News

From Wisconsin Health News — Froedtert ThedaCare Health’s new hospital in Fond du Lac began seeing patients in mid-April. The 25,000-square-foot campus has an emergency department, inpatient care, imaging and specialty services. The health system plans to finish a 114,000-square-foot health campus in Oshkosh late this year too. It’ll have a hospital, retail pharmacy, ambulatory surgical center and medical office building.

From Spectrum News 1 — In 2013, Mauree Childress was diagnosed with an autoimmune neurological disorder called transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord. She couldn’t continue working in textiles because of her diagnoses, but her love of art never wavered. She began painting, and her artwork is on display at the Nadiana Art Gallery. The gallery is owned by her neurologist, Ahmed Obeidat, MD, and his wife Nadia Al-Khun. The current exhibition is called “The Healing Journey.” Several of Obeidat’s patients are participating in the exhibition.

From The Fireman Kenny Show — The American Trauma Society and the Society of Trauma Nurses has declared May as National Trauma Awareness Month, and May is also Stop the Bleed Month. On this episode of The Fireman Kenny podcast, Ginger Knapp, trauma program coordinator, and Kim Lombard, injury prevention and outreach coordinator with the Froedtert & MCW health network; and Kelli Anderson, Ascension St. Joseph’s Hospital trauma program coordinator, discuss how injury prevention starts with each of us. Their collaboration and leadership on the Southeast Regional Trauma Advisory Council (SERTAC) emphasizes a community-wide approach — whether on the road, at home or in the workplace.

From Becker’s Hospital Review — Froedtert Hospital was included on the Becker’s Hospital Review list of 100 institutions renowned for their clinical excellence, innovative programs, research leadership, educational impact and commitment to patient satisfaction. Recognized by esteemed organizations such as U.S. News & World Report, Healthgrades, CMS and The Leapfrog Group, these academic medical centers consistently demonstrate excellence across a wide range of specialties and set the standard for leadership in the healthcare industry.

From Healthcare IT Today — Sid Singh, MD, Froedtert & MCW chief quality officer, talked about the importance of AI-driven chart review and the many efficiencies delivered by Layer Health.

From Spectrum News 1 — Rob Seidl was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease at 36-years-old and found that he had a Parkinson's gene mutation. Ryan Brennan, DO, Froedtert & MCW neurologist, talked about other factors that can contribute to a Parkinson's diagnosis.

From the Sheboygan Sun — The United Way of Sheboygan County recognized the Froedtert & MCW health network with its Community Spirit Award. The Community Spirit Award honors a corporation that has made a substantial impact in the community by promoting volunteerism and inspiring the spirit of giving to their employees.

From the Ozaukee County News Graphic — Derek Lindstrom, Froedtert & MCW heart transplant patient, became the first heart transplant patient to complete the grueling Lead Challenge in Colorado. The Lead Challenge involves five races at dizzying elevations and brutal courses.

From Spectrum News 1 — Shaun Kornusky was diagnosed with a hereditary cardiac condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. For decades, he had an ICD that shocked his heart to restore a normal heart rhythm. In 2024, at age 40, he had a heart transplant and is now an advocate for organ donation. Ravi Dhingra, MD, MPH, Froedtert & MCW transplant cardiologist, was part of his care team and talked about Shaun's condition.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — The Froedtert Hospital campus was highlighted in a list of construction projects at the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.

From Insight on Business — ThedaCare Medical Center-Fond du Lac, the health system’s ninth hospital will welcome its first patients April 16. The organization broke ground on then $35 million hospital in February 2024. The 25,000-square-foot hospital has emergency care, inpatient beds, and 24/7 coverage with board-certified emergency medicine physicians. This was also covered by the FDL Reporter.

From Becker’s Clinical Leadership — Froedtert Hospital is among 168 health systems and medical centers that Optum may refer its commercial payer and employer clients to for complex transplant needs. Optum conducts an annual evaluation process alongside a national panel of industry experts to assess providers across the country, which offers patients a wide range of benefits — including more accurate diagnoses, higher survival rates and lower out-of-pocket costs.

From The Journal of Healthcare Contracting — Jack Koczela, director of supply chain systems at Froedtert ThedaCare Health, was one of four supply chain executives who have nurtured deep ties with clinicians to share their insights on clinical integration. As a health care supply chain leader, Koczela expresses interest in clinicians’ focus on integrating outcomes and clinical data into supply chain contracting decisions, supply chain sourcing decisions and formulary management.

From CBS58 — Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network is working with the Milwaukee Health Department to introduce a Mobile Maternal Clinic to provide services to expectant and postpartum mothers. Services include prenatal and postnatal exams, vaccination administration, family planning, screening for STIs, postpartum depression and cervical cancer, access to psychiatric and psychological services and access to lactation services.

From TMJ4 — Bob Wagner has spent the last six years fighting against the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. He and his wife Debbie shared their family's story to help raise awareness of the disease. Ahmed Obeidat, MD, PhD, Froedtert & MCW neurologist, said they tried several different common treatments before expanding their options to find the correct cocktail of medicines.

From News Graphic — The Cedarburg Chamber of Commerce and its ambassadors celebrated the Froedtert & MCW clinic, which opened March 31, at N69W5269 Columbia Road. The clinic offers internal medicine and pediatric care, plus diagnostic lab services. 

From TMJ4 — April kicks off Donate Life month to encourage people to register to be an organ donor. A Waukesha woman did not just register, she donated her kidney to a complete stranger. Ty Dunn, MD, Froedtert & MCW transplant surgeon, talked about the need for organ donors — particularly kidney donors. She said diabetes and high blood pressure are driving the need for kidneys. There are currently 90,000 people waiting to get a kidney in the country. It is the number one needed organ.

From Becker's Clinical Leadership — Amir Ghaferi, MD, Froedtert & MCW bariatric surgeon, was one of three experts discussing the future of bariatric surgery in the wake of new weight loss drugs. He believes bariatric surgery will continue to be the gold standard for managing severe obesity and its associated conditions. He added that we should embrace these new medications as an important element of our broader toolkit for weight management. Hospitals and health systems can significantly improve community health outcomes by investing in comprehensive weight management programs that include all treatment options.

From the Waukesha Freeman — The statistics are harrowing. According to the most recent data compiled by the City of Milwaukee Health Department Community Health Assessment and the Office of Violence Prevention: 86% of victims of gun violence in Milwaukee are Black; 82% of victims of gun violence are Black men; and 46.7% of those victims are between the ages of 18 – 29. The story included the 2023 Medical College of Wisconsin partnership with Milwaukee Health Services Inc., Froedtert Health and Children’s Wisconsin to develop the state’s first Teaching Health Center (THC). The THC designation came with the ability to offer a new family medicine residency designed to bring more family physicians to Milwaukee neighborhoods suffering the worst healthcare shortages.

From Spectrum 1 News — Just over 20,000 people are living with multiple sclerosis in Wisconsin. Ahmed Obeidat, MD, a Froedtert & MCW neurologist, said MS impacts everyone differently, whether it’s vision changes, weakness or cognitive changes.

From AP News — Layer Health, a leading health technology company leveraging advanced AI to revolutionize chart review, today announced $21 million in Series A funding. Layer Health’s technology streamlined quality data abstraction for the Froedtert & MCW health network, reducing the time required by more than 65%. This efficiency allowed staff to redirect their efforts toward higher-value tasks, enhancing both operational productivity and care delivery.