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Shekar N. Kurpad, MD, PhD, FEL ’01 Begins Role as MCW President and CEO

July 1, 2026

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In a video and message, Dr. Kurpad shares what inspires him about MCW and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Dear MCW Community:

I am honored to step into my role today, July 1, 2026, as MCW's seventh President and CEO. After more than two decades serving here as a neurosurgeon, scientist, and educator, I have seen firsthand what this institution is capable of, and I have to tell you: we are just getting started.

I believe MCW is the anchor for academic and research-informed healthcare in Wisconsin and beyond. We are a world-class institution leading academic medicine and the pursuit of new knowledge. It’s why we attract top students, faculty and staff, whose commitment to learning and health is a passion to them. We foster a continuous cycle of discovery, and care designed for and with our community, powered by innovation.

My mission is to continue elevating MCW as a leading innovation hub – one that ignites bold ideas, attracts top talent, and generates catalyzing investment from diverse sources. That means linking academia, health care, and industry in ways that move quickly and make our impact visible.

MCW and our partners are already doing extraordinary things for our community. My job is to drive collaboration and be a catalyst for transformational innovation, helping us reach more than we thought possible while shaping the future of medicine for a healthy Wisconsin and country.

I am so glad to be on this journey with you.

Kind regards,
Shekar Kurpad

Tagged: Alumni Executive Leadership

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