“The Carbone Cancer Center and Dr. Paul Harari saved my life,” says UW–Madison alumnus and donor Marshall Flax. “And the vital research being done at the UW Department of Human Oncology not only helped me but will also make things better for future patients. If that isn’t a reason to give back, I don’t know what is.”

“By endowing a scholarship in our father’s name through the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Native American Center for Health Professions, which he avidly supported, we are proud to honor our father's legacy and his love for our university, this country, its people, and its natural resources,” says Jordana Lenon ’84, ’94.

Eastpark Medical Center will be a 470,000-square-foot, seven-story facility housing a variety of outpatient care programs including oncology and integrated specialty care for women.

Gary Grosklaus, after waiting for two years due to declining kidney function and managing Type 2 diabetes, received a simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant on February 20. This life-changing surgery, performed at UW Health, not only marked the 20,000th organ transplant milestone for the center but also freed him from the need for daily insulin injections and dialysis.

A pilot grant launched new research to explore how brain structure shapes language growth in infants with Down syndrome. Researcher Doug Dean, III hopes this will lead to improved therapies for children and better quality of life for kids and adults living with Down syndrome.

“The philanthropic support I’ve received has inspired me to give back during my career as a physician,” says third-year medical student Amelia Baltes. “If I can positively impact students the way that receiving this scholarship has impacted me, then I would be honored to provide exactly that for future Badgers.”

When his wife, Bonnie passed away from pancreatic cancer in October 2021, Dan McCausland wanted to find a way not only to honor her memory but show gratitude to the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center team who treated her — especially the nurses who shared Bonnie’s dedication to the profession. That’s why he created a scholarship fund in her memory.

Dr. Dustin Deming understands when he meets a patient newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer how it will impact their life – because of how it has impacted his, twice.

Aleena Fietz is the second child to receive a heart transplant at American Family Children’s Hospital. While UW Health has been performing successful adult heart transplants for 50 years, the pediatric heart transplant program is in its infancy.

“I remember how excited I was to hang my stethoscope around my neck and listen to patients’ hearts for the first time,” says Catherine Ahern ’14, MD’21. “Medicine is so advanced from a technology standpoint, but a part of me loves how basic a stethoscope is and the usefulness of this tool even in today’s age. I hope to help the next generation of physicians feel welcomed into this community.”

Witnessing her father’s arduous journey through stage four colon cancer inspired Emily Schmitt MDx’26 to pursue an education in medical research and oncology. As the 2023–26 recipient of the Victor W. Gieschen MD and Barbara Gieschen Great People Scholarship, Emily is both grateful and enthusiastic about using her skills to improve the quality of life for her future patients.

For more than 17 years, the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine has been successfully training UW medical students in specialties that will help them provide excellent care to underserved communities in rural Wisconsin. This vital program is making a difference by offering essential services to increase wellness and quality of life for rural patients.

An orange dot on a driver’s license lets others know that someone has said “yes” to organ donation. With support from philanthropy, UW Organ and Tissue Donation partnered with the Madison Radicals professional ultimate disc team to show how to register as an organ donor and save more lives.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis put Randy Teske on the waiting list for a lung transplant. While there are treatments that may slow the progression of this deadly disease, there is no cure. With support from philanthropy, Dr. Lynn Schnapp hopes her research will help change that.

After years of preparation and planning, the pediatric heart transplant program at the UW Health Transplant Center launched in March 2023. Sezar became the first pediatric patient to receive a heart transplant at American Family Children’s Hospital on August 22, 2023.

A new registered nurse apprenticeship program at UW Health that is the first in the state and one of only a few in the nation began with its first cohort of students.

The LiveMSFree Fund at UW Health will help to provide a financial safety net to help stabilize vulnerable patients and families facing these critical challenges, allowing patients to focus their attention on their care and well-being, thus helping to ensure positive outcomes.

Heart failure at age 38, but simple steps have helped Madison woman’s heart improve.

After the delivery of her first baby in 2014, Monica experienced life-altering physical complications. It would take seven years to find John Pennycuff, MD, MPH and the specialists at the UW Health Women’s Pelvic Wellness Clinic and to get her life back.

At just 2 ½ years old, Scarlett was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Even with the most aggressive treatment, it was likely the cancer would return, and it did. But a clinical trial only offered at UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Center at American Family Children’s Hospital is giving Scarlett hope.