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WREN Organizational Structure

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Committees

Steering Committee

The WREN steering committee establishes overall direction and policy for the organization. It consists of the following members:

  • Dennis Baumgardner, MD, St. Luke's Family Practice Center (General Member Representative, Steering Committee Chairperson)
  • Jim Davis, MD, MS, UW Department of Family Medicine (UW Department of Family Medicine Interim Chair)
  • Rod Erickson, MD, Lake Tomah Clinic (General Member Representative)
  • Kari Lathrop-Capaul, MD, Affinity Medical Group (General Member Representative and Steering Committee Chairperson Elect)
  • Mary Beth Plane, PhD, UW Department of Family Medicine (UW Department of Family Medicine Director of Research Services)
  • Ken Schellhase, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW Department of Family and Community Medicine Representative)
  • Eric Schoville, BA, UW Department of Family Medicine (UW Department of Family Medicine Information Services Representative)
  • Paul Smith, MD, UW Department of Family Medicine, UW Health Belleville Clinic (WREN Director)
  • Jon Temte, MD, PhD, UW Department of Family Medicine, UW Health Wingra Family Medical Center (UW Department of Family Medicine Representative and Steering Committee Secretary)
  • Paul Treder, APNP, Waushara Family Physicians (General Member Representative)

Advisory Committee

WREN is currently identifying members for its advisory committee. This committee will include the WREN director and a group of public members charged with advocating for Wisconsin citizens and making recommendations to the steering committee.

Staff

Paul D. Smith, MD, Director

Paul D. Smith, MD, manages all WREN operations. Dr. Smith was appointed WREN director in 2006 by the UW Department of Family Medicine chair.

Education and Experience

  • BA, Chemistry, DePauw University, 1979
  • MD, Wright State University School of Medicine, 1982
  • Residency, Maine-Dartmouth Family Practice, 1985
  • Family practice, Health Services Association, Syracuse, NY, 1985-1995
  • Joined UW-DFM faculty in 1995
  • Board member, Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians and Wisconsin Literacy, Inc.

Research Interests

  • Health literacy issues among low literate adults
  • Body Mass Index for the diagnosis and management of obesity
  • Electronic medical records and computerized patient interviewing.

Michael Grasmick, PhD, Network Coordinator

Michael Grasmick, MD, is responsible for administering WREN research grants, managing WREN growth and increasing its visibility, strengthening practice-based research in Wisconsin, and supervising WREN staff.

Education and Experience

  • MS and PhD, Plant Pathology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Two post-doctoral positions in biotechnology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • Senior Scientist, Frito-Lay, 1986-2001
  • Research Specialist, UW Department of Family Medicine, 2003-2007

Research Interests

  • Treatment of adult asthma with azithromycin

Research and Practice Support Specialists

Research and Practice Support Specialists (REPSS) support ongoing QI and research activities at WREN clinics. REPSS meet with practice staff and clinicians to facilitate the research and QI process, identify problems, share best practices, and improve communication between member clinics and the central WREN office.

Cynthia Colombo, BA

Education and Experience

  • BA, Psychology, University of New Mexico
  • Working toward MA in Rehabilitation Psychology at the University of Wisconsin
  • Research specialist, UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine, College Health Intervention Projects
  • Associate Research Specialist, UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine, Study on Opioid Addiction in Chronic Pain Patients
  • Associate Research Specialist, UW-Madison Psychology Department, Measuring Psychopathy in Female Offenders

Lisa Kietzer, BA

Education and Experience

  • BA, Sociology, Concentration in Analysis and Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Project assistant at a market research firm
  • Research specialist, UW-Madison Department of Psychiatry Postpartum Depression Treatment Program
  • Study coordinator, UW-Madison Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Peggy O'Halloran, MPH (Peggy is located at the UW Health Family Medicine Clinic in Eau Claire.)

Education and Experience

  • MPH, Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
  • Research coordinator, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology
  • Evaluation Director, STD and HIV Section, Minnesota Department of Health

Katie Pronschinske, BS, MT(ASCP) (Katie is located at the Center for Urban and Population Health office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.)

Education and Experience

  • BS, Clinical Laboratory Science, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • Certified Medical Technologist through the American Society for Clinical Pathology
  • Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Oncology, Chemistry and Critical Care laboratories
  • Volunteer, University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center