UW Health

Nursing at UW Health provides endless opportunities for growth and new challenges. Anne Rikkers, senior director, Emergency and Inpatient Access Services, credits where she is today to the incredible support and encouragement she has received from within UW Health throughout her career.

Dr. Luke Bradbury's leadership at our Comprehensive Stroke Center is a testament to his passion for medicine and his commitment to patient care. His collaborative approach and dedication to long-term patient care have led the center to achieve top certifications for managing the most complex stroke cases. In 2024, his team recognized his leadership by nominating him for a Leadership Physician Excellence Award. Beyond his work at the hospital, Dr. Bradbury remains deeply committed to his patients. He has attended the annual Refresh and Retreat Stroke Camps to listen to their stories and share encouragement. He also participates in the Telestroke program, offering expert consultation to regional hospitals. Dr. Bradbury's work makes a real difference in the lives of patients and their families, and he's proud to be part of a team dedicated to remarkable care.

Being a nurse allows Musab Almanaseer, PhD, MSN, RN, to make a tangible difference in people's lives. On the General Internal Medicine unit, Musab offers compassionate, patient-centered care. He actively listens to patients' concerns, provides clear and thorough explanations about their treatment plans, and involves them in decision-making. Musab says, “Building a trusting relationship through empathy, respect, and consistent communication is key. I also strive to maintain a positive and supportive environment, ensuring patients feel valued and understood.” This unit is unique due to its comprehensive approach to patient care. Nurses deal with a wide variety of conditions, which keeps the work dynamic and challenging. The multidisciplinary team includes doctors, nurses, therapists, and support staff who collaborate closely to provide care. This diversity allows for continuous learning and professional growth. The strong sense of teamwork and mutual support within the unit fosters a positive work environment, which translates into better care for patients. Musab says, “Nursing combines my passion for science with my desire to help others, and it is incredibly rewarding to see patients recover and improve.” If you’d like to join this fast-paced medical unit, visit https://ow.ly/X4U050SV0o6 to learn more and apply.

At only 39 years old, Kayla, on the right, was diagnosed with colorectal cancer that had spread to her liver. After successful rounds of chemotherapy, she researched possibilities for further treatment. She found her answer more than 700 miles away from home at the UW Health Transplant Center and UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center, one of the few centers in the country performing liver transplantation as a treatment option for colorectal cancer that has metastasized to the liver. “My alternative was to undergo chemotherapy treatments for the rest of my life, so I decided to see how a living donor liver transplant would work for me,” she says. Kayla received a living donor liver transplant from a good friend in 2023 and since then Kayla’s imaging scans have shown no signs of disease. Read her story to learn about liver transplant as a colorectal cancer treatment option: https://uw.health/3YJZDPk

Sleep physician by profession who loves to dance and sing, Dr. Rachna Tiwari recently performed with the Nepali American Friendship Association (NAFA) “The Nepali Naach” at Dane Dances. Dr. Tiwari loves dance as both an art and a sport and says she gets a better cardio workout dancing than on a treadmill. She also loves the emotional benefits of creative expression and performing with a group. “Dance helps me become a better person and physician,” she says. She teaches dance to kids who attend Nepali language class “kakshya” through NAFA, and she’s also a video music star–a Nepali language song she recorded has more than 68,000 views on YouTube! A self-described “enthusiastic learner” who attended medical school in Kathmandu, Nepal, Dr. Tiwari was drawn to the United States to pursue a career in academic medicine where she could be part of training the next generation of physicians. Dr. Tiwari is excited to celebrate her 6th anniversary with UW Health in November. “UW Health is one of the best health care systems in the country,” she says. “When my husband and I interviewed here, we really liked the people. We saw that we would have good mentor support and Madison is the perfect place to raise a family.” She loves the uniqueness and complexity of sleep medicine and sees patients of all ages though she has a special fondness for working with kids. “When you work with kids, you’re also helping their families which is so rewarding, but the best part of working with kids is their honesty,” Dr. Tiwari shares.

Courtney Schultz is a nurse in pediatric nephrology who is highly regarded by providers who know that if they ask for something to be done, it will not only be done effectively and efficiently, but she has likely planned the next step. A colleague of Courtney's had this to say: “Courtney goes above and beyond by keeping lines of communication open, making families feel heard and seen, and by working closely with team members throughout American Family Children’s Hospital to ensure patients are always getting excellent care. Courtney sets an excellent example for others to admire and follow." Courtney received a 2024 Nurse Excellence Award because of her exceptional contributions to patient- and family-centered care, and the support she provides to nurses and other care team members.

Many services that you might think can only be done in the hospital now can be done in the comfort of a patient’s own home. Watch Bob’s story to learn about home-based hospital care. More info: https://uw.health/3WWJyUX

Cancer misinformation continues to be an increasingly prevalent problem. Join us for our annual fall cancer conference examining misinformation, myths and misbeliefs. Open to the public. For more details, visit: https://lnkd.in/gFGWNDUr

When a victim of gun violence is rushed to the UW Health Emergency Department, the primary goal is to save the patient’s life. During these critical moments, Madison-based non-profit Focused Interruption steps in to manage the traumatic aftermath in the minutes, hours and days following the victim’s arrival at the hospital. “After a violent incident involving a shooting or stabbing, we immediately assist the victim's family. The hospital contacts us, and we dispatch two or more outreach workers to support the family. Our aim is to interrupt a potential cycle of violence that often follows such events,” explains Anthony “Coop” Cooper Sr., president and founder of Focused Interruption. Because Anthony and his team are active community members—some with personal experience of violence or as advocates for victims—families typically feel a sense of trust. “It’s not unusual for the victim’s relatives or friends to want to retaliate. That’s when we suggest, ‘Let’s go for a walk.’ We find that having conversations when things calm down can prevent further escalation,” Anthony shares. The support provided by Focused Interruption extends well beyond the hospital. They assist individuals in finding jobs, enrolling in programs and breaking free from the cycle of violence. Community Safety Workers operate in neighborhoods to prevent gun violence by acting as conflict mediators, social service connectors, systems navigators and community builders. Focused Interruption has been a vital partner of UW Health for many years, playing a crucial role in patient care protocols for violent injuries. This partnership allows medical teams to focus on the immediate needs of the patient while Focused Interruption staff handle the complex scenarios that arise from such traumatic incidents. Their longstanding collaboration with UW Health highlights their commitment to optimizing patient outcomes and the importance of cooperative efforts in managing critical situations. Learn more: focusedinterruption.org

Dr. Robert Corliss, a dedicated forensic pathologist, has spent over a decade enriching medical education at UW Health, continually innovating to enhance the learning experience for students. He is celebrated for his humor-infused teaching style, creating an environment where students feel comfortable and challenged. In 2024, he was honored with the Clinical Educator Physician Excellence Award, recognizing his significant contributions to medical education. Dr. Corliss's passion for sharing knowledge has left a lasting impact on thousands. He is a respected outreach ambassador to medical examiners and coroners across Wisconsin and nationally. Since 2013, he has been a governor-appointed member of the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene. When asked why he pursued this path, his response reflects his true passion for teaching: “While there are so many fulfilling aspects of my practice, I would say teaching is most fulfilling to me. From showing diseased and normal organs to grade school students for their first time, to delivering a complex lecture on the pathologic basis of cardiomyopathies to medical students, feeling the genuine interest and engagement of learners while helping them make connections that lead to insightful questions is absolutely exhilarating for me.”