Grief, By Jacqueline Tran

Guest Director's Corner



Finding a Flourishing Focus

By Jeff Fritz, PhD

One of the most challenging issues I have struggled with is the question “So what to you want to do when you grow up?” I admired my peers in high school that were able to state definitively that they wanted to be a doctor, dentist, musician, or business leaders. For the most part they all were successful at achieving those aspirations. I however do not feel like I had a clear plan. As I have interviewed perspective medical students over the years I have always been amazed at their clarity of passion. I did not share such clarity. I dabbled in engineering, veterinary medicine, and explored business and teaching. There just seemed like so many good choices – how could I pick just one? Earlier in my career my passion seemed less defined – explore something fun, work hard, - “follow your passion and your pension will follow”. 

Perspective/Opinion



A partnership of KNN Student Network and an MCW Student Leadership Retreat

By Joëlle Worm, MPA 

Joëlle highlights the efforts of student leadership development by the Kern National Network and its interface with a recent MCW student leadership retreat – the primary focus of this issue of the Transformational Times.

The MCW student leadership retreat occurred in the larger context of the Kern National Network (KNN) Student Network, a group of student chapter sites across medical schools in the United States. Many of the perspective pieces in this issue of TT reflect on the MCW student leadership retreat -- one of many student leadership events hosted by KNN Student Network chapter sites in Fall 2022 and Winter 2023.

Such efforts help develop skills that students will utilize in their future as physicians, such as leading care teams and supervising other team members.

KNN Student Chapters began with 8 sites in Fall 2022 and have grown to over 20 sites as of Spring 2023. The goal of the student network is to explore the KNN Framework for Flourishing at the medical student level locally, and to connect and convene medical students for leadership opportunities nationally.

Perspective/Opinion

Take Three: What is leadership? 

By Iniya Adhan, Class of 2024, and Carson Gehl, Class of 2026

Two medical students who participated in MCW’s Character and Caring in Leadership Retreat, an activity of the Kern Institute and Kern National Network partnership, came away with new perspectives on the value of physician leadership in team-oriented fields and innovation...

1.    Prior to the retreat, what was your definition of leadership and how one should be an effective leader?

I.A.: Throughout my life and my experiences, I have defined leadership as the role one plays to organize and guide individuals in a singular group. Although individuals might have different ideas, the leader’s role is to take this variation of ideas and bring them together into a cohesive thought. As an effective leader, I have always felt that perspective taking is important to connect with those around me, and to have a sense for which strengths of each idea need to be considered while creating the bigger picture. Perspective taking is what makes each individual feel seen and heard within a bigger group and helps keep the peace and greater morale within larger settings. Being open to other perspectives is what molds a leader’s cultural competence, which is what allows this sense of respect between individuals regardless of a hierarchal structure.

C.G.:   Simply, or naively, I had pictured a leader as someone who takes charge. I viewed a leader as someone who is very charismatic and quick to delegate and who steps in to solve a problem. However, as I met more people who have what I would consider to be 

Perspective/Opinion

Building better leaders through volunteerism

By Saba Anwer, MBA, MPH, Class of 2025

Earlier this year, MCW students attending The Kern Institute and Kern National Network: Day of Leadership and Connection in Medicine worked together to make over 100 sack lunches. These meals were distributed to members of the community through The Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin. Later, Saba Anwer, M3, sat down with Lyn Hildenbrand, Executive Director of the Gathering of Southeast WI, to discuss the importance of community service in developing future leaders…

Serving to Lead

As future physician leaders, we will play a key role in human flourishing​. To become effective physician leaders of tomorrow, it’s important to find purpose in serving our communities today.



While planning the Leadership Conference, our objective was to find an opportunity for medical students to connect with each other while zeroing in on their “why.” We partnered with the Gathering of Southeast Wisconsin, a non-profit organization that feeds those in Milwaukee who would otherwise go hungry, to create an activity for medical students to give back to their community while building connections with each other.

Perspective/Opinion



Community and Culture: Changing perspectives of student leadership



By Maximilian Casey, Class of 2025

At the start of my medical education, I was fortunate to connect with a number of incredible mentors who challenged me to pursue my passions. Finding a way to facilitate a similar sense of connection that is accessible to all students has been the objective of the collaboration between the Kern Institute and the Kern National Network...

The value of connection

It is hard to argue that time is our most valuable commodity. Who and what you choose to invest your time in may be two of the most important decisions you can make throughout your medical education. There is a small irony that the periods of your life when you have the most time can be the time you do not know how to use it. 

Perspective/Opinion



Leadership: Concept, application, personal impact

By Natalie Stratton, Class of 2025

A brief exploration of the qualities of a successful leader, the decision on how to cultivate leadership qualities, and a leader’s personal impact …

What are the essential qualities of a successful leader?



An age-old question, it sounds a bit like a writing prompt you might encounter during primary school. However, the reality is that the answer impacts whole groups, communities and even entire nations.

From my own experiences, I would argue that someone’s answer is directly indicative of their personal values, as well as their perception of success. For some, qualities such as quick thinking, use of logic in decision making, and confidence may come to mind; generally, characteristics that can be individually cultivated. However, try as we might, we do not live in an individual world; or if we do, there’s a good chance that it’s not the happiest. 

Perspective/Opinion



Art inspires retreat reflections on leadership, human flourishing

By Christine Fleming, MA

Physician training is more than imparting medical knowledge. MCW partnered with the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University to offer medical students the opportunity to step outside their usual learning space and consider human flourishing and the qualities of team leadership while exploring two art exhibitions... 

As an academic art museum, the Haggerty Museum of Art at Marquette University is uniquely positioned to embrace experimentation, collaboration, new ways of knowing, student agency, and rigorous intellectual discourse.

The Museum’s mission is to connect people — on campus, in the community, and around the world — to art, to ideas, and to one another. Through inclusive programming, the Museum uses the interdisciplinary lens of art to cultivate knowledge, insight, understanding, and belonging.

CALL TO ARTISTS

Humanities in Medicine event

Visual and Performing Artist Submissions:

Humanities in Medicine is presented by Froedtert Hospital’s Departments of Spiritual Services and Behavioral Health

Friday, September 8, 2023

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Froedtert Hospital Clinical Cancer Center

1st Floor - Helfaer Mezzanine

We are looking for Froedtert Health and MCW staff, physicians and patients to share their visual and performing art at our next Humanities in Medicine event. Some examples of the creative works we would like to include: drawing & painting, mixed media, fiber art, photography, poetry, spoken word, dancing, music, singing and acting.