The annual BizTimes Media Health Care Heroes Awards salute the impact and accomplishments of people and organizations that are making a positive difference in the community on the front lines of health care. A breakfast awards program was held in their honor on Dec. 11. In this special section, we share their stories to call attention to their efforts and innovations. The Health Care Heroes Award profile stories are written by Alysha Schertz and Hilary Dickinson.
Saluting those on the front lines
As BizTimes Media completes another rewarding year of serving Milwaukee’s business community, it is a delight to conclude our annual programming lineup with our Health Care Heroes Awards program.
During the hectic holiday season, the Health Care Heroes breakfast reminds us to slow down and take the time to thank those who are making a positive difference in the community on the front lines of health care. It’s our pleasure to shine the spotlight on these important heroes, who are doing things like:
- Advocating for patients in the mental health care system.
- Providing integrated primary health care, mental health care and social services.
- Offering exceptional comprehensive behavioral health care for people suffering from addiction.
- Making healthy food options and health screenings available to underserved populations.
- Providing completely free medical care to individuals in need.
- Pioneering new ways to treat and prevent child abuse in our community.
- Forming insurer-provider collaborations to improve the safety, value and efficiency of health care.
- Serving as a caring, compassionate, knowledgeable source of strength for patients.
- Putting themselves in patients’ shoes and relating to them on a personal level.
- Fostering an environment that values innovation and collaboration to do more with less.
- Demonstrating a commitment to inspire others in the community to support a cause.
- Volunteering to help whenever and wherever needed.
- Fostering an innovative approach to more effective breast cancer screenings.
- Working to rectify Wisconsin’s physician shortage.
It is an honor to recognize these inspirational men, women and organizations in the spirit of the season. Please take a few moments to read their stories here. And should you meet them, be sure to thank them for their service. They deserve it!
Dan Meyer
Publisher, BizTimes Media
2015 Health Care Heroes Profiles
Behavioral Health
John Chianelli, Executive director, Whole Health Clinical Group
Dr. Michael Miller, Medical director, Herrington Recovery Center
Mary Neubauer, Certified peer specialist, Community Advocates
Community Service
Mark Lyday, Director of child advocacy and protective service, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Robert Ramerez, Manager of community services, Columbia St. Mary’s
Jim Strachota, Executive director, Albrecht Free Clinic
Corporate Achievement in Health Care
Executive Leadership
Larry Schreiber, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin
Nurse
Elizabeth Krzywda, APNP, Medical College of Wisconsin Dept. of Surgical Oncology
Alexa Mattes, RN, Madison Medical Affiliates
Physician
Doug Evans, Chairman, Dept. of Surgery and pancreatic cancer surgeon, Medical College of Wisconsin
Pamela Wilson, Medical director, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers
Volunteer
Mike and Mary Altschaefl, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Maggy Schultz, Froedtert MCW We Care Committee
