Fox Cities News

The Universities of Wisconsin and the Board of Regents awarded ThedaCare with the Regents Business Partnership Award on November 15 at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. This award acknowledges collaborations between universities and businesses that contribute to Wisconsin's economic vitality.

Regent Desmond Adongo, a student at UWO, initiated the award presentation by highlighting the importance of recognizing investments made by companies in universities. "After listening to business leaders, it dawned on the Regents that maybe it was time to recognize the investment companies around Wisconsin are making in our universities – and to publicly acknowledge what we’re hearing all the time – how critical our students and graduates are to the success of some of Wisconsin’s most significant businesses," he said.

Adongo also praised ThedaCare as a vital partner for UW-Oshkosh, expressing excitement about a new ThedaCare campus under construction in downtown Oshkosh. "UW-Oshkosh is fortunate to have a business like ThedaCare as such a vital partner," he stated.

Jay Rothman, President of Universities of Wisconsin, emphasized how universities across the state produce graduates who meet workforce demands. "We are responding to workforce demand, and the Universities of Wisconsin are investing more in programs where employers have the greatest need," Rothman noted.

Dr. Robert Cavagnol from Froedtert ThedaCare Health accepted the award, acknowledging partnerships with academic institutions like UW-Oshkosh. He highlighted ongoing developments such as a new health center near UWO's riverfront campus set for completion in 2025, expected to create approximately 60 jobs.

Jenny Nikolai from ThedaCare Medical Centers expressed pride in supporting UWO students' education and its positive impact on patient care. She stated that many new team members are UWO graduates who contribute significantly due to their previous experience within ThedaCare's system.

UWO Chancellor Andrew Leavitt noted that over 60 recent UWO graduates work at ThedaCare across various disciplines. He also mentioned an academic partnership involving a rural telehealth initiative supported by a Universities of Wisconsin Innovation Grant aimed at improving chronic illness outcomes through telehealth education for nursing students.

"The experiential learning our students engaged in is vital to their preparation as skilled, modern, relevant and effective nurses," Leavitt remarked regarding this collaboration with ThedaCare.