Ramirez Family Foundation pledges $1 million to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs
The Agustin A. Ramirez, Jr., Family Foundation has pledged $1 million dollars to launch the Ramirez Lean Scholars Program, a joint initiative between the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) and the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) aimed at training a new generation of scholars in Lean healthcare management techniques.
Ramirez, the Executive Chairman of Husco International, deployed Six Sigma and Lean quality principles throughout his company’s operation over the last decade—a decision that propelled significant global growth in the business and developed a large base of customers. He believes these same principles can improve healthcare operations by lowering costs and improving quality while delivering better outcomes for patients and families.
The goal is to employ quality performance improvement practices and measures that emphasize data-driven efforts to eradicate waste in processes and improve quality. In healthcare, Lean methodology is used to identify low value added practices that increase costs unnecessarily, waste effort, or reduce the time physicians and nurses have for patient care.
“This is a passion of mine. Continuous improvement strategies can transform the healthcare system to reduce costs and waste while improving the quality of the healthcare that is delivered, and that’s why it is critical to train the next generation of improvement scholars in this area through a program such as this,” said Ramirez.
The Ramirez Lean Scholars program will provide MSOE seniors an opportunity to work closely with Lean managers at Froedtert Hospital and other clinical locations. Students also will undertake a Capstone Project aimed at improving the efficiency of clinical practice, and address the challenges of communicating and instituting change in a real world, high pressure environment. MCW and MSOE also are planning a Master of Science program component.
Ramirez, a MCW Emeritus Trustee who sits on the MSOE Board of Regents, called the close working relationship between the two institutions “crucial” to the successful development of the program.
John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, MCW CEO and President, said the program will deepen an already strong partnership between the two institutions. “MSOE is a critical player in the region’s workforce development efforts, and the MCW patient care enterprises provide significant opportunities for students to understand what drives quality healthcare. Gus has been incredibly generous to both institutions, and this program will provide real benefits to patients and students. His effort and vision have inspired all of us.”
“What’s key is giving these future healthcare managers and leaders the right experiences to develop the skills to have a positive and lasting influence on the institutions they serve,” said Hermann Viets, PhD, president of MSOE. “We couldn’t be more grateful to Gus and the Ramirez family for providing this opportunity.”
The Lean scholars program will welcome its first class of six students in September 2015.
About the Medical College of Wisconsin
The Medical College of Wisconsin is the state’s only private medical school and health sciences graduate school. Founded in 1893, it is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee. New regional medical education campuses are scheduled to open in Green Bay in 2015, and in Central Wisconsin in 2016, with each recruiting initial classes of 20-25 students. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In FY 2013-14, faculty received approximately $154 million in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes, of which approximately $138 million is for research. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 2,000 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,350 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 425,000 patients annually.
About the Milwaukee School of Engineering
Milwaukee School of Engineering is an independent, non-profit university with about 2,800 students that was founded in 1903. MSOE offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business, mathematics and nursing. The university has a national academic reputation; longstanding ties to business and industry; dedicated professors with real-world experience; a 96% placement rate; and the highest ROI and average starting and mid-career salaries of any Wisconsin university according to PayScale Inc. MSOE graduates are well-rounded, technologically experienced and highly productive professionals and leaders.
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