June Referendum Town Hall recording, materials now available to members

Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) leaders held a Town Hall on June 5, 2024 to share information related to the August 2020 decision by the WisMed House of Delegates (HOD) to eliminate itself as the organization’s ultimate policymaking body. That action also scheduled a member-wide referendum for June 2024 to ask whether WisMed should resurrect its HOD – that referendum is scheduled for June 24 through June 30.

A recording of the Town Hall and other pertinent materials are now available for WisMed members here. Along with the information related to the 2020 action, the panel also shared facts and data on WisMed staffing and policymaking-expenses over the last decade, how many other state medical societies have similarly evolved their policymaking process away from a once-per-year, in-person HOD, and answered questions that had been previously submitted. The panel also took questions from attendees, allowing for a lively discussion on WisMed’s policymaking experiences, advocacy efforts overall and frank descriptions of what a reversion to the old system might portend.

For more information, contact WisMed Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD.

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Reminder: PolicyLink open for comments through June 12

Five new policy proposals have been submitted for Wisconsin Medical Society (WisMed) Member review – you can add your stance and any comments now through June 12, 2024 on the members-only PolicyLink website.*  

The proposals include:

• Increasing Public Transportation Efforts in Wisconsin
• Advocating for the Use of Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children (SEBTC) and Universal Free School Meals to Reduce Childhood Food Insecurity
• Collective Action to Address Physician Burnout
• Incorporation of Lifestyle Medicine Education into Medical School Curriculums and Continuing Medical Education
• Supporting Affirmative Action in Medical Schools and Healthcare Systems in Wisconsin

To participate in WisMed policymaking:

1. Visit policylink.wismed.org
2. Login with your WisMed username and password
3. Click “Comment on Proposal” from the menu at the top of the page
4. Select “Comment Period 1”
5. Click on a blue proposal title
6. When ready, click on support, oppose, or suggest amendments and submit any comments in the text box
7. Click “Submit Comment” button at the bottom of the page

WisMed’s Policy Review Committee will review all member feedback at its June 24, 2024 meeting and make recommendations on each proposal to the WisMed Board of Directors. The Board will discuss those recommendations at its next meeting in mid-July and vote to approve, modify, not approve, or recommend further study. Those outcomes will be posted on PolicyLink for member review and feedback.

If you have any questions about PolicyLink or the policymaking process, please contact WisMed Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD. If you need assistance with your WisMed login or password, call 866.442.3800 or email [email protected].

*PolicyLink requires your WisMed username and password. Click here to retrieve your username or password, or call 866.442.3800 or email [email protected] for assistance.

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Cyril “Kim” Hetsko, MD Trainee Leadership Fund supports student advocacy

The Cyril “Kim” Hetsko, MD Trainee Leadership Fund was established last year to defray meeting expenses for physician trainees, with the goal of providing mentorship and to help build their medical careers with advocacy and health policy integrated into their work and group experiences. These were efforts that Doctor Hetsko was a fierce champion for during his many years of service to the Wisconsin Medical Society. Through donations made to this fund, the Foundation has been able to award stipends to several students, including UW School of Medicine and Public Health students Jared Boyce and Karla Wetley and MCW-Green Bay student Mingee Kim, all of whom plan to attend the AMA House of Delegates this weekend.

Past recipient Greigory Dimailig, a student at UW School of Medicine and Public Health, was able to attend the AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference on March 7-8 of this year, and offered the following on his experience: “This was my first National AMA conference, and it was an amazing experience.” He and other students were able to hear from great speakers including Representative Kim Schier, a former pediatrician who is now in Congress, Admiral Rachel Levine, the assistant secretary for health, and David Lusk, the founder of Key Advocacy. He received education on the three big topics for the session including substance use disorders, increasing residency slots and improving cost sharing with patients. Greigory added, “I made a lot of great connections, not only with other medical students in Wisconsin, but medical students from all over the country. The meetings with my Wisconsin representatives went well as we were able to start the relationship between Wisconsin medical students and their staffers. This was an invaluable experience, and I will be attending more advocacy events in the future.”

As a student member of the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee of the Wisconsin Medical Society and Foundation, Greigory is dedicated to advocating for health care access and increased representation for people of color in medicine. He cites experiences like this as being pivotal for his growth as an advocate, ensuring better service to future patients.

Please consider donating to the Cyril “Kim” Hetsko, MD Trainee Leadership Fund to support more of these meaningful experiences for students, residents and fellows so that they may follow in Doctor Hetsko’s legacy of being a complete physician actively involved in advancing health policy and patient care. These awards are only possible based on donations received directly to the fund. If you have questions about the fund, please contact Elizabeth Ringle at [email protected]. You can donate to the fund here.

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Doctor Day 2025

Doctor Day is set for Tuesday, June 3, 2025 in Madison. We will be returning to the Monona Terrace to enjoy the beautiful views and weather in the morning, with a schedule full of speakers, networking and briefings. The afternoon will be dedicated to legislative visits at the Capitol and a social gathering.

Registration will be open soon at widoctorday.org so check the website. The Doctor Day committee is meeting and working on booking a national speaker for keynote. We hope you mark your calendars now and plan for a productive day of advocating for your profession!  Contact Heidi Green with any questions.

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On-demand webinars for med students and young physicians

Early career physicians, residents and students can access a series of six webinars with topics such as diversity and health equity, choosing a specialty and managing student debt. The “I’m a Doctor…Now What?” series was developed by the National Medical Health Collaborative, a non-profit organization established by the Wisconsin Medical Society, the Arizona Medical Association and the Missouri State Medical Association. The Collaborative has a mission to promote and advance the health care field by providing education, policy development and resources aimed at improving the delivery of patient care. 

The six-part series featured the following topics:

• Managing Student Debt
• Employment Contracts
• Choosing a Specialty & Interview Tips
• Exploring Different Practice Settings
• Investing & Retirement
• Diversity & Health Equity

Each state contributed experts for the series. WisMed President Wendy Molaska, MD, FAAFP, served on the panel for Exploring Different Practice Settings and Mark Ziety, WisMed Financial, presented Managing Student Debt.

The recordings for the full series can be accessed here.

Partnering with the excellent leadership and staff at Arizona Medical Association and Missouri State Medical Association was most rewarding. WisMed was honored to collaborate in this endeavor to assist our early career and future physicians.

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Summer savings for WisMed members with WisMed Perks

WisMed members can access vendor discounts on a variety of products and services, including technology, travel and more through WisMed Perks. 

During Lenovo's Tech Deals & Steals event take advantage of great deals and save up to 60% on premium tech, including ThinkPad X and T series laptops, peripherals, software, and more. Act fast to secure these limited-time offers! For a limited time, take an extra 10% off discounted ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 & T14 AMD G3 models, June 10th through 23rd with coupon code: THINKPARTNER at check out

Additionally, take an extra 5% off the discounted:

• ThinkPad E series,
• ThinkBook 14’ laptops
• ThinkBook 16’ laptops

For a limited time only with coupon code: THINKEXTRA5 at checkout.

Hurry! This offer ends June 30. Exclusions may apply.

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.

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