Sentry supports medical education with $2 million gift

STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Dec. 9, 2019) – The Sentry Insurance Foundation has pledged $2 million to the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) to establish the Sentry Deanship at the MCW-Central Wisconsin campus. It’s the largest charitable commitment to the campus to date and will provide the resources needed to expand training programs for medical students at the college’s campus in Wausau.

“We are humbled by the leadership and generosity driving this commitment from Sentry,” said John R. Raymond, Sr., M.D., president and chief executive officer of MCW. “This support of our vision to ensure that people have access to the highest quality physicians in every part of Wisconsin is a demonstration of Sentry’s commitment to innovation, partnership, and the health of our community.”

Sentry’s endowment supports MCW-Central Wisconsin’s dedication to training best-in-class physicians so it can better treat patients in nearby communities that face a shortage of providers. Studies show physicians who attend medical school and perform their residency in the same area are up to 87 percent more likely to stay in the community, taking care of people they know and understand. This support is vital to improving the quality of care for communities in central Wisconsin.

“We’re making this gift to build healthier communities and to secure access to quality healthcare for families in central Wisconsin,” said Pete McPartland, chairman of the board, president, and CEO of Sentry, which is headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. “The innovative programs provided by the Medical College of Wisconsin enrich us all and we’re honored to stand with them in committing to improving the health of people here and across our state.”

The gift from Sentry will support MCW’s Hope to Health comprehensive fundraising campaign, a philanthropic initiative aimed at building healthy and thriving communities. Priorities of the campaign include: accelerating research and advancing patient care, driving health and vitality with our community, transforming healthcare education, and leading the way in cancer research and care.

The founding Dean of the MCW-Central Wisconsin campus is Dr. Lisa Dodson, M.D. The Sentry Deanship at the campus is now bestowed upon Dodson as the highest honor a faculty member can receive for exemplary leadership in their field. This Deanship is also the first Deanship received by a faculty member of MCW.

The MCW-Central Wisconsin campus has clinical and educational partnerships across the region. The campus was established along with MCW-Green Bay to address the looming shortage and maldistribution of physicians and other healthcare professionals across the state.