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.