WMed celebrated its first 10 years of accomplishments and the retirement of Founding Dean Dr. Hal B. Jenson at its live virtual gala, WMed Live: A First Decade Celebration, on Thursday, May 27, 2021, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The community was invited to this live, virtual event featuring special guests, national celebrities, internationally recognized medical professionals, talented regional artists, and keynote speeches from Kalamazoo business, civic, and philanthropic leaders. The community was also presented with special messages from the Association of American Medical Colleges President Dr. David J. Skorton, American saxophonist Kenny G, acclaimed TV host Tom Bergeron, and Grammy award-winning singers and songwriters Ne-Yo and Paula Abdul.
Registrants of WMed Live had the opportunity to write a congratulatory message to Dr. Jenson in honor of his legacy of leadership on the occasion of his retirement and make a gift to The WMed Next Decade Fund to support the mission of the medical school.
Event Co-Chairs and Hosts
At WMed, we proudly recognize Kalamazoo philanthropists and medical school benefactors Ronda E. Stryker and William D. Johnston along with William U. Parfet and Barbara A. Parfet who were co-chairs and hosts for this historic event. We thank them for their leadership in chairing this special anniversary event.
The Details
- WMed's First Decade Celebration
Dr. Paula M. Termuhlen Founded in 2011, WMed formally celebrated the accomplishments of its first decade of operation. This once-in-a-lifetime event highlighted and celebrated the key accomplishments of the medical school.
WMed includes more than 340 students, 900 employees, and 750 community faculty, growing to almost 2000 people, with an annual operating budget of $62.5 million. In addition to the tremendous economic impact that WMed brings to Southwest Michigan and the Kalamazoo community, the medical school is educating the next generation of physicians and providing a robust pipeline of new doctors to Kalamazoo’s two major healthcare systems while also providing a vital source of healthcare services to our community through WMed Health. Medical advances and new medical knowledge are created through our innovative medical research programs, new healthcare-related business ventures are emerging from the WMed Innovation Center, and a rich array of medical programs and services are offered to benefit the citizens of Kalamazoo and Southwest Michigan each and every day.
When celebrating WMed Live, we warmly welcomed our new Dean Paula M. Termuhlen, MD who officially started on May 3rd. Dr. Termuhlen’s extensive background and expertise in medical education will help serve the greater area of Kalamazoo. We are excited for Dr. Termuhlen to have such a pivotal role in shaping WMed for the next decade.
- Program Outline
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Pre-Show4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Welcome
WMed 10th Anniversary Video: A Decade of Accomplishments
Recognition of Founding Dean Hal B. Jenson, MD, MBA
Introduction of Dean Paula M. Termuhlen, MD
Keynote Address by AAMC President Dr. David Skorton
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Celebration of Gift Commitments
Supporting the Mission of the Medical School Through Philanthropy
Sponsor Recognition
Closing
Thank Yous and Bloopers - Honoring Founding Dean Hal B. Jenson, MD, MBA
Dr. Hal B. Jenson Dr. Hal B. Jenson, founding dean of WMed, celebrated 10 years at the helm of the medical school. In May, Dr. Jenson retired and transitioned to a new role as dean emeritus. The WMed Live event served as the venue to formally honor Dr. Jenson for his bold leadership in establishing WMed as one of the finest new medical schools in the nation. Under Dr. Jenson’s leadership, WMed has achieved key institutional and programmatic accreditations, appointed talented and accomplished medical school faculty, and educated a highly competitive medical school student body. Dr. Jenson’s legacy of leadership is second to none. The WMed Live event provided the Kalamazoo community the opportunity to celebrate and honor Dr. Jenson’s accomplishments and legacy of leadership.
Resolution from WMed Board of Directors
The WMed Board of Directors extended a unanimous vote of appreciation to Dean Emeritus Hal B. Jenson for his ten years of outstanding service to WMed.
Tribute from Government Officials
Representatives from government across Michigan came together to recognize Founding Dean Hal B. Jenson, MD, MBA in honor of his retirement and celebrated WMed’s tenth anniversary. Sean McCann, the State Senator from The Twentieth District; Julie M. Rogers, State Representative from the Sixtieth District; Christine Morse, State Representative from The Sixty-First District; Matt Hall, State Representative from The Sixty-Third District; Beth Griffin, State Representative from The Sixty-Sixth District; Garlin Gilchrist II, Lieutenant Governor of Michigan; and Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan, have dedicated this document to honor and thank Founding Dean Hal B. Jenson, MD, MBA, and WMed for all they have contributed to the betterment of Michigan and beyond.
Signature Poster
All stakeholders across WMed, including students, faculty, staff, residents, and fellows had an opportunity to sign a commemorative 10-year anniversary poster. We are proud to be part of WMed’s history, and all look forward to seeing what the future of the next 10 years at WMed will bring!
- Welcoming New Dean Paula M. Termuhlen, MD, FACS
Dr. Paula M. Termuhlen Dr. Paula M. Termuhlen officially took over as the new dean of WMed on May 1. Her selection follows an extensive national search to find a successor for Dr. Hal B. Jenson. Dr. Termuhlen is a graduate of the St. Louis University School of Medicine and completed her general surgery training at the University of Texas Health Science Center and a surgical oncology fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She is widely published in surgical oncology and surgical education. Prior to coming to WMed, Dr. Termuhlen has been the regional dean for the Duluth Campus at the University of Minnesota Medical School since 2015. Prior to that, she was a member of the faculty at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. She served as a general surgery residency program director at Wright State University and at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She was also vice-chair of the Department of Surgery at Wright State University. The WMed event will provided the Kalamazoo community the opportunity to welcome Dr. Termuhlen as the new dean of WMed.
- Funds for the Future: WMed Live 2021 Philanthropic Giving Opportunities
The WMed Next Decade Fund
The WMed Next Decade Fund is a special giving opportunity for community friends, companies, foundations, alumni, parents, WMed employees, and members of the Southwest Michigan healthcare community to make a gift in honor of Dr. Jenson to support the mission of the medical school for the future. The WMed Next Decade Fund will support initiatives like the following:
- The WMed COVID-19 Response Fund
- The WMed Educational Pipeline Program
- Student Medical Research Opportunities
- The WMed General Scholarship Fund
- The Dean’s Innovation Fund
All WMed employees making donations will also be recognized as donors to the UMake WMed campaign.
The WMed Bold Futures Endowment Fund
The WMed Bold Futures Endowment Fund is a giving opportunity to establish endowments for scholarship and financial aid to make WMed more accessible and affordable to our next generation of physicians. The fund will also support the creation of new endowed professorships to attract and retain the best faculty talent available.
- Special 10th Anniversary Benefit to VIP Sponsors
A special benefit that was offered to all VIP Sponsors of the WMed Live event is recognition as a Dean’s Circle Leadership Giving Society member for the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The WMed Dean’s Circle Leadership Giving Society is the medical school’s premiere leadership unrestricted giving program. Individuals and businesses who donated to the WMed Live event at $1,000 and above were recognized as VIP Sponsors for this special occasion and were recognized at one of the five Dean’s Circle leadership levels of: $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 and $25,000 or more.
Event Program