News

From Ozaukee County News Graphic — Progress continues on the site of the former BMO Harris Bank on Columbia Road in Cedarburg. Walls have been built for an addition to the current building which will serve as a medical clinic for the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network.

From Vizient Newsroom — Mark Lodes, MD, vice president and chief medical officer, population health and medical education, and Annie Penlesky Gelder, program manager, explained how the Froedtert & MCW health network used customer-focused digital outreach strategies to increase preventive Medicare Annual Wellness Visit scheduling and retention — yielding improved patient outcomes and value-based care bonuses.

From 620 WTMJ — According to the CDC, the Center for Disease Control, up to 80% of diseases are spread through touch, and classrooms are the primary culprit for children and young adults. Mary Beth Graham, MD, medical director for infection prevention and control at Froedtert Hospital, talked with WTMJ about vaccinations and encouraged parents to talk with their pediatricians about COVID-19 and flu shots.

From WBHY — The new hospital in downtown Oshkosh will be bigger than first proposed. Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc., initially submitted plans to the city for a two-story facility along the south shore of the Fox River. The Oshkosh Plan Commission has approved the addition of a third story to the hospital — which is expected to open in 2025.

From WOSH 93.9 FM/1490 AM — The Froedtert & MCW Center for Health Care Excellence celebrated its official opening on Sept. 6 at Lakeshore College. The 26,000-square-foot health care instructional facility will help train more than 1,500 healthcare and emergency service students. The demand for well-trained health workers in multiple fields facilitated the need for the building, which features multiple models of instruction. This story was also covered by Spectrum News 1.

From Urban Milwaukee — A new collaboration, that is the first-of-its-kind in Wisconsin and led by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), will create a platform for the science and faith communities to come together to advance community health and health equity through research and discovery. The Center for Collaboration of Science and Faith (CCSF) was recently launched by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI) and builds on the faith-based partnerships that CTSI has established during the past 10 years to foster the cooperation of faith and science. Advising CCSF will be the Council of Faiths, which includes 11 leaders from traditionally underrepresented in science and medicine and representing different faith communities in Milwaukee.

From the Sheboygan Sun — The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Froedert & MCW Center for Health Care Excellence training facility on Sept. 6 at 10:30 a.m., at the Lakeshore Technical College’s (LTC) Cleveland campus. Tours, demonstrations and lunch will follow. Demonstrations will include new technology and equipment including patient simulators, which allow students to experience highly realistic training in a classroom.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — Internationally renowned violinist Lindsey Stirling had a big show Thursday night at the 4,086-person-capacity Miller High Life Theatre. But first she had another really important gig in town — for one person at a time at Froedtert Hospital. Nashville-based Musicians On Call arranges for volunteer musicians — from local artists to superstars like Wynton Marsalis (the first Musicians On Call performer), Noah Kahan, Kelly Clarkson, Dierks Bentley and Jason Derulo — to perform for hospital patients, often in their rooms, as well as for their loved ones and for caregivers. Musicians On Call is looking for Milwaukee volunteers — local musicians, and also non-musicians who can serve as liaisons and guides for musician hospital visits — with the goal of being able to bring a musician to Froedtert Hospital once a week.

From Becker’s Hospital Review — Imran Andrabi, MD, president and CEO of Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc., was listed among Becker's Healthcare "96 academic medical center CEOs to know."

From 620 WTMJ — It’s a first-of-its-kind treatment for traumatic brain injury patients and specifically designed for military veterans and first responders. Dr. Shekar Kurpad and Dr. Michael McCrea joined Steve Scaffidi for a conversation about the latest treatments available for patients impacted by TBI, or traumatic brain injury. TBI patient Collin Crawford, who has participated in the BRAVE program, also discussed his experience with the groundbreaking new program at Froedtert. Steve Scaffidi, is also the host of the Political Power Hour on 620 WTMJ.

From Chief Healthcare Executive — Imran Andrabi, MD, president and CEO of Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc., talks about the integration of the systems, expanding access to care and the desire to innovate.

From Becker’s Orthopedic Review — Demetrios Douros, MD, sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon, Froedtert & MCW health network, was included among "five sports medicine leaders you need to know." Before entering medicine, Dr. Douros competed in the 2004 Olympics with the Greek National Baseball team before eventually becoming a surgeon and youth baseball coach in Wisconsin.

From Becker’s Hospital CFO Report — Froedtert ThedaCare Health, Inc., was listed among 67 health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions, according to reports from credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service released in 2024.

From Fox 6 — As an oncology physician assistant at Froedtert Hospital, Melissa Gorman sees cancer patients on difficult days. "It’s just incredible the strength that some of these people have and what they’re going through," said Melissa Gorman. That strength led Gorman to write a book: Contemplating Courage: A Reflective Journaling Companion When Living with Cancer.

From Becker’s Hospital Review — Froedtert Hospital was listed in Becker's 2024 “Great Hospitals in America” list. These hospitals are widely recognized for their clinical excellence, commitment to patient safety, innovative initiatives, research efforts, education and high levels of patient satisfaction. 

From Greater Milwaukee Today — The Milwaukee Orthopedics Overseas Managua mission has thrived under the leadership of Steven Grindel, MD, Froedtert & MCW orthopaedic surgeon. These annual trips have become a highlight for Grindel, who recruits surgical residents and fellows to work alongside their Nicaraguan medical colleagues.

From Becker’s Hospital Review — In this episode of the Becker's Healthcare Podcast, Amir Ghaferi, MD, president and CEO of physician enterprise at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network, discusses how leveraging digital health can expand patient reach. He also shares his excitement and enthusiasm for AI advancements in healthcare, highlighting the potential for innovation to improve patient outcomes.

From the Waukesha Freeman — Froedtert & MCW surgical nurse Michelle Fortkamp gives an extra dose of compassion and empathy the patients she cares for after her own breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

From Spectrum News 1 — Demetrios Douros, MD, Froedtert & MCW orthopaedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, reflects on competing in the Olympics on the Greek National Baseball team and how it made him a better surgeon. “I feel like the experiences I had in my life has made it easier for me to relate and understand where athletes are coming from,” said Douros.

From Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare — Bradley Crotty, MD, vice president and chief digital officer, Froedtert & MCW health network, shared his thoughts in an article about how Health systems have a front-row seat when it comes to identifying the issues AI that matter most in healthcare and developing real-world solutions, not just theoretical approaches.

From Becker’s Hospital Review — Milwaukee-based Froedtert Health and Neenah, Wis.-based ThedaCare finalized their merger agreement and launched a combined system in January 2024. Following the merger, leaders at the 18-hospital combined system, Froedtert ThedaCare Health, embraced the significant integration work ahead, from aligning the daily operations of the merging entities to integrating staff.