Foundation Presents Emeritus Superhero of Medicine John Ridley, MD

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation is proud to honor John Ridley, MD, as Emeritus Superhero of Medicine during its Annual Event Health & Harmony, Friday, April 11, at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison. The Superhero of Medicine Award is presented annually to recognize physicians who go above and beyond the call of duty to improve the health of their community.

John Ridley, MD, is a retired ophthalmologist who practiced in the Milwaukee and Mequon region for more than thirty years. Growing up and attending college in Indiana, he relocated to Wisconsin with his family in 1961 for his medical residency. In the 1960s, he joined Cream City Medical Society, Milwaukee’s first and only organization of African American physicians, and trailblazed in leadership and advocacy throughout his career. He was a powerful voice that called attention to systemic racism not only in health care and medicine, but also in education and American history.

Amongst numerous affiliations with community, state, and national organizations, he served on the Wisconsin Medical Society Board and AMA House of Delegates during the 1990s and as 2005-2006 Milwaukee Rotary Club President. Colleague Clarence Chou, MD, wrote in his letter of recommendation, “Dr. Ridley’s nemesis is thoughtlessness. He has made a change in the way others see the world around them.” Admired for his unwavering kindness and compassion, Dr. Ridley truly has demonstrated himself as a superhero of the community.

“Being an ophthalmologist has allowed me to witness—both literally and figuratively—the power of vision,” Dr. Ridley wrote. “Receiving this Superhero in Medicine award is a once-in-a-lifetime honor, and it serves as a reminder: You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. Thank you for this wonderful recognition.”

Mark your calendar for Friday, April 11 and get your tickets for Health & Harmony to recognize John Ridley, MD, as Emeritus Superhero of Medicine. In addition to the award recognition, there will be raffles, a poker walk, casino games, dancing, and more! We will recognize several other notable physicians in the state, including incoming Wisconsin Medical Society President Michelle L. Graham, MD, MME, FAAFP.

Proceeds from this event support health initiatives across the state and our well-trained and dedicated physician workforce in Wisconsin.

To partner with the Foundation as a sponsor, click here or contact Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected]. To purchase individual tickets, click here.

Plan your day at Health & Harmony, the WisMed Annual Event on April 11 at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison:

Annual Business Meeting
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WisMed members are encouraged to attend the Annual Business Meeting for advocacy updates and to learn more about what your medical society is up to around the state.  

Medical Education Conference
2 - 4 p.m.

Hear from bestselling author Michele Harper, MD, and a panel of Wisconsin physician authors.           

Inauguration & Foundation Event
4 - 9:30 p.m.

Connect with colleagues and celebrate outstanding health professionals while enjoying dinner, dancing, and raffles - all while supporting the work of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation!

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Reach Out and Read Book Pull at Health & Harmony

The Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation (Foundation) is excited to partner with Reach Out and Read for the book pull at our annual event, Health & Harmony on Friday, April 11 at the Edgewater. Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national non-profit organization that supports early literacy and language development through pediatric clinicians. Across Wisconsin, ROR collaborates with over 300 medical clinics in 60 counties to provide developmentally and culturally appropriate books and resources for more than 146,000 children and their families.

Physicians throughout the state shared their thoughts on the program’s influence. From Dedicated Family Care in Fitchburg, Wisconsin Medical Society Past-president Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP, said, “I can't imagine practicing pediatrics without also doing Reach Out and Read. The delight of the child and the parent is always amazing, and the book actually helps me conduct my developmental screenings.”

David Gerhard, MD, from Gundersen Health System in La Crosse noted that ROR is fundamental to their child health strategy and aligns with their vision: “leading with love, we courageously commit to a future of healthy people and thriving communities.” ROR is positively impactful for children, families, clinics, and their communities—providing opportunities to strengthen caregiver-child relationships and encourage early reading habits.

Addie Knedle, age 11, said, “Reach Out and Read helped me realize how much I love reading and receiving new books. I would like to see the Reach Out and Read program continue to grow and be available in more clinics to help more children develop a love for reading and books like I have.”

“Through our program we have seen countless children develop a love of reading, which sets them up for a lifetime of learning and success,” says DeDe Williams, Reach Out and Read Executive Director. “The money raised with the Reach Out and Read Book Pull at the Health & Harmony event will allow so many more children in Wisconsin to build relationships essential to learn and thrive.”

How the Reach Out and Read book pull works:

1. Attend our event Health & Harmony on Friday, April 11, 2025 to participate.
2. Purchase a book (ROR Books for Schools approved) for $20, there’s a chance of finding a surprise gift (such as a gift card) in your book!
3. Decide whether to keep the book or donate it to Reach Out and Read.

Along with any books, the Foundation will donate funds raised from the book pull to Reach Out and Read Wisconsin.

Get in on the fun! Join physicians and business leaders from across the state to support community organizations, programs that improve health equity and access in your community and statewide, and activities focused on disease prevention, youth education, mental and behavioral health, physician-led research and maintaining a strong and diverse physician workforce. In addition to the ROR book pull, we will be hosting a wine pull, casino games, a Golden Ticket raffle for an opportunity to win a trip to Bali or Italy, and more!

To purchase individual event tickets or become a sponsor, click here. Please reach out to Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Plan your day at Health & Harmony, the WisMed Annual Event on April 11 at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison:

Annual Business Meeting
8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

WisMed members are encouraged to attend the Annual Business Meeting for advocacy updates and to learn more about what your medical society is up to around the state.           

Medical Education Conference
2 - 4 p.m.

Hear from bestselling author Michele Harper, MD, and a panel of Wisconsin physician authors.           

Inauguration & Foundation Event
4 - 9:30 p.m.

Connect with colleagues and celebrate outstanding health professionals while enjoying dinner, dancing, and raffles - all while supporting the work of the Wisconsin Medical Society Foundation!

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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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Get Involved: Attend Your WisMed District or Section Meeting

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) district and section annual meetings are underway, with several still being planned. These meetings are intended to provide information about Wisconsin Medical Society activities, discuss ideas for potential policy proposals to submit via WisMed's PolicyLink,* and conduct any district/section business, including the determination of representation on the Wisconsin Medical Society Board of Directors and Nominating Committee. This page will be updated with additional meeting information like time, location, and registration links, if applicable. You must be a Wisconsin Medical Society member to participate.

Please also register for Health & Harmony, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s medical education, Foundation fundraiser and annual business meeting, will be held April 11 at the Edgewater Hotel in Madison.

For more information contact Kelley Deibert. Click here to find your district and here to find additional details for your meeting. 

• District 1 – March 26
• District 2 – March 23
• District 3 – April 1
• District 4 – March 17
• District 5 – March 6
• District 6 – TBD
• District 7 – March 11
• District 8 – March 20
• Student Section – TBD
• Resident/Fellow Section (RFS) – TBD
• Young Physician Section (YPS) – TBD

*PolicyLink is a members-only resource and will require you to log in. For questions or assistance please contact [email protected].

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Working with WisMed Assure Helps Keep Medical Malpractice Rates in Wisconsin Low

Some good news for Wisconsin physicians, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA), and the hospitals and clinics that employ them: At the last meeting of The Board of Governors of the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund (IPFCF) in December 2024, the Actuarial Committee made the recommendation to keep rates the same for the IPFCF’s Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026. The Board voted and approved that recommendation. The rates are not finalized until passing the Legislative approval process with the joint committee on finance. The deadline for that approval process is mid-April and we expect the rates to be approved.

In 2020, the Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) proposed the idea of a “premium holiday” to the IPFCF due to the impact and uncertainty of the COVID pandemic. The result was three years of no IPFCF premiums from July 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024. This afforded significant savings to physician practices, hospitals, and health systems in a time of crisis. When premium rates were resumed in 2024, they were kept at the same level as prior to the premium holiday. While it is important to keep medical malpractice cost low, it is critical to keep the IPFCF financially healthy. WisMed understands this balance and works closely with its insurance agency, WisMed Assure, to share knowledge and support with the IPFCF.

WisMed has two appointed seats on the IPFCF Board, which currently includes three physicians. WisMed board members and staff participate in several committees of the IPFCF and have long advocated for reasonable rates that keep the IPFCF financially sound but still provide incredible value.

There are only eight states in the U.S. that have excess medical professional liability funds, or “Patient Compensation Funds” and none of them offer the unlimited excess coverage for economic damages that Wisconsin’s IPFCF does. WisMed Assure works closely with the IPFCF to ensure proper coverage. Thanks to decades of advocacy by WisMed and others to keep the IPFCF strong and the litigation environment favorable to health care professionals, Wisconsin’s medical malpractice rates are amongst the lowest in the country. Because revenue and profits earned by WisMed Assure support the advocacy work of the Wisconsin Medical Society, physicians who purchase their insurance from WisMed Assure are helping us advocate to keep Wisconsin one of the best states to practice medicine.

For assistance with your medical professional liability insurance, please reach out to the WisMed Assure Service Team at [email protected], or call 608.442.3810. 

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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Legal Services for WisMed Members

The Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) has proudly partnered with the law firm von Briesen & Roper, s.c. This partnership brings you an expansion of benefits including:

• A no charge one-hour consultation valued at $500
• Reduced rates on follow-up work valued at a savings of approximately $100 per hour
• WisMed Legal Assist Hotline at 608.442.3715 or [email protected]

WisMed members can seek consultation on topics such as regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, starting or expanding a business, contract questions, employment law concerns and more.

To learn more about services and von Briesen & Roper, sc., click here.

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