MCW’s 2025 Investiture Ceremony Honors Faculty Excellence and Philanthropic Partnership
Dr. John Raymond, MCW president and CEO (right), with the 2025 Investiture Ceremony honorees (from left), Dr. Karolyn Wanat, Dr. Callisa Clarke, Dr. William Hall, Dr. Cheryl Maurana, and Dr. Hu Yang.
The Medical College of Wisconsin community gathered at the Harley-Davidson Museum on October 9 for the 2025 Investiture Ceremony, a celebration of academic achievement and philanthropic vision.
Endowed chairs and professorships are among the highest honors an academic institution can bestow. They recognize the achievements of faculty and the generosity of donors who make innovation in research, education, and patient care possible.
“Tonight, we celebrate partnership, the generosity of donors and families who make endowed chairs and professorships possible, and the faculty whose work carries that legacy forward,” said Jason Kraiss, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, as he welcomed guests.
Academic Leadership and Integrity
Cheryl Maurana, PhD, Interim Provost, Professor, and Founding Director of the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Health, opened the evening with reflections on the enduring values of scholarship: integrity, perseverance, courage, and mentorship.
“Through genuine dialogue and mutual understanding, we can find a path forward even amid our most challenging conversations,” Dr. Maurana shared.
Recognizing Faculty and Benefactors
John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, MCW President and CEO, led the formal recognitions. He noted that endowed chairs are lasting commitments that support talent, encourage innovation, and provide the resources needed to advance research, education, patient care, and community health for generations to come.
The 2025 honorees included:
Steve and Shelagh Roell Endowed Chair – Cheryl Maurana, PhD
Steve and Shelagh Roell, longtime civic leaders and MCW supporters, established this chair to strengthen leadership in medical education. As its holder, Dr. Maurana is guiding MCW’s academic mission while advancing national collaboration through the Kern National Network for Flourishing in Health.
Bob Uecker Chair in Pancreatic Cancer Research – William Hall, MD
Dr. Hall, Chair of Radiation Oncology, is a pioneer in MR-guided radiation therapy and a leading investigator in cancer research supported by the National Institutes of Health. The chair honors Milwaukee legend Bob Uecker and the community of supporters dedicated to accelerating progress against pancreatic cancer.
Douglas B. Evans Chair for Surgical Research – Callisia Clarke, MD, MS
A nationally recognized cancer surgeon, Dr. Clarke leads research to improve treatment of pancreatic and hepatobiliary tumors and serves on the National Cancer Advisory Board. The chair was created to honor Dr. Evans’s transformative leadership in surgical innovation and mentorship.
Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Endowed Chair for Children’s Diseases – Xiaowu Gai, PhD
Dr. Gai directs MCW’s Child Health Bioinformatics program, translating genomic data into precision medicine for children. Linda and John Mellowes, long-time benefactors and advocates for pediatric health, established the chair to advance research and care for children across Wisconsin.
Thomas J. Russell Family / Milwaukee Community Dermatologists Professor of Dermatology – Karolyn A. Wanat, MD
Dr. Wanat, Chair of Dermatology, leads a department known for its excellence in education, research, and patient care. The professorship, initiated by Milwaukee’s dermatology community and Dr. Russell, MCW ’62, ensures that his legacy of mentorship and leadership continues to shape the field.
Digestive Disease Center Board Endowed Chair in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research – Cara Mack, MD
Chief and Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Dr. Mack leads one of the nation’s foremost pediatric GI programs. The chair, funded by a distinguished group of Milwaukee philanthropists, supports innovation in research and care for children with complex digestive disease disorders.
Dr. Robert D. and Dr. Patricia E. Kern Professor of Biomedical Engineering – Hu Yang, PhD
Dr. Yang, Chair of the Marquette–MCW Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, is internationally recognized for his work in pharmaceutical engineering and biomaterials. The Kern Professorship, created through a historic $10 million gift, reflects the late Drs. Robert and Patricia Kern’s enduring legacy of generosity and innovation.
A Shared Legacy
In his closing remarks, Dr. Raymond expressed gratitude to donors, faculty, and families for their collective impact.
“We are deeply grateful to our donors for their generosity and to our faculty for the talent and dedication that bring our shared mission to life,” he said. “Together, we celebrate the power of academic medicine to transform discovery into better health for all.”