Month: December 2011

Bellin College has appointed Connie J. Boerst its new president. She succeeds Jane Muhl, who led the school for seven years. Boerst was named interim president in July before being chosen as the permanent successor. Boerst is a registered nurse and has a doctorate in education. (GREEN BAY PRESS GAZETTE, 12/6)

Tom Gentile was promoted to president and chief executive of GE Healthcare Systems, a division of GE Healthcare, in May. In his new position, Gentile oversees units of GE Healthcare that generate almost $13 billion a year in revenue. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/5)

Opponents of a bill that would allow marijuana use for medical purposes in Wisconsin say there's not enough evidence the change is needed in the state. Introduced by state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, the proposed Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act would give patients with various chronic conditions the option to get a prescription for the drug from their doctors. However, the issue, which previously failed to gain traction when Democratic lawmakers introduced the bill a few years ago, is not a topic of discussion at the Capitol, said state Rep. Scott Krug, R-Wisconsin Rapids, who does not support the legislation. (WISCONSIN RAPIDS TRIBUNE, 12/5)

The number of medical school graduates opting for primary care, not surprisingly, has steadily declined. Historically, about one in three graduates of Wisconsin's two medical schools became a primary care physician, according to the hospital association report. In the past six years, the number has dropped to about one in five. (JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/5)

Ten doctors at UW-Madison received $48,000 or more from drug or medical device companies last year, a State Journal analysis of campus disclosure records found. Six of the doctors were orthopedic surgeons, and each made $99,000 or more in consulting or royalty fees on top of their salaries averaging $750,000. (WISCONSIN STATE JOURNAL, 12/5)

Gov. Scott Walker's administration has created a new hotline for people to report public assistance fraud. The calls will go to the Office of the Inspector General within the Department of Health Services. (AP, 12/2)

If officials follow through with a proposal to build a medical school in Wausau, the college could attract hundreds of young professionals -- a long-sought group among city leaders. (WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, 12/1)

Wisconsin health care professionals disagree about whether a third medical school in the state would alleviate a projected physician shortfall. (WAUSAU DAILY HERALD, 12/1)