Since being founded in 1893, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has been dedicated to their vision of pioneering pathways to a healthier world. 125 years later, MCW is home to more than 1,400 students, making it the fourth-largest private medical school in the nation and the largest private research institution in Wisconsin.

MCW’s goals are grounded in the partnership of leaders in science and medicine and fostering education and community engagement.

In order to build a healthier world, MCW has created meaningful relationships with their communities to better serve Wisconsin, as well as the nation. The Office of Senior Associate Dean for Community Engagement houses a variety of programs and resources that aim to fully integrate the institution’s community engagement mission throughout the campus and the community. It supports the more than 2,400 community outreach activities MCW faculty are involved in with more than 600 community partner organizations.

Through the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment, established in 2004, MCW and its community partners are dedicated to changing lives for a healthier Wisconsin through improving policy and systems, investing in strategic research and education initiatives, and serving as a partner with communities to build capacity.

With its new Flourishing Lives initiative, MCW is exploring either building or renovating a facility near downtown Milwaukee to co-locate MCW’s community engagement experts with partners dedicated to health improvement in the city and region. This would enable MCW to better understand and address social determinants of health through civic engagement, education, research and policy change.

Meanwhile, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion partners internally and externally to engage and integrate diversity and inclusion into the fabric of MCW. It serves the entire MCW community as well as engaging partners in inclusion initiatives to strengthen diverse communities and advance health across Wisconsin and in all communities that MCW serves.

In addition, MCW’s Office of Government and Community Relations advances the college’s mission to be a national leader in the education and development of the next generation of physicians and scientists. The office works to enhance MCW’s relationships with government leaders, civic representatives, and community organizations.

For 125 years, the Medical College of Wisconsin has led the way in building a healthier world for communities in Wisconsin, remaining an anchor and fostering key partnerships with community members to achieve their goals. MCW is one of 33 CUMU members who are participating in the Higher Education Anchor Mission Initiative.

Here are a few examples of how the Medical College of Wisconsin is making a difference in the communities they serve:

  • Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment: supports community-based health initiatives that advance patient care, health promotion and access to care throughout Wisconsin.
  • Cancer Center: research center with a goal of reducing cancer incidence and mortality, particularly among underserved communities, by measuring and understanding our area’s cancer burdens, disparities and contributing factors and use this information to promote clinical, research and policy initiatives.
  • Institute for Health and Equity: research hub focused on population health, biostatistics, bioethics and epidemiology.
  • Pipeline and Outreach: programs and activities conducted by faculty and staff to engage with students in the Milwaukee area at the middle school, high school and college levels in medicine and health science research.