Midweek Message from the Chair: A Few Congratulations

Just a couple of weeks ago, in this message, I wrote about the importance of recognizing hard work, and “when you see a job well done, say so!” Today, as a follow up, I’d like to recognize the contributions of a few individuals to our mission and congratulate them on their successes.

Dr. Herodotos Ellinas has received a “Good Catch” Patient Safety Award from Froedtert Hospital.

Dr. Ellinas recognized a patient with an acute abdomen in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) who was becoming septic. The patient was about to be discharged to the inpatient floor when he was evaluated by Dr. Ellinas, who made the necessary arrangements for the patient to be immediately brought back to the OR for emergent re-exploration for a previously unrecognized bowel perforation. Thank you, Dr. Ellinas, for your diligence and commitment to patient safety and care!

Dr. Harvey Woehlck has become our Senior Consultant, Liver Transplant Anesthesiologist.

Dr. Woehlck joined us in 1989 as an Assistant Professor and is now a tenured Professor of Anesthesiology. He is an outstanding clinician and teacher, who has participated in the anesthesia care of more than 200 liver-transplant patients. Dr. Woehlck helped to develop the Liver Transplantation Program at Froedtert Hospital, which is one of only three centers in Wisconsin and Illinois to have received a Center of Excellence designation from Optum Health Insurance.

In this role, he will remain an active member of the liver transplant and anesthesia care teams and have an increased focus on research. Dr. Brent Boettcher has agreed to take on the role of Director of Liver Transplant Anesthesiology. Dr. Boettcher joined our faculty in 2016, after completing both his residency and fellowship at MCW.

Many thanks to both Dr. Woehlck for the outstanding work he has done in building the program and will continue to do in his new role, and to Dr. Boettcher for the work he will do as the liver transplant program continues to grow.

Terry Schwartz will retire after 43 years with the Department.

I would like to wish Terry Schwartz a very, very happy retirement after 43 years with the Department of Anesthesiology. Terry joined the Department in 1974, when Dr. Henschel, the first Chair, was leading Anesthesiology at County Hospital. She began as a secretary and over the years was promoted many times. She is now officially the Office Manager; from what I understand, she’s unofficially the Person Who Answers Questions to which Nobody Else Knows the Answer, the Department Historian, and the Person You Talk to When You Just Need to Chat.

Forty-three years of dedication to the Medical College of Wisconsin is an incredible accomplishment, and I am grateful to have had the chance to work with her, as I’m sure everyone who’s worked with Terry would say. Please watch your email for an invitation to a luncheon to celebrate Terry.

Finally, during National CRNA Week, I want to acknowledge the excellent work done by the 45 skilled CRNAs who work alongside our anesthesiologists and residents here at Froedtert.  

National CRNA Week is the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ annual celebration of the nation’s 52,000+ Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists and student registered nurse anesthetists, who provide approximately 43 million anesthetics each year.

I am thrilled to recognize all of these individuals for their hard work, and when you see them, I hope that you will thank and congratulate them with me.

Best,

Cindy

Cynthia A. Lien, M.D.

John P. Kampine Professor and Chair

Department of Anesthesiology

Medical College of Wisconsin

9200 W Wisconsin Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53226

Phone: (414) 805-8703