Milwaukee, Sept. 23, 2021 – The Milwaukee Business Journal awarded individuals from the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and its partners as part of their first ever Health Care Champions awards.

The Health Care Champions awards honor distinguished healthcare leaders in southeastern Wisconsin, selecting those who have demonstrated critical leadership during some of the most challenging years the industry has seen. Nominations for the awards were sent to the editors of the Milwaukee Business Journal to be chosen based on demonstration of innovative and influential thinking, accomplishments in the office, and work in the community.

Winners from MCW include:

Public Health Leader of the Year
John R. Raymond, Sr., MD
President and CEO, Professor, Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Raymond is awarded for serving as a trusted expert on health and science and helping to guide fellow leaders and the community through the difficult realities of the pandemic.

Public Health Leader of the Year
Ben Weston, MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Chief Health Policy Advisor, Milwaukee County
Dr. Weston is awarded for his active role in communicating with the public during the pandemic while continuing to perform clinical duties.

Researcher of the Year
Kirsten Beyer, PhD, MPH, MS
Associate Professor, Epidemiology, Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Beyer is awarded for her research regarding chronic disease disparities, specific to cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as her goal to aid the development of community-based interventions and policies to reduce health disparities.

Winners from MCW partners include:

Innovator of the Year
Michael Mitchell, MD
Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children’s Wisconsin
Dr. Mitchell is awarded for caring for and performing unique surgery on patients born without a trachea.

Innovator of the Year
John Densmore, MD
Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Pediatric Surgery, Children’s Wisconsin
Dr. Densmore is awarded for caring for and performing unique surgery on patients born without a trachea.

Pandemic Response Award
Jonathon Truwit, MD
Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Enterprise Chief Medical Officer, Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Dr. Truwit is awarded for his coordination of the COVID-19 pandemic response for Froedtert & MCW.

There were 12 Health Care Champions winners in total, noting other preeminent health care executives, doctors, and organizations in the area. The awards featured eight distinct categories including: Doctor of the Year, Community Champion, Hospital Executive of the Year, Innovator of the Year, Mental Health Champion, Pandemic Response Award, Public Health Leader of the Year, and Researcher of the Year.

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