Summer 2008
Alumni Notes
Alumni News wants to publish news of your professional and personal accomplishments and activities.
Please send updates (including graduation year and current position) to:
Medical College of Wisconsin
Office of Alumni Relations
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226
or e-mail alumni@mcw.edu
1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s
1940s
S. P. Fortino, MD ’46 (November), now retired, was elected to the E. W. Sparrow Hospital Hall of Fame in 2007. Dr. Fortino has been Chief of Staff at E W. Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, Mich.; President of the Ingham County Medical Society; and on the Board of Carson City Hospital in Carson City, Mich.
1950s
George J. Korkos, MD ’59, has been appointed Chairman of the Business Advisory Board of Sleep Holdings, Inc., a provider of sleep diagnostics and sleep-related therapy equipment based in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Korkos is a nationally recognized plastic surgeon and business leader in the Milwaukee area.
Abraham J. Twerski, MD ’59, has authored Happiness and the Human Spirit: The Spirituality of Becoming the Best You Can Be, which was published in November 2007. A psychiatrist, rabbi and frequent lecturer on a broad range of topics including spirituality and self-esteem, Dr. Twerski has published nearly 40 books on self-improvement. He is the founder and medical director emeritus of Gateway Rehabilitation Center in western Pennsylvania.
1960s
Michael J. Dunn, MD ’62, Dean and Executive Vice President of the Medical College of Wisconsin, was selected for the Small Business Times’ 2007 Health Care Heroes award. Dr. Dunn was one of two people being recognized in the leadership in health care category in this, the fourth year of the awards.
1970s
Alan Wartenberg, MD ’72, GME ’80, now semi-retired, still serves as Medical Director of Discovery House Programs and Associate Medical Director for the Providence VA Medical Center Opiod Treatment Programs in Providence, R.I. He is also considering writing another great American medical novel. His wife, Carol, is teaching English as a Second Language, and their two daughters have left home following completion of master’s degree programs.
Nicholas V. Costrini, MD ’73, PhD ’70, and his wife, Coral, have endowed a new chair at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dr. Costrini is Medical Director of the Georgia Gastroenterology Group, the largest solo digestive disease practice in the South. He completed his residency and fellowships at Washington University. He has served as president of the Georgia Gastroenterologic and Endoscopic Society and the Coastal Crohn’s and Colitis Society.
Gloria Halverson, MD ’73, GME ’77, and Paul B. Halverson, MD ’73, GME ’76, won the amateur couple multi-dance competition in both smooth and rhythm dances at the national Fred Astaire DanceSport Championships in Orlando, Fla., in October 2007. The smooth multi-dance competition includes the waltz, the fox trot and the tango. The rhythm multi-dance competition includes the cha-cha, the rumba and the swing. The husband and wife team has been ballroom dancing for seven years and competing for five.
Claire L. Scheele, MD ’73, moved to private surgical practice in Indiana in January 2008 after four-and-a-half years in federal service with the Indian Health Service in Phoenix, Ariz.
Greg P. Kwasny, MD, GME ’74, a volunteer clinical faculty member at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was named to the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) “Dream Team” at the RUC (American Medical Association/Specialty RVS Update Committee). The special recognition came at the AAO’s annual meeting in November 2007.
Sherwin Ritz, MD ’75, has been elected President of the medical staff of Morris Hospital in Morris, Ill., for 2008-09. He previously was Vice President of the medical staff.
Richard A. Helmer, MD ’76, has been named Medical Director of Central Coast Alliance for Health, a nonprofit health plan serving 90,000 members in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties in California. Dr. Helmer previously was Chief Medical Officer at Molina Medical Centers in Long Beach. He founded Pacific Healthcare Group, a consulting firm on medical and managed care and provided consulting services to the Central Coast Alliance for Health.
David R. Harder, PhD ’77, has been named the first Kohler Co. Professor in Cardiovascular Research at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Harder is internationally recognized as an expert in the regulation of cerebral blood flow. He is Director of the College’s Cardiovascular Center and is Professor of Physiology, of Medicine and of Pediatrics.
Joseph Zuckerman, MD ’78, was recently interviewed for an article on new materials and procedures in joint replacement, published in the Sept. 3, 2007, issue of Newsweek. Dr. Zuckerman is Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at the New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Francisco A. Arredondo, MD, GME ’79, received honorary membership in November 2007 in the Radiological Society of North America for his outstanding contributions to radiology and its allied sciences. Dr. Arredondo is a professor of anatomy and chair of the Department of Radiology at the Francisco Marroquin University School of Medicine and chairman of the Department of Radiology at Hope University Hospital in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He has been president of the InterAmerican College of Radiology and presided over the 20th InterAmerican Congress of Radiology and 21st International Congress of Radiology.
Brien Vlcek, MD ’79, was one of two physicians named to Seattle magazine’s “Top Doctors” list for 2007 in the pediatric neurology category. Dr. Vlcek practices at Swedish Neuroscience Institute.
1980s
Dale K. Heuer, MD, GME ’82, received the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) Secretariat Award for his many years of contributions to the AAO’s annual meeting. He also received a second Secretariat Award for service as a member of the editorial board of EYE Net, one of the AAO’s publications. The awards were given at the 2007 annual meeting in November.
George A. Williams, MD, GME ’82, was named to the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s (AAO) “Dream Team” at the RUC (American Medical Association/Specialty RVS Update Committee). The special recognition came at the AAO’s annual meeting in November 2007. He also received the AAO Secretariat Award for Quality of Care & Knowledge Base, Ophthalmic Knowledge, Online Education/eLearning and Clinical Education.
Brian J. Bear, MD ’84, GME ’89, and Laurel M. Bear, MD ’84, GME ’87, traveled to the mountains of Honduras in January 2006, 2007 and 2008 with Global Medical Relief to provide primary medical care. Along with their daughter Alexandria (a junior at Wellesley College), 25 Marquette University students and five physicians, they provided medical care to more than 3,000 Hondurans in remote mountain villages in four medical brigades in a week’s time. The group also participated in community service projects in the local health clinic and local orphanages. Brian is an OB/GYN in private practice and Laurel is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
James L. Sebastian, MD, GME ’84, received the Association of American Medical College’s Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Robert J. Glaser Distinguished Teacher Award for 2007. The AOA medical honor society established the award in 1988 to nationally recognize faculty members who have distinguished themselves in medical student education. Dr. Sebastian, Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, is the only faculty member to have received every department-specific and college-wide teaching award at the Medical College.
Holly M. Maes, MD ’85, GME ’88, is the only pediatrician in a rural area of western Illinois. She is on the Henry County Health Department Board and recently was elected secretary-treasurer of the medical staff of Kewanee Hospital in Kewanee, Ill. She was also asked to serve on the Board of Directors of Kewanee Hospital. She and her husband remain loyal Green Bay Packers fans. When their fourth child graduates from high school this year, the couple will be empty nesters.
Kathryn Keelan Renschler, MD ’86, an internist living in Redwood City, Calif., was recently elected to the Board of Governors for Stanford University Hospital.
Richard Haile, MD ’87, is Commander of the 325th Combat Support Hospital, recently deployed to Iraq. A Combat Support Hospital is a critical care unit serving wounded American and coalition soldiers. Dr. Haile has served in the U.S. Army Reserve for two decades. He served at Bagram, Afghanistan in 2003 as Deputy Commander for Clinical Services of the 452nd Combat Support Hospital, based in Milwaukee. He returned from that assignment in early 2004. Col. Haile, an internist, is on the staff of St. Luke’s Medical Group in Lee’s Summit, Mo. Previously, he was Medical Director of the Samuel U. Rodgers Community Health Center and on the adult medicine staff at Swope Parkway Comprehensive Health Center in Kansas City, Mo. He began his career at the Milwaukee Medical Clinic.
Mary C. Spellman, MD ’88, GME ’92, has been named consultant Head of Dermatology and Drug Development for Manhattan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in New York. Dr. Spellman oversees all aspects of clinical operations related to the development of the company’s product pipeline. Prior, Dr. Spellman was Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, Development, for Revance Therapeutics
1990s
Michael F. McBride, MD ’92, GME ’97, mobilized in December 2007 to go to Iraq with the Army Reserve 785th Combat Stress Company, based at Fort Snelling, Minn. Dr. McBride is a psychiatrist at the Zablocki VA Medical Center’s mental health division in Milwaukee. Since joining the Army Reserve Medical Corps after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Dr. McBride has served two 90-day tours in 2003 and 2006 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
Stephen M. Gutting, MD ’93, has joined the staff at Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Mass., an affiliate of Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Gutting is a diplomate of the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He specializes in treating patients with cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine disorders and has expertise in simple and complex spine surgery. Prior, Dr. Gutting was Director of Neurosurgery for Sun Health Neurosurgical Services in Phoenix, Ariz.
William A. Davies, MD ’93, lives in Delafield, Wis., and is practicing orthopaedic sports medicine.
Julia Gomez, MD ’95, is Medical Director of Descanso Family Practice and Clinical Faculty member for Glendale Adventist Family Practice Residency in Glendale, Calif. She and her husband, Joe, have two sons, Kevin and Gregory, and remain big Green Bay Packers fans.
Jonathan D’Cunha, MD ’97, PhD ’95, has joined the faculty at the University of Minnesota as Assistant Professor of Surgery (Division of Thoracic Surgery). He completed his surgery residency in 2004 and cardiothoracic fellowship in 2007. His clinical interests include lung cancer and lung transplantation. His research interests are in the molecular biology of lung cancer.
Christopher J. Ott, MD ’97, is a partner in Apex Emergency Group in Denver, Colo. The group provides emergency services at Saint Anthony Central Level 1 Trauma Center, Saint Anthony North and Saint Anthony Summit hospitals in Denver and Summit County, Colo. Dr. Ott recently celebrated his one-year anniversary as Vice President of Operations-Western Region for Serio Physician Management. He also celebrated his five-year anniversary as the Corporate Medical Director for Air Ambulance Specialists, Inc., headquartered in Englewood, Colo. With bases in Colorado and Florida, the fixed wing air ambulance company transports patients domestically and internationally.
Timothy Ruth, MD ’97, has spent the last seven years on active duty in the U.S. Air Force. He currently works as a family physician and flight surgeon in Mountain Home, Idaho. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 and Ecuador in 2005. He does regular flying in F-15E fighters as well as some occupational medicine. Dr. Ruth was divorced after five years of marriage and has one daughter, Lydia, 3 ½ years. His hobbies include fishing, snowboarding, guitar, biking, running, camping and cooking.
Kristen M. Counts, MD ’99, GME ’02, has joined the Department of Family Medicine at Dreyer Medical Clinic and sees patients at the clinic’s West Aurora, Ill., location.
2000s
Dan d’Hulst, MD ’00, and Sarah d’Hulst, MD ’00, announce the birth of their fourth child, Quinn William, born Dec. 27, 2007. He joins big brother Dallin, 5, and big sisters Addie, 2½, and Anna, 18 months. Dan still works in Spokane, Wash., with Physician Anesthesia Group, and Sarah continues to work part time in pediatrics at the Rockwood Clinic in Spokane.
Patrick C. Mannebach, MD ’00, GME ’03, recently joined Appleton Cardiology Associates in Appleton, Wis., as a cardiovascular specialist.
Michael E. Rudisile, MD ’00, returned home in July 2007 after serving six months in Afghanistan, providing medical care at the 400-bed National Military Hospital in Kabul. A Navy lieutenant commander, Dr. Rudisile was attached to the Afghanistan Command Surgeons Office, an arm of the allied Combined Security Transition Command. He was based at Camp Eggers in Kabul. During his tour, his wife, Mary Beth, gave birth to their son, Braedon Michael, on April 29, 2007. He joined siblings Evan and Edith. Dr. Rudisile is now practicing family medicine with Providence Medical Group in Central Point, Ore.
Jane Walloch, MD ’00, and her husband, Jeff, announce the birth of their daughter, Margaret, born Sept. 15, 2006. She joined older brothers Kenny, 8; Joey, 4; and sister Elayna, 2. Dr. Walloch is a family practitioner with ProHealth Care in Mukwonago, Wis.
Cesar Lam, MD, GME ’01, has been appointed Assistant Professor of Radiology at the Medical College of Wisconsin and to the medical staff of Froedtert Hospital. His clinical interests are in body imaging. Prior to his appointment, Dr. Lam served as a Navy radiologist and department head of radiology at U.S. Naval Hospital in Great Lakes, Ill.
Carolyn J. Rutter, MD ’02, has joined MultiCare Regional Cancer Center in Tacoma, Wash., as a staff member. Dr. Rutter is a radiation oncologist with a particular interest in breast and gynecological cancers.
Casey G. Batten, MD ’03, recently completed a sports medicine fellowship at University of California-Davis/Berkeley. In August 2007, Dr. Batten joined the University of California-San Francisco Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, as Assistant Clinical Professor. He is also an Assistant Team Physician at UC-Berkeley.
Amitpal Johal, MD ’03, is currently a fellow of gastroenterology and hepatology at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pa. He completed an internal medicine residency at Case Western Reserve University in 2006.
Ellen Turner Wenberg, MD ’03, recently joined ThedaCare Physicians in Waupaca, Wis., as a family physician and geriatrician. Dr. Wenberg recently completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis (2006-2007) following her internship and residency at University of Minnesota Medical Center / Smiley’s Family Medicine Residency (2003-2006). She, her husband, Neil, and their 1-year-old son, Miles, live in Almond, Wis.
Mary Lou Sabino, DDS, GME ’04, was named the new Director of the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Sabino practices at Froedtert Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. She conducts research evaluating the effectiveness of surgery in obstructive sleep apnea, drug-induced bone loss and peripheral mechanisms of pain. She is Assistant Professor of Surgery (Oral and Maxillofacial) at the Medical College.
Marc Grodsky, MD ’06, of Royal Oak, Mich., is engaged to be married to Jennifer Milosavljevic, MD. A May 24, 2008, wedding is planned. Dr. Grodsky is currently doing his residency at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Douglas Lindberg, MD, GME ’06, has joined the medical faculty of East Tennessee State University Family Physicians of Kingsport, located on the campus of Wellmont – Holston Valley Medical Center. The group is affiliated with the Department of Family Medicine at East Tennessee State University’s James H. Quillen College of Medicine. Dr. Lindberg recently completed a fellowship in rural medicine at the Quillen College.
Marcos De La Cruz, MD, GME ’07, has joined the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center and its Parkway clinic in Milwaukee as a staff pediatrician.