The Institute for Health & Equity, in partnership with the Genomic Sciences & Precision Medicine Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin, is now accepting applications for the new Precision Medicine Master of Science degree and certificate programs (PM Ed). Begin an application at:  https://admissions.mcw.edu/apply. 

The PM Ed program will provide innovative training to clinicians to diagnose, treat and prevent disease by accounting for individual variation in genes, environment, and lifestyle to meet the upsurge in precision medicine patient care needs.

The PM Ed program has more than 18 course directors, including 11 physicians, who will lead the courses as they relate to their specialized areas of research and clinical expertise within precision medicine. Learners will be able to customize their educational experience by choosing elective courses to best meet their needs and work with faculty who share similar research interests.

Additionally, the precision medicine program offers a flexible, online distance learning schedule for busy clinicians.

The priority deadline for the Fall 2021 semester is April 1, with a final deadline of July 1.

Additional information is available on the Precision Medicine Education website:  Precision Medicine | Medical College of Wisconsin (mcw.edu).

Begin an application at:  https://admissions.mcw.edu/apply.  If you have any questions, please contact Kellie LeGrave, Education Program Coordinator, klegrave@mcw.edu or (414) 955-4139.

Wisconsin Medical Society | Medigram

Join your colleagues (virtually) for Doctor Day on May 5, 2021 to fight for your patients, profession and sound health care policy. Doctor Day 2021 will include morning breakout sessions on health equity, public health and the latest legal issues facing physicians so you can customize the day to your interests. Organizers are once again lining up presentations from premier experts and policymakers.

The schedule features three breakout sessions:

Health Equity
What are we doing to achieve long-lasting and equitable health outcomes for ALL Wisconsinites? The State of Wisconsin has an overall health disparities grade of “D” according to a recent University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute Health of Wisconsin Report Card. The Report Card notes that while Wisconsin's grade for overall health has remained the same since 2007, the health disparities grade has worsened since 2010. What are we doing to change this?

Public Health
Join us for an outbreak session on local public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. City of Milwaukee Health Commissioner Kirsten Johnson will provide an overview of the challenges and successes Wisconsin's local public health departments faced throughout the last 12 months. As fellow frontline workers, local public health officers have experienced this crisis through the lens of both health care and governmental response to public health crises. 

Legal Update
The always popular and pertinent legal update will explore the latest “hot topics” physicians need to know about. Axley attorneys Guy DuBeau and Aneet Kaur will walk us through the landscape of litigation trends, scope of practice developments and more.

To learn more about this virtual day of advocacy, go to widoctorday.org to register (it’s free) and see the day’s agenda. Please contact Heidi Green with any questions.

WCMS Opens Nominations for Heroes of COVID-19 Campaign
WCMS Will Highlight Local Heroes Both Behind the Scenes and on the Front Lines

Waukesha County, Wis. – March 11, 2021 – With a year of the pandemic now in the rearview, Waukesha County Medical Society (WCMS) wants to show support for all of the local COVID heroes who live or work in the Waukesha County community.

Through the “Heroes of COVID Campaign,” WCMS intends to raise awareness of the many heroes among us and the tireless work they’ve done over this past year to make sure the residents of our community are cared for during the pandemic. There are heroes in all aspects of our lives and our community, and by spotlighting the positive contributions that have been made—and continue to be made—will not only show our gratitude but will strengthen our resilience to us keep moving forward.

Please nominate your Heroes of COVID-19 today at www.waukeshacms.org/.  Your nomination might be for: a mentor who has shown leadership on your team during the pandemic; a support staff who has worked tirelessly to help keep things running; a postal worker who never fails to deliver; a family member who has volunteered in the community; or even a small business owner adapting to a changing world.  Your nomination may be for an individual or a group of people who have come together during the pandemic to really set an example.

Through this virtual campaign, WCMS will begin showcasing Heroes of COVID as soon as your nominations have been submitted!  Let us share the stories of those who have helped make a difference in Waukesha County or in your lives this past year. To view and share the WCMS Heroes of COVID-19 stories, make sure you LIKE our facebook page and visit our website.

Click here to view full press release.

From the County Executive, Paul Farrow:

Residents who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine can sign up now for Waukesha County's Registration and Standby List. We will use this list to send invites out for upcoming appointments the week of March 8 and beyond.

Waukesha County is currently focusing on vaccinating adults 65 and older, until at least 60% of that population has received at least one dose of the vaccine. 

Sign Up for the Registration and Standby List

To Sign Up for the Registration and Standby List 

Click the link above to register to be on a waiting list for any appointments that will be available in the next few weeks.

• Individuals on the list will be invited to register for appointments or may be contacted on short notice if more doses of vaccine become available.
• The number of appointments will be based on the number of vaccines Waukesha County receives each week.
• If appointments are unfilled or canceled, or extra doses of vaccine are available, the next individuals on the list will be offered an opportunity to schedule any open appointments.
• New! We have updated our list to prepare for newly eligible groups. Be sure to select which eligibility group you belong to. Eligibility will be verified prior to the appointment.

More Information

Everyone will have the opportunity to be vaccinated. However, this process will take time as vaccine quantities are limited.

More opportunities will be announced as they are available. Please continue to monitor your email for updates. 

We are working to connect residents with vaccine as quickly as possible. More information clarifying this process will available soon. We thank you for you ongoing patience.

 More information is also available on our website, www.waukeshacounty.gov/covid19. 

Wisconsin Doctor Day - May 5, 2021

Opening Keynote Address Featuring AMA President, Susan R. Bailey MD
Dr. Susan R. Bailey, a distinguished allergist/immunologist from Fort Worth, Texas, is the 175th president of the American Medical Association. Doctor Bailey's presentation, What Will Healthcare Look Like Post COVID-19?, will touch on delivery of care, rebounding from physician stress, and the impact of the pandemic on the physician workforce. 

Click here for more information

Wisconsin Medical Society | Medigram

COVID-19 PSA

Wisconsin Medical Society President, Erik Gundersen, MD, MA, is featured in a COVID-19 PSA. In addition to reminding patients of the basic safety precautions of masking, physical distancing and handwashing, Dr. Gundersen encourages everyone to get vaccinated as soon as they are able.

To help encourage timely vaccinations, please feel free to share the PSA which can be found on the Wisconsin Medical Society’s social media channels.

COVID-19 buttons to spark patient conversations via WisMed and Pharmacy Society partnership

Wisconsin Medical Society members can get free Stop the Spread buttons. In an effort to encourage conversations with patients about healthy COVID-19 behaviors and vaccine hesitancy, the Wisconsin Medical Society’s COVID-19 Task Force developed a button that can be worn by physicians and other members of the health care team to help spark those conversations. Through a partnership with the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, buttons were produced and are currently being distributed around the state.

Buttons are free to Society members, but there is a limited quantity, so requests will be filled in the order they are received. Click here to order for you and your team today!

Senate passes COVID-19 liability protection as part of special session bill

The Wisconsin State Senate approved legislation this morning, February 18, that will provide important civil liability protections related to COVID-19 for health care entities and other businesses. Meeting in a special session called by Governor Tony Evers on a bill to revamp the state’s Unemployment Insurance computer system, the Senate approved January 2021 Special Session Senate Bill 1 on a 27-3 roll call vote. Soon after the vote, Gov. Evers released a statement saying the bill is “a step in the right direction,” perhaps signaling his intention to sign the bill should it reach his desk. The Wisconsin Medical Society has strongly supported establishing civil liability protections related to COVID-19 to help prevent opportunistic lawsuits seeking to capitalize on the pandemic.

According to the bill, “Beginning March 1, 2020, an entity is immune from civil liability for the death of or injury to any individual or damages caused by an act or omission resulting in or relating to exposure, directly or indirectly, to the novel coronavirus identified as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 in the course of or through the performance or provision of the entity's functions or services.” The immunity would not apply in cases of reckless or wonton conduct or intentional misconduct, nor for any claims already filed before the bill’s enactment. The state legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance amended the bill on Wednesday to include the liability protection language.

The bill now heads to the State Assembly, which may take up the measure as soon as Tuesday, February 23. Contact Society Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer Mark Grapentine, JD for more information.

Businesses, frontline workers, and communities from across the state have come together this past year to help slow the spread of COVID-19. As many await vaccines, and our health care providers battle new strains, we can’t let our guard down now. The most recent public education message from the Stop the COVID Spread! coalition urges Wisconsinites to remain vigilant in the continuing fight against COVID-19, stressing the importance of continuing to practice key, simple measures like wearing face masks, social distancing, and washing hands regularly.

• Visit the coalition website here.
• View the PSA video here.

We’ve come a long way together but the fight’s not over yet! You can learn more about the coalition and how we all need to stay vigilant to help stop the spread: https://www.healthywialliance.com/Stop-The-COVID-Spread. We hope you'll join us in sharing this crucial message with your friends and family.

Updated February 15, 2021 | Waukesha County

COVID-19 vaccination is now ongoing in Waukesha County. However, we don’t have access to enough vaccine for the entire population yet.

Until more vaccine is available, the state of Wisconsin is following prioritization guidelines from the federal Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)  and the State Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (SDMAC).

Frequently Asked Questions

Waukesha County Vaccination Website

Waukesha County Medical Society is proud to be part of the “Stop the Covid Spread!” coalition, a group of Wisconsin’s leading health care, business, education, and advocacy organizations who have all joined together in the effort to urge the public to step up and take preventative measures seriously. The coalition has grown dramatically since its launch and now includes over 135 Wisconsin organizations.