NEWS & INFORMATION

In May, Meta House reached a major milestone as our Administrative and Outpatient teams officially relocated to our new campus at 535 N. 39th Street and began welcoming clients into the space for the first time. Designed to meet a growing need in our community, our new campus will expand access to care by doubling residential treatment capacity, allowing us to serve up to 100 women and children at a time, increasing outpatient capacity, and strengthening recovery support services through enhanced programming and co-location partnerships. Residential services will relocate following our ribbon cutting ceremony in late August. This expansion represents more than a new building; it reflects a long-term investment in healing, family-centered care, and ensuring more women and families across Wisconsin can access the support they need to build healthy futures.

Meta House currently has immediate openings in outpatient and recovery housing. Please call 414-962-1200 for more information.

Dr William Finlayson passed away May 11 at the age of 101. He was a prominent physician and community leader throughout his career. His life and legacy has been celebrated throughout the community.

Dr Finlayson received his B.S. degree from Morehouse College in 1948 and his M.D. from Meharry Medical College in 1953. Finlayson completed his residency at the University of Minnesota in 1958. 

After residency, Dr Finlayson established his own private practice in Milwaukee and continued to practice medicine for nearly the next forty years (from 1958 to 1997). Finlayson has two fellowships: one at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist in 1963 and the other at the American College of Surgeons in 1964. He also taught at the Medical College of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Medical School.

Finlayson was an active member of several medical societies at the local, state and national level, including the Medical Society of Milwaukee County.

Dr. Stephen Brandt received the 2026 Physician Citizen of the Year Award at the 2026 WMS Annual Meeting. Dr Brandt is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatrist with the Medical College of Wisconsin, joining the faculty in August 2023. He completed both his general psychiatry residency and his addiction psychiatry fellowship at Indiana University. The majority of his clinical time is outpatient addiction psychiatry care at Tosa Psychiatry Center, as well as roles with the Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital Substance Use IOP Program and Froedtert Hospital Psychiatry Consult Liaison team. He really enjoys his work, including the opportunity to work with the excellent, compassionate, and impressive psychiatry residents and fellows at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Away from work, he enjoys family time especially with his hilarious children, playing soccer, dabbling in songwriting, and making and playing strategy board games.

Dr. Jesse M. Ehrenfeld received the 2026 President Citation. Dr Ehrenfeld is Aidoc’s Global Chief Medical Officer. He’s the former president of the American Medical Association, a practicing physician, and holds academic appointments as a Professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Vanderbilt University, and the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. A nationally recognized physician-leader and researcher, his work focuses on how health information technology can improve safety, reliability, and patient outcomes, having received funding from the NIH, ARPA-H, the Department of Defense and other major organizations. Dr. Ehrenfeld has authored more than 275 peer-reviewed publications, served as editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Systems and held advisory roles with the World Health Organization, the U.S. Surgeon General and the National Academy of Medicine.

On December 11, MSMC celebrated the end-of-year with a variety of recognitions.  WMS President and past MSMC President Dr Michelle Graham provided a report on the Wisconsin Medical Society, and MSMC President Dr Garrett Fitzgerald shared a review of the past year’s accomplishments.  Our special guest was Tracy Oerter, Chief Clinical Services Officer, presented on Meta House Project Horizon and received the 2025 Community Impact Award on behalf of Meta House.  More information on Meta House’s work this past year is available on the attached report.

Join us and celebrate National Injury Prevention Day on November 18!

This annual event is dedicated to raising awareness about injury prevention and supporting the development of healthier, safer communities. Join organizations, families, and advocates across the country come together to highlight the importance of simple steps and smart strategies that can prevent injuries before they happen.

How You Can Participate

National Injury Prevention Day encourages everyone to take part, whether by learning about common injury risks, sharing safety resources, or promoting preventive practices in their homes, workplaces, and neighborhoods. From fall prevention and safe driving habits to child safety and emergency preparedness, the day serves as a reminder that preventing injuries is both achievable and essential.

To learn more about events, resources, and ways to get involved, visit  nationalinjurypreventionday.org. Let’s work together to build a safer future—one informed step at a time.

The Medical Society of Milwaukee County is proud to highlight and support the important work of our community partner, NourishMKE, as Milwaukee unites to assist neighbors impacted by November’s FoodShare benefit delays.

This month, tens of thousands of Milwaukee residents will experience a gap in their FoodShare benefits. In response, the City and County of Milwaukee have launched a collaborative food and fund drive to help ensure families have access to the nourishment they need—and NourishMKE is playing a key role in meeting the increased demand.

NourishMKE and other food centers work tirelessly to supplement where SNAP benefits fall short, but they cannot replace the vital role that federal programs play in supporting our food system. When benefits are delayed, the impact ripples far beyond individual families—affecting grocers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, farmers, and the broader community. As NourishMKE reminds us: “Feeding our neighbors feeds ourselves.”

How You Can Help

MSMC encourages members and community partners to join in supporting this effort:

Make a financial contribution
Monetary donations make an immediate difference. Because food centers purchase items in bulk from low-cost sources, financial contributions stretch further than typical retail purchases. Donate Today.

Donate food
Non-perishable items can be dropped off at NourishMKE donation boxes located in Milwaukee County buildings, or at any NourishMKE site during open hours. See a full list here. Even small contributions help ensure families have enough to get through this challenging time.

MSMC members, physicians, medical students, and their families enjoyed a beautiful fall day at the Milwaukee County Zoo on October 5! The event marked our first-ever joint county gathering, bringing together colleagues from across the state for an afternoon of connection and community.

It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces enjoying the sunshine, conversation, and a relaxed day outside the clinic. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the event a success!

Special thanks to WisMed Assure and WisMed Financial and for their generous support, which made the day possible. 

We look forward to hosting more opportunities like this for MSMC members to connect, recharge, and celebrate the local medical community!

Medical Society members participated in the September 20 Health Olympics at Froedtert MCW Clinic on Forest Home Avenue. They shared valuable information on advanced care planning and advanced directives.

Together Tech is a local initiative started by Neerja Ahuja, niece of MSMC Board Member Dr Manohar Ahuja. Together Tech works to bridge the digital gap for students to remove technological barriers to learning.

Neerja’s work began with research and interviews with staff and leaders from a variety of community organizations. This includes Bread of Healing Clinic, Progressive Community Health Center, City on a Hill, Sixteenth Street Clinic, United Way, SEA Literacy, and Hope House of Milwaukee. The research and interviews suggested the best approach to helping students to deliver digital literacy workshops in community centers. Sessions are geared towards children in fourth through eight grade and free of charge.

Visit Together Tech’s website for more information on this important and impactful community initiative.

MSMC members enjoyed a fun-filled evening at American Family Field on September 14 for our Brewers Game Outing. Guests gathered on the exclusive Johnsonville Party Deck to take in the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals — a classic NL Central rivalry.

Members and guests enjoyed great food, drinks, and conversation before cheering on the Brewers. Although the game didn’t end in a win, the night was full of camaraderie and connection among colleagues and friends.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this exciting outing! Stay tuned for more MSMC member socials throughout the year.