T. Michael Bolger, JD
President and CEO
Medical College of Wisconsin
T. Michael Bolger, one of Milwaukee's most prominent civic leaders, has served as the Medical College of Wisconsin's president and chief executive officer since May 1990. He was a partner in the law firm of Quarles & Brady before he was named president of Wisconsin's only private medical school.
Recognized as a national authority of health care law, Mr. Bolger oversees the operations of an institution with an annual budget that exceeds $550 million, including more than $130 million dedicated to biomedical research. The Medical College of Wisconsin is the largest private research institution in the state and conducts twice as much funded research as the combined totals of all other academic institutions in Eastern Wisconsin.
As president, Mr. Bolger initiated the Medical College's strategic planning process to identify short and long term institutional goals and priorities. Since his appointment, the Medical College has attracted internationally-recognized physicians and scientists to serve on its faculty. The College has constructed new research facilities for genetics and cardiovascular medicine, as well as the institution's $36 million Health Research Center. The Medical College has established outpatient care clinics throughout the region, and has forged partnerships with community organizations to improve the quality of life for the medically underserved.
Since Mr. Bolger has assumed the presidency at the Medical College of Wisconsin, the College has seen record numbers of applicants apply for the 204 spaces in the medical school's freshman class; between 20-30 applicants vie annually for each space in the class. Medical College of Wisconsin students score above the national average on both the Medical College Aptitude Test and the National Medical Board Examinations.
As part of his civic involvement, Mr. Bolger is credited with leading the campaign for Milwaukee's $100 million theater district project; a campaign that has symbolized a development renaissance in the city. His civic honors include Marquette University's Alumnus of the Year, the Milwaukee Press Club's Headliner of the Year Award, the Frank Kirkpatrick Award of the Milwaukee Foundation, the "Spirit of Milwaukee Award" from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Civic Alliance, the "Vatican II Award for Service to the Church" from the Milwaukee Archdiocese, and the Wisconsin Marketing Executive of the Year. He has received Alverno College's Telesis Award and an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Cardinal Stritch University. He has been honored by the Advocates for Retarded Citizens, the National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeastern Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians.
Mr. Bolger was also honored by Medical College of Wisconsin students, who awarded him the Student Affairs Committee's first "Standing Ovation Award" for service to students.
Mr. Bolger is chairman of the board of directors of the Milwaukee Science Education Consortium, Inc. He is a Governor's appointee to the High Technology Business Development Corporation, and currently is chair of the Association of Academic Health Centers, and serves on the boards of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, the Better Business Bureau, the Blood Center of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Public Library Foundation, Partners Advancing Values in Education (PAVE), the Milwaukee County Research Park Board, the University Club, and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Mr. Bolger is also a past director of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and the Board of Trustees of Mount Mary College. He has served as board president of the Milwaukee Repertory Theater (MRT), the Milwaukee Ballet Company, the Marquette University Alumni Association, ARTREACH Milwaukee and the Larry Shue Foundation, a project he founded to assist young actors studying with the MRT. He has also been chairman of the Board of Trustees of Highland Community School, the United Performing Arts Fund's Workplace Giving Division, the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Education Foundation, the Blue Ribbon Panel on Residential Development for the City of Mequon, and UW Civic Center Implementation Task Force.
A native of Minocqua, Wisconsin, Mr. Bolger received his B.A. in philosophy from Marquette University in 1961. Upon graduation and after acceptance to the Marquette University School of Medicine (now the Medical College of Wisconsin), he chose instead to enter a seminary and study for the priesthood. As a Jesuit seminarian, he earned his M.A. and Ph.L. degrees in Philosophy from St. Louis University. He left the seminary in 1968 and entered Northwestern University Law School, where he received his J.D. degree with honors in 1971. He joined Quarles & Brady law firm after graduation.
Mr. Bolger and his wife Virginia have two children, John and Jennifer, and live in Mequon, Wisconsin.