The Mark B. Adams, MD, Visiting Professorship in Transplant Fund, established by the family of Dr. Adams, supports the annual lecture series in tribute to his life and career. Each lecture will feature a visiting professor with extensive experience in organ transplantation. The lectures are meant to inspire generations of medical students and residents (just as Dr. Adams did).

Dr. Adams was appointed Chair of the Department of Surgery in 2003 after leading the Division of Transplant Surgery for 17 years. He was Professor of Surgery, Chief of Transplant Surgery and former Director of the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin's Transplant Program. The Transplant Program was established in 1967 with a focus on kidney, liver, and pancreas transplantation. Beginning in 2005, Dr. Adams served as Chair of the Medical College of Wisconsin Physicians Executive Committee.

During his tenure, Dr. Adams made enormous contributions to medical student and resident education programs. He directed the student education efforts in the Department of Surgery for many years and inspired the career choices of countless medical students and former surgical residents working across the country today.

Johnny C. Hong, MD, who holds the inaugural Mark B. Adams Chair in Surgery at MCW and is Chief of Transplant Surgery and Director of Solid Organ Transplantation, commented on the visiting professorship as a fitting acknowledgment of Dr. Adams' legacy.

"He was one of the pioneers of the transplant program at MCW and a leader in patient care and instruction," Dr. Hong said. "We are committed to inviting professors who carry these same characteristics to come and share their knowledge with our Medical College of Wisconsin trainees."

The Division of Transplant Surgery selects and invites the visiting professor and organizes/hosts the event. In addition to giving a formal lecture, the professor will hold a "rocking chair session" during which he or she talks informally with MCW students and residents about topics such as patient care, research, and a physician's life in academic medicine. Including this session in the visit would be especially important to Dr. Adams, who cared deeply about all aspects of a medical career, both in and out of the hospital.

2019
Robert A. Fisher, MD, FACS
(Flyer PDF)
(Rocking Chair Session video)
(Grand Rounds Lecture video)
Peter Medawar Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Chief, Division of Transplantation, and Director,
The Transplant Institute at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, MA

2018
William C. Chapman, MD, FACS
Professor of Surgery
Eugene M. Bricker Chair of Surgery
Chief, Division of General Surgery
Chief, Abdominal Transplantation Section
Washington University, St. Louis

2017
Peter Friend, MD, FACS
(Grand Rounds lecture video)
Professor of Transplantation
Director of Oxford Transplant Centre
University of Oxford

2016
A. Joseph Tector, III, MD, PhD (PDF)
(Grand Rounds lecture video)
Professor of Surgery
Director of Xenotransplantation Program
University of Alabama at Birmingham

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

Dr. Carl Eberbach arrived in Milwaukee in 1928, having moved here from his ancestral home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At the University of Michigan Medical School he had been an Associate Professor of Surgery and was Acting Dean of the Medical School under Dr. Hugh Cabot, one of the pioneers in Urology in this country.

Dr. Eberbach's early beginnings were in the field of Urology, in which he was a substantial contributor to the medical literature in the 1920's. He wrote on many aspects of genitourinary surgery, especially in the field of congenital anomalies. His monograph on renal tuberculosis was considered an outstanding work. His later years in Ann Arbor, however, were in the field of General Surgery, and it was in this capacity that he took up his new work in Milwaukee at the age of 37.

His leaning toward academic medicine was strong, and he maintained a vital interest in our medical school throughout his professional life in Milwaukee. He was Chair of the Department of Surgery for eight years before the arrival of Dr. Edwin Ellison in 1958, and was instrumental in bringing Dr. Ellison here from Ohio State University.

Dr. Eberbach regarded himself as a clinical surgeon, and his self-appraisal is reflected in his writings, principally in the fields of biliary tract surgery and in the management of breast cancer.

2019
Mary E. Klingensmith, MD (PDF)
Lecture (video)
Mary Culver Distinguished Professor and Vice-Chair for Education in Surgery
Washington University in Saint Louis

2018
Rebecca M. Minter, MD
A.R. Curreri Professor and Chair
Department of Surgery
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

2017
Wayne A. I. Frederick, MD, MBA
Howard University
President
Professor of Surgery

2016
David B. Hoyt, MD
Executive Director
American College of Surgeons
Chicago, IL
Emeritus Professor of Surgery
University of California, Irvine

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

From 1958 to 1969 Edwin H. Ellison, MD, was a Professor and Chairman of the Division of Surgery of the Medical College of Wisconsin, then Marquette School of Medicine. He was an excellent teacher and surgical scientist. His untimely death in 1970 prompted his friends and colleagues to seek a means of perpetuating the Ellison legacy. The Edwin H. Ellison Memorial Lectureship has been established to bring leading educators in general surgery to the Medical College on a regular basis.

Dr. Ellison received his surgical training at Ohio State University College of Medicine under the tutelage of Robert M. Zollinger, MD. Dr. Ellison served on the Ohio State University faculty from 1944 to 1957. He moved to Milwaukee in 1958. During the next eleven years, his major effort was the development of a full time department of surgery for the Medical College of Wisconsin. He was immensely successful and the department's academic reputation soared.

Under his leadership, the faculty made significant contributions to the field of gastrointestinal surgery. These efforts stemmed from Dr. Ellison's earlier work at Ohio State and the discovery with Dr. Zollinger of a disease entity with a pathophysiological interaction between islet cell tumors of the pancreas and the stomach, now widely known as the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Dr. Ellison saw the need for an interdisciplinary research facility and in 1961 the Allen-Bradley Medical Science Laboratory was established for the faculty on the grounds of the Milwaukee County Medical Complex. The Allen-Bradley facility is in keeping with the concept of the Medical Center of Southeastern Wisconsin for comprehensive programs of teaching, research, and patient care.

Dr. Ellison was a well-known leader in organized medicine, and served on the editorial boards of prestigious journals. He contributed 161 papers to scientific literature, and shortly before he died had compiled illustrative material for "Ellison's Atlas of Surgery of the Stomach and Duodenum".

His contributions take on more honors with time; his inspiration is hopefully embodied in the Edwin H. Ellison Memorial Lectureship.

2020
Aurora Pryor, MD
Professor and Chief of Bariatric, Foregut, & Advanced Gastrointestinal Surgery
Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs
Department of Surgery
Stony Brook University

2019
Peter J. Allen, MD (PDF), 3/13/2019 Grand Rounds (video)
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology
Department of Surgery
Duke University School of Medicine
Duke University Medical Center

2018
Douglas S. Tyler, MD
University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
John Woods Harris Distinguished Chair in Surgery
Professor and Chairman
Department of Surgery

2017
Justin Dimick, MD
University of Michigan Health System
George D. Zuidema Professor of Surgery
Chair of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Director, Center for Healthcare Outcomes and Policy
Associate Chair for Strategy and Finance

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

The Glicklich Lectureship was created to honor Dr. Marvin Glicklich, who established pediatric surgery as a specialty in Milwaukee and founded the pediatric general surgery program at Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin. His contributions reflect a commitment to the clinical care of infants and children with surgical problems and to the training of surgeons and other health care professionals in this discipline.

2019
Shawn J. Rangel, MD, MSCE (PDF)
Grand Rounds (video)
Associate Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School
Senior Surgical Advisor for Quality & Safety and Weitzman Endowed Chair for Quality & Safety
Boston Children's Hospital

2018
Ms. Julie Foudy
Founder, Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy
ESPN Analyst

2017
Michael La Quaglia, MD, FACS, FRCS
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Chief, Pediatric Surgical Service
Joseph H. Burchenal Chair in Pediatrics
Professor of Surgery
Weill Cornell Medical College, New York

2016
Ronald B. Hirschl, MD
Arnold G. Coran Collegiate Professor of Pediatric Surgery
Head, Section of Pediatric Surgery
CS Mott Children's Hospital

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

Milton A. Lunda of the Lunda Construction Company, aware of the effects of trauma on his family, his community, and the employees of his construction company who work in several states, felt the need to promote trauma awareness and care. Working with the American Trauma Society, he commissioned a recognition award and a Visiting Professorship. The award is presented to organizations, agencies and individuals that demonstrate their commitment to improving emergency medicine by giving of their time, talent, and resources. The Lunda Trauma Visiting Professorship is presented at CLINIC DAY to promote research and continuing education.

2020 - CANCELLED

2019
Dr. Hasan B. Alam (PDF)
Norman Thompson Professor of Surgery
Section Head for the Section of General Surgery
University of Michigan Hospital

2018
David A. Spain, MD, FACS

2017
Lena Marie Napolitano, MD
University of Michigan
Massey Foundation Professor of Surgery
Division Chief, Acute Care Surgery
Associate Chair, Department of Surgery
Director, Trauma & Surgical Critical Care

2016
Rosemary Kozar, MD, PhD
University of Maryland
Associate Director of Shock Trauma Anesthesia Research (STAR)
Director of Translational Research
Shock Trauma Center
Professor of Surgery

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

On March 6, 2010, we lost an outstanding physician, scientist, mentor, and friend when Gale L. Mendeloff, MD, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 77. Cherished by his wife, Sunny, his large extended family, and numerous friends, Dr. Mendeloff's dedication to medicine inspired the creation of the Gale L. Mendeloff, MD, Visiting Professor Lectureship Fund.

Launched by his family, friends, and many former colleagues, the fund serves to remind us of his distinguished career as a doctor and educator.

Dr. Mendeloff led a life unparalleled by many. He began his career in 1963 as a staff physician at Columbia Hospital, where he remained until his retirement in 2002. During that time, he served as Chairman of the hospital’s Department of Surgery, Director of the Vascular Laboratory, and Chief of Staff. He also served as President of the Milwaukee Surgical Society, the Milwaukee Academy of Surgery, and the Wisconsin Surgical Society.

Dr. Mendeloff was a master educator. His distinctive tutorials to medical students and residents were legendary. Whether it was his “Tubes” presentation or his classic teaching around “Who do you trust?”, he was always trying to enlighten others regarding the many nuances of patient care.

The “Tubes” session focused on all the types of drains and tubes that were inserted into patients during surgery, the indications for placing these, how to monitor their output and when to remove them.

“Who do you trust?” emphasized the incredible privilege and responsibility a physician has when a patient entrusts them with their health care. A covenant that requires complete ownership by the physician.

To this end, Dr. Mendeloff stressed that every patient’s x-ray, lab value, flow sheet and medication must be personally reviewed by the physician on a daily basis. It was not sufficient to rely on others to tell you these results. His point was very clear: when a patient gives over their health care to you, it is ultimately your responsibility as their physician to know everything about your patient’s clinical condition.

Dr. Mendeloff’s incredible passion for teaching was recognized by the Medical College of Wisconsin. He became a Clinical Professor of Surgery, an appointment seldom achieved by a surgeon in private practice.

Dr. Mendeloff’s educational prowess was equally matched by his clinical acumen. He cared for his patients deeply, embodying the concept of understanding the patients’ clinical and emotional needs. His ability to empathize was an incredible gift, often creating a connection with his patients that lasted a lifetime.

Frequently, he would be out for dinner with his family and a patient would approach him to say hello and thank you. It seemed as though the patient was just discharged from the hospital. Yet when asked by someone who that person was, Dr. Mendeloff would say "that is someone I took care of 10 years ago."

"Dr. Mendeloff was a talented surgeon and inspiring leader who dedicated his career to the care and treatment of his patients. He will truly be missed," said Stuart D. Wilson, MD, Professor in the Department of Surgery. "We are incredibly grateful for the establishment of these funds to benefit our medical students, residents and faculty. I think that is something Gale would be proud of."

2019
Brian J. Dunkin, MD, FACS
Vice President of Medical Affairs
Boston Scientific Endoscopy
Flyer (PDF)
Grand Rounds lecture (video)
Lecture (video)

2017
Layton F. Rikkers, MD
Emeritus Professor of Surgery
University of Wisconsin-Madison

2016
Steven Kappes, MD
Chair, Department of Surgery
General and Vascular Surgery
Aurora Advanced Healthcare
Clinical Professor of Surgery
Medical College of Wisconsin

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

Morrison Schroeder was born on July 11th, 1908 in Dixon, Illinois. Shortly after, his family moved to Racine, Wisconsin where he graduated from Racine High School in 1926. He attended the University of Wisconsin, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1931. He then went on to attend medical school at Washington University, graduating with an MD in 1933. As so often happened in that era of surgical training, he trained at several different hospitals including a rotating internship at the Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia, from January 1, 1934 to December 31, 1935. He then took a surgical internship at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee from November 1936 to June of 1937. He spent six months at the Presbyterian Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico and finished his surgical residency at the Louisville City Hospital in 1939.

He served in the army from 1940-1946. Rumor has it that he thought physicians were not worthy of automatic rank, so he went in as an enlisted man. However, he was soon promoted to the rank of an officer. He entered private practice in 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was an attending at Columbia Hospital, Milwaukee County General Hospital, St. Luke's Hospital, and the Veterans Administration Hospital. It was at the latter institution that he spent considerable amount of time as a consultant running his surgical service. Every surgical resident at the old Marquette (later to become The Medical College of Wisconsin) surgical service rotated through Dr. Schroeder's service. He was a tough and demanding teacher whose interest was in the best care for the patient, as well as making sure that the young men he trained got the very best he could offer. He had strict criteria, holding the senior resident responsible for any and all activities on his service. Although the rotation was difficult and the men who trained under him may have disliked his rigidity, they are all grateful for his teaching. He is often commended as one of the shining lights in their surgical education.

His effort in the general community of surgery was in the ethical practice of surgery. He became a member of Wisconsin Surgical Society and sat on their ethics committee. As one of the senior members of the present Milwaukee surgical community relates, during ethics committee meetings, if you did not go along with Dr. Schroeder's opinion you spent lengthy hours in discussion as he persuaded you the right way of thinking. Wherever the Wisconsin Surgical Club went in the United States, surgeons knew and respected him.

2016
Steven K. Libutti, MD
Director, Montefiore-Einstein Center for Cancer Care
The Marvin L. Gliedman, MD Distinguished Surgeon
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Surgery
Professor, Department of Genetics
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Montefiore Medical Center

View Lectureship Series (PDF)

Jonathan B. Towne, MD, Professor and Chief Emeritus for the Department of Vascular Surgery retired June 30, 2007 after more than 30 years at The Medical College of Wisconsin. To perpetually commemorate his dedicated years of surgical academic and professional leadership, the Department of Surgery is proud to honor him through a named visiting professorship. The Jonathan T. Towne Visiting Professorship has been established to bring leading experts and educators involved in the multidisciplinary care for vascular disease to The Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Towne dedicated his career to inspiring and educating students and physicians whose interests lie in healing through education and collaboration.

Dr. Towne joined the faculty in 1975 as Chief of the Vascular Surgery Section at the College and Director of Vascular Surgery Service at the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center. In 1981, he was appointed Director of Vascular Surgery Service at John L. Doyne Hospital. For more than 20 years, he has served as Chief of the Division of Vascular Surgery.

Prior to coming to the Medical College, Dr. Towne completed his general surgery residency at the University of Nebraska; served as the Chief of General Surgery in the United States Air Force at the USAF Hospital on Vandenberg Air Force Base; and completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center.

Dr. Towne has earned numerous honors from the College and his students, including the Medical College's Distinguished Service Award and Surgery's Teacher of the Year Award.

Dr. Towne has served in leadership positions on many local, regional and national committees, societies and other professional organizations. He has served as the President of the Central Surgical Association from 2002 to 2003; as the President of the Society of Vascular Surgery from 1999-2000; and is currently on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Surgery.

Dr. Towne helped develop a multidisciplinary model of care for vascular disease at the College, Froedtert Hospital and the Zablocki VA Medical Center requiring a high level of cooperation between Vascular Surgery and Interventional Radiology through commitment, education and collaboration forever changing the treatment of vascular disease.

2020 - CANCELLED

2019
Ronald L. Dalman, MD (PDF) (grand rounds lecture video)
Dr. Walter C. and Elsa R. Chidester Professor of Surgery
Chief, Stanford Vascular Surgery
Stanford University School of Medicine

2018
Benjamin W. Starnes, MD, FACS
University of Washington

2017
Ross Milner, MD
University of Chicago
Professor of Surgery
Co-Director, Center for Aortic Diseases

View Lectureship Series (PDF)