Why I Give: Elizabeth Petty
“Philanthropy supports innovations that advance opportunities and improve health.”
Elizabeth Petty, MD
Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs;
Professor, Department of Pediatrics; and
Medical Director, Master of Genetic Counselor Studies Program
UW School of Medicine and Public Health
Elizabeth Petty, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH), has a diverse philanthropy portfolio supporting health professions programs, discretionary funding for the medical school, the Wisconsin Medical Alumni Association and the Department of Pediatrics, all areas deeply connected to her personal and professional experiences.
Dr. Petty graduated from the UW School of Medicine in 1986 and completed her pediatrics residency at UW in 1989. She has been on the faculty as an administrative leader, teacher and medical geneticist since 2011. Philanthropy, according to Dr. Petty, is absolutely essential.
"We have a multi-faceted mission to enhance education and research to optimize health. To advance our goals for continuous high-quality improvement, health innovations, research discoveries and new opportunities for learners are essential, which couldn’t happen without philanthropic gifts,” she emphasizes.
Supporting all SMPH health professions programs– genetic counselor studies, medicine, physician assistant studies, physical therapy, and public health–has been important to Dr. Petty. “To optimize health outcomes, we must collaborate in high-functioning interprofessional teams where everyone flourishes, working at their maximum potential to serve patients and learners," she said.
She has been pleased to contribute to a growing scholarship portfolio. “We attract wonderfully diverse cohorts of talented students. With more scholarships, we’ve provided essential support for students who may not have been able to pursue health professional careers without additional financial resources. Some of these individuals will become future experts and leaders that are going to make major impacts, advancing health equity across, and beyond, Wisconsin communities in years ahead,” she shared.
Dr. Petty’s history of giving reflects her commitment to championing health equity. SMPH is a national leader integrating public health and medical education. Philanthropy has allowed the school to develop a statewide campus through partnerships with health care systems across Wisconsin.
And she hasn’t forgotten her roots. “As a pediatrician and geneticist, I see adults and children with complex conditions and disabilities. Giving is another opportunity for me to support a thriving and flourishing department that can provide outstanding care and advance discoveries and innovations that my patients need.”