Medical Society of Wisconsin: George Lange, MD, receives the Society’s highest honor

MADISON — George M. Lange, MD, of River Falls received the Wisconsin Medical Society’s prestigious

Director’s Award—the organization’s highest honor—during the Society’s Annual Meeting April 2-3 in Madison.

He was presented the award during the Society’s Inaugural Ceremony, April 2.

The Director’s Award was established in 1928 and is granted only on occasion to those outstanding physicians who

have served the medical profession with integrity and honor and who have made numerous and substantial

contributions to the profession and the community.

Board certified in internal medicine and geriatrics, Dr. Lange has been active in the Society, both as a member and

as a leader, for more than 35 years. He served on the Society’s Board of Directors for nine years, including two

years as chair and one year as vice chair. He also served as treasurer and was on many committees and councils. As

the Society’s president from 2011 to 2012, he used his platform as president to focus on the importance of

discussing one’s health care wishes with their loved ones and encouraged people everywhere to have “the

conversation.” This process is known as advance care planning.

Society Board of Directors Chair Molli Rolli, MD, said the launch of the Society’s Honoring Choices Wisconsin

program in 2012—and subsequent growth of advance care planning in Wisconsin—would not have been possible

without Dr. Lange’s tenacity and vison.

“From medical students to colleagues at the American Medical Association, and peers in Wisconsin and other

states, he was—and continues to be—a tireless champion for advance care planning, and we are indebted to him for

increasing awareness of this very important issue,” said Dr. Rolli.

But it was not just for his advocacy involving advance care planning that the Society honored Dr. Lange. He also

was recognized for being “a tremendous advocate for his patients and our profession in other areas,” according to

Dr. Rolli. This includes his past efforts to help defeat legislation that would have threatened public health by

allowing the widespread sale of unpasteurized milk in Wisconsin—despite well-established evidence that

consuming raw milk increases a person’s chance for foodborne illness.

“Doctor Lange has devoted his practice to serving our elderly in Wisconsin, and his absolute love and commitment

to his family is admired and well respected,” said Dr. Rolli. “He is a true inspiration to his peers and he has earned

the respect and appreciation of his patients.”

With nearly 12,500 members dedicated to the best interests of their patients, the Wisconsin Medical Society is the

largest association of medical doctors in the state and a trusted source for health policy leadership since 1841.