Wisconsin Medical Society Welcomes Dr. Michelle Graham as Incoming President

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) proudly welcomes Michelle L. Graham, MD, MME, FAAFP, as our next President. A respected leader and passionate advocate, Dr. Graham brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her new role.

Dr. Graham is a board-certified family physician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians who currently serves as a market chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare division. Having served as the County Medical Society President for Milwaukee, she was instrumental in establishing the Medical Society of Milwaukee’s non-profit Foundation and served as its second President.

She was the winner of the Erastus B. Wolcott physician of the year award and has been named as a Titan of Industry for Wisconsin, appearing as one of the 100 top CEOs and C-suite executives in the state. She has had a long-standing commitment to her community in numerous leadership and service roles including serving on the Boards for Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin, the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin and historically, the Foundation for St. Francis and Franklin/Ascension. She has volunteered with Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge, Habitat for Humanity, The Hunger Task Force, and Feeding Wisconsin and has served in multiple medical mission trips abroad.

She previously practiced full spectrum family medicine at an FQHC/Siouxland Community Health Center in Iowa followed by serving as an assistant residency director for the University of Iowa where she specialized in teaching women’s health/obstetrics. She subsequently served as a VPMA for legacy Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare/Ascension before she began her career with UHC.

Dr. Graham steps into her new role at a time of continued momentum for WisMed. With her leadership WisMed will continue its work advancing health care and advocating for its more than 10,000 physician members. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Michelle Graham on her inauguration and in welcoming her to this important leadership role!

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Welcome First-year Medical Students by Sponsoring Their First White Coat!

We invite you to help us carry on a very important tradition of warmly welcoming the incoming class of medical students to the profession of medicine by participating in the 2025 White Coat Campaign. With a gift of $100 you can provide a white coat and personal message of welcome and encouragement for a first-year medical student attending school in Wisconsin. This program leaves a lasting impression on students and inspires success for their medical education.

“Thank you so much for sponsoring my first white coat! This gesture means a great deal to me as I begin my journey in medicine, and I’m honored to wear it as a symbol of the dedication and compassion you’ve shown throughout your career. I will carry your support and example with me as I strive to make a positive impact in health care.” – Rishika Joshi, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH) Class of 2028

“I am incredibly grateful for your generous support in providing my first white coat. This coat represents the beginning of a significant journey in my medical career, and receiving it with your personal note of welcome has made the experience even more special. Please see below for a picture of my mom and me in our Medical College of Wisconsin white coats, it means the world to me that I got to share the celebration with her. Thank you for your support and for being a part of this important milestone in my medical education.” – Isabella Norelius, MCW-Milwaukee Class of 2028

“Thank you so much for your donation, allowing me to receive my first white coat. I am excited to start this journey allowing me to serve my patients and those in Wisconsin.” – Charles Broghammer, UWSMPH Class of 2028

“Thank you so much for this gift - you have donated this not only to myself, but also to my family who have sacrificed so much to help me get to this place in my life. Being the first in my family to attend college and now medical school is something I’m incredibly proud of. This white coat is a tangible symbol of all our hard work. Your gift means more than you can imagine.” – Diana Borrego, MCW-Milwaukee Class of 2028

Rishika Joshi, Isabella Norelius, Charles Broghammer, and Diana Borrego are all recipients of sponsored white coats and letters of encouragement as they entered their first year of medical school in 2024. We need your help to make sure that all students at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and Medical College of Wisconsin receive a coat and note of welcome this year. Participating in the White Coat Campaign is a wonderful way to make a difference in the life of a medical student.

To participate, donate online at foundation.wismed.org/whitecoat or contact Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected].

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We Pumped Up The PAC!

Thank you to everyone who contributed to WisMedPAC and WisMedDIRECT over the weekend. Although we raised just shy of $16,000, we did not meet our $20,000 two-day goal. We’re hoping some of you who couldn’t attend the annual meeting will help us reach that goal. Click here to make your contribution to WISMedPAC or WISMedDIRECT.

The WisMedPAC and WisMedDIRECT funds allow our lobbying team to attend fundraising events, which allows them to talk informally about what matters to physicians and their patients.

Please consider supporting our political action. Thank you to all physicians and staff who made their contributions!

For more information, contact Heidi Green.

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Black Maternal Health Week April 11–17

Black Maternal Health Week, April 11–17, is a time to center the experiences of Black mothers, raise awareness of persistent inequities, and support efforts that aim to improve outcomes for Black families in Wisconsin and beyond. Wisconsin continues to see some of the nation’s most pronounced racial disparities in maternal and infant health. 

The Wisconsin Maternal Care Education Series offers free, virtual continuing education focused on improving the mental health care of Black mothers during and after pregnancy, while addressing root causes of gaps in health outcomes. This educational series was developed and accredited in collaboration with the Wisconsin Medical Society, the Wisconsin Nurses Association, and the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, and is designed to support clinicians across disciplines. 

Register here. If you are interested in learning more about this work or other public health initiatives at WisMed, please reach out to Lee Weintraub, Manager of Practice and Public Health Initiatives at [email protected].

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Thank You for Making Health & Harmony a Success

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Health & Harmony! See photos of the fun on our event webpage.

There's still time to support the Foundation’s Community Grant Program. Every dollar raised supports community health grants for programs that increase health access in Wisconsin and are championed by local physicians! Donate here!

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Wisconsin Science Festival Kickoff Party, April 24

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation invites county medical societies and local health systems to join the Foundation in celebrating science and encouraging kids to consider careers in health and medicine by participating in the Wisconsin Science Festival! Register today for the 2025 Wisconsin Science Festival Virtual Kickoff Party on April 24 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Reach out to Foundation Program Coordinator, Jaime Craig at [email protected] for great ideas on projects your members can do to spark kids’ curiosity about health and medicine in your community!

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Physicians Who Support a Youth Camp

If you are a physician who helps support a youth camp (Scouting America, Girl Scouts, YMCA, church camp, etc.), you need to follow both your organization's accreditation requirements and state code. We are setting up an online meeting for physicians from across Wisconsin to discuss issues and share best practices around medical procedures at camps.

Please email Kelley Deibert at [email protected], she will send you a doodle poll so you can weigh in a date and time for the meeting.

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Tenants Improvements and Betterments: Is Your Clinic Properly Insured?

You’ve invested time and money in making your medical office the perfect space for your practice, but who is responsible for insuring those upgrades? If you lease your office, clinic, or storage space, it’s important to understand per the lease terms who has responsibility for covering any permanent installations and upgrades you make to the property. These are referred to as Tenant Improvements and Betterments (TIB) and can be insured under your Business Owners policy.  

What’s included in the definition of TIBs?

TIBs are upgrades you’ve made to your leased space that can’t be taken with you when you leave. From the Hartford Business Owners policy, TIBs include fixtures, alterations, installations, or additions made part of the building or structure that you occupy but do not own and cannot legally remove.

You’ll want to consider:

• New flooring, lighting, and built-in fixtures
• Walls, cabinetry, and structural additions
• Any other permanent modifications that enhance your space

Often, these improvements won’t be covered by the building owner’s insurance. Most lease agreements make the tenant responsible for insuring the upgrades they install. 

How to make sure you’re covered:

TIBs are added to your Business Owners Policy (BOP) as part of your Business Personal Property coverage. This means your property limit should include the replacement cost of:

• All office equipment—computers, medical devices, and furniture
• Any tenant improvements and betterments you’ve installed
• Leased equipment and property under your care

Even if you haven’t moved into the space yet, your property limit should include the replacement cost of any improvements or betterments you’ve made in getting it ready for occupancy.

 

Contact the WisMed Assure Service Team at [email protected], or call 608.442.3810 for a policy review. They’ll help you assess your business property needs and secure the right protection.

Article originally posted in The Antidote March 11, 2025

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as insurance advice related to your specific policy or situation. Please consult with a qualified insurance advisor or professional before making any policy decisions. Full disclaimer and contact information.

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Register for Doctor Day – A Day of Advocacy of the Capitol on June 3

Doctor Day is just a few months away, on June 3, so be sure to register here. Thanks to our sponsors, Doctor Day is of no charge to physicians and medical students, and we encourage you to save your place now. 

The weather should be great on Lake Monona and the Capitol square. This day of networking, learning, and advocating is an annual event over a decade old and going strong. We look forward to seeing new faces each year!

If you have any questions, contact Heidi Green at [email protected] or 608.442.3720. Click here for the schedule, list of sponsors, and more information.

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