEDiC Clinics Leadership Council, as a Meals on Wheels volunteer and serving on medical mission trips to Guatemala and Costa Rica where he positively impacts the communities by providing medical care and wellness education, setting up clinics to provide physicals, organizing referrals and distributing medications. Much like his efforts in Central America, his EMT positions were in underserved communities and again taught him the importance of advocating for those in need. This position confirmed David’s goal of working in health care with an ambition to be kind and to advocate for those less fortunate.

David’s career goals include pursuing a specialty in emergency medicine, general surgery or internal medicine. Much of his experience is in underserved communities and he is enrolled in the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine (WARM) MD program. He plans to continue to support these communities where there is inadequate health care and work to find solutions to provide support for those who are unable to obtain affordable health care.  

“With this scholarship, not only are my financial burdens of medical education lessened, but I am also inspired to uphold the principles of selflessness, compassion and dedication exemplified by Jason Gore. I am committed to honoring his legacy by serving my patients and community with the same unwavering commitment and passion,” said David.

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is proud to work with families to create legacy scholarships to honor loved ones, such as the Robert “Jason” Gore Scholarship. This scholarship was established by Donald Gore, MD, and his late wife, Jacquelyn Gore in honor and memory of their grandson who died serving his country as part of the Iowa National Guard’s 186^th Military Police Unit in Iraq.

Please consider supporting medical education by donating to the Foundation’s Scholarship Fund. If you have questions about scholarships or establishing a legacy with the Foundation, please reach out to Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected].

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Annual Health & Harmony Education Conference brings colleagues together

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) was proud to host the annual Health & Harmony Education Conference on April 6 at the Monona Terrace in Madison, Wisconsin.

It was wonderful to be with physician colleagues representing practices and systems throughout the state. The day was filled with presentations, improv, networking and valuable discussions around Physician Wellness including Organizational Compassion, Advocacy, Law and Accelerating Change for a Brighter Future.

Quotes from this year’s attendees include:

• “I learned better ways to help my colleagues with burnout and communication strategies to help them feel heard.”
• "Great topics, overview, speakers, discussion, and interactive opportunities!"
• “Interesting discussions about burnout including is it resilience vs survival as we work through certain issues.”
• “The exercise in focus and using a different part of the brain was wonderful!”

WisMed greatly appreciates the attendees, speakers and sponsors, without whose support, we would not be able to host this event. This education was supported by grants from the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment and the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation’s PIC Wisconsin Fund and Charles W. Landis, MD Memorial Fund.

In order to receive credit for the education sessions you attended, you must complete the evaluation by May 6. Please contact [email protected] for the evaluation link, questions or to provide feedback. 

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Don't miss it – student loan consolidation deadline is April 30, 2024

If you have commercially managed FFEL, Perkins or Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program loans, the deadline for student loan consolidation is April 30, 2024. In addition, federal student loans with different length payment history will also benefit from consolidation.

Why consolidate?

The Department of Education is performing a one-time payment count adjustment on student loans. One of the problems in the past was not qualifying for student loan forgiveness simply due to the loan type. This adjustment will give retroactive payment credits to loans that are normally ineligible. But to continue receiving credits for future payments, ineligible loans need to be consolidated to a Direct Consolidation Loan.

Some loans are not eligible for income driven repayment plans, loan forgiveness or public service loan forgiveness (PSLF). By consolidating ineligible loans to a Direct Consolidation Loan, they become eligible for these programs. You can even consolidate a single loan if that’s all you have.

Loans of differing payment lengths could see an even greater benefit by consolidating. The Direct Consolidation Loan will use the loan with the longest payment history as the payment count for the consolidation loan.

What’s the catch?

Many of the problems consolidating had in the past have also been eliminated. One of the biggest problems was consolidating reset the payment count back to zero. This has been fixed. By applying for a consolidation loan by April 30, 2024, your historical payments will be credited to the new Direct Consolidation Loan. Next, if you have unpaid accrued interest, this could be capitalized (added to the principal) on the new consolidation loan. However, for those working toward loan forgiveness, especially public service loan forgiveness, capitalized interest simply increases the balance forgiven and the total cost of monthly payments does not change. Finally, for those who qualify, Perkins Loan cancellation may be a better option than loan forgiveness programs. Most physicians do not qualify for Perkins Loan cancellation. In the rare cases for those who do qualify, it may be better to exclude Perkins Loans from the Direct Consolidation Loan.

Other details

This short article does not go into all the details of student loans. For more information, be sure to consult your loan servicer, a knowledgeable student loan advisor and online resources about the April 30 deadline and loan consolidation including:

• Payment Count Adjustment
• Pros and Cons of Loan Consolidation
• FFEL Program Loans

For personalized help with your financial plan, please contact Mark Ziety, CFP®, AIF® 608.442.3750. 

WisMed Financial, Inc. is part of the Wisconsin Medical Society

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor or tax professional before making any financial decisions.

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Latest issue of WMJ now available

The latest issue of the WMJ features studies exploring postoperative prescribing practices following gynecologic surgery, whether obstructive sleep apnea during pregnancy is associated with autism spectrum disorder in children, the feasibility of low carbohydrate/time-restricted eating for insulin-dependent type 2 diabetic patients and more.

Read the full issue here.

Subscribe to WMJ and submit a manuscript here.

WMJ (the Wisconsin Medical Journal) is a peer-reviewed, indexed, scientific journal published quarterly and online ahead of print each month.

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New program treats veterans and first responders with traumatic brain injuries

The Medical College of Wisconsin, in partnership with the Avalon Action Alliance (Avalon), has recently launched the BRAVE program. BRAVE is a unique outpatient program that treats veterans and first responders who have acquired a brain injury at any point in their life. BRAVE is the first of its kind in the Midwest and one of only seven in the United States. It was founded by a generous gift from Avalon, a post-trauma, wellness non-profit organization that provides care for the “hidden wounds” carried by veterans, first responders and their families.

Participants in the BRAVE program receive treatment at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin’s Greenfield Highlands Health Center. This program was specially designed for the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the symptoms caused by an acquired brain injury. The program is offered at little to no cost to the participant and no qualified participant will be turned away due to current insurance or financial status. The program is meant to treat veterans and first responders of the Midwest and beyond, regardless of discharge status, veteran status, etc. or if their brain injury was medically reported.

The BRAVE Program is a branch of the Wisconsin Institute of Neuroscience (WINS), a collaboration of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, Children’s Wisconsin and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. BRAVE was designed to treat the invisible wounds of service and war, specifically Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and the physical and mental health issues that result.

The BRAVE team is comprised of psychiatry and psychology to address mental and behavioral health; physical therapy for vestibular, balance and musculoskeletal pain and concerns; occupational therapy to address vision and activities of daily living; speech-language pathology to assess cognition (i.e. memory, thinking, planning) and language; as well as  neurology, social work, case management, veteran/first responder outreach and care coordination to properly address all aspects of the patient’s concerns.

Due to a generous gift from the Avalon partnership that was established within the Avalon network, BRAVE can remove barriers to care (stigma, cost, silos of care, paperwork, logistics, etc.) while offering the veteran or first responder a unique and holistic approach to TBI treatment. The BRAVE Program consists of a 3-day comprehensive evaluation to develop a roadmap to care while identifying root causes to TBI symptoms. From there, an intensive outpatient treatment plan and classes can be tailored based on the patient’s needs and chosen goals. If additional services are identified through the evaluation process, (i.e. more intensive post-traumatic stress or in-patient substance abuse treatment is needed) BRAVE can complete internal referrals for treatment within the Avalon Action Alliance network at no additional cost to the client.

To learn more about the program, click here, visit the website, call 414.427.5370 or email [email protected]. Click here to learn about Avalon's other programs.

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Free access for WisMed members who become new WISHIN participants – only through June

WISHIN is building a statewide health information network to connect physicians, clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and clinical laboratories across Wisconsin. WISHIN gives you access to patient information from sites of care across the state including some healthcare facilities in Northern Illinois and Upper Michigan, regardless of their electronic health record (EHR). Click here to learn more about WISHIN.

Statewide electronic health information exchange (HIE) offers the promise of timely, relevant information that can lead to better clinical decisions, less duplication, more effective transitions of care and reduced administrative costs. It all adds up to better information and better outcomes.

Click here to learn more. For more information about free access to WISHIN Pulse, contact [email protected].

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WisMed members save on tech, office supplies and more with WisMed Perks

You can get Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) branded shirts, tumblers and more! Check out our apparel store here. Additionally, WisMed members can access vendor discounts on a variety of products and services, including technology, travel and more through WisMed Perks. Below are a few examples.

Tech and Electronics

During Lenovo's 'You Pay What We Pay' event, shop unbeatable deals on YOGA convertible 2-in-1 and save big, with discounts of up to 68% on top-notch tech products. Click here to learn more or if you need assistance with purchases, call 1.800.426.7235 (M-F: 8 am – 8 pm, Sat: 8 am – 5 pm). Be sure to check the website often – special offers change frequently.

Office Supplies

Look to your ODP Business Solutions™ Savings Program for solutions to help your business succeed and grow – and leverage your WisMed pricing to save on featured products. Shop now here.

Travel Savings Center

WisMed members have access to exclusive travel savings from car rentals, hotels, and ticketing discounts to condos, villas, cruises, guided tours and group travel packages. Find exclusive savings from brands like Avis and Budget, Wyndham, Collette and member-exclusive hotel discount aggregators.

Check back often for new providers and promotions! Whether you simply want to get from here to there or make your dream vacation a reality, WisMed members have all the tools right at your fingertips. Learn more here.

Car rental deals with Avis and Budget

Make the most of your summer travel plans with this limited-time offer on car rentals. Through July 31, WisMed members that spend at least $175 when booking a minimum consecutive three-day rental with Avis or Budget will save on base rates. Terms apply.

To make a reservation with Avis, click here and use your Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number A672086.

To book with Budget, click here and use your Budget Customer Discount (BCD) number B079592.  

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