Partners scholarships support future healthcare providers

Partners scholarships support future healthcare providers

For the Gundersen Partners, their mission isn't just about funding needs in the community and those of departments around Emplify Health by Gundersen; they also care about bringing along the next generation of healthcare professionals.

That's why since 1966, Partners (formerly known as the La Crosse Lutheran Hospital Senior Auxiliary) has awarded scholarships to those studying to become physician assistants, doctors, nurses, physical therapists and other healthcare experts.

Each year, twelve $1,000 scholarships are given to children of Emplify Health by Gundersen employees who are pursuing an undergraduate or advanced degree in a healthcare field. That's in addition to the two scholarships for Pastoral Care that are managed through the Gundersen Medical Foundation and three endowed scholarships at each of the local colleges. To date, more than $220,000 has been awarded.

"We want to encourage and support the next generation heading into the medical field," says Partners board member Kari Ranallo, a member of the scholarship committee. "Scholarships help relieve some of their financial burden and give students confidence in their abilities to achieve their career goals."

One of those students who benefited from a Partners scholarship is Dr. Emily Dolan.

On track to internal medicine

Dr. Dolan, a 2016 scholarship recipient, is an internist who began her time at Emplify Health by Gundersen during her internal medicine residency in 2018. Prior to that, she spent three years at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Green Bay, and following the completion of her residency in 2021, she signed on to stay at her hometown hospital.

Growing up around a father who was a doctor, Dr. Dolan remembers from a young age wanting to follow in his footsteps. However, she wasn't convinced she wanted to commit to that much schooling, so she entered college as a business and Spanish major. But on a college visit, she sat in on a biochemistry class, and her fascination with the material was undeniable.

"Once you're on the science track, especially when you're the daughter of a physician, I was set on going to med school. There really was no other option," Dr. Dolan says.

While in school, Dr. Dolan originally thought she wanted to do neonatology, but during her clinical rotations, it became evident that work with sick children would be too emotionally draining, so she instead pivoted to internal medicine. It's an area, she says, that offers almost limitless options to focus on.

Eventually, she decided it was time to begin her career in general internal medicine-working with adults who could advocate for themselves and make their own healthcare decisions.

"We focus on the disease processes; we see adults who usually have some chronic disease, whether it's hypertension, heart failure, high cholesterol," Dr. Dolan says. "Internal medicine physicians can also spend time in the hospital. We just land in a place where we're a bit more comfortable taking care of complex patients."

Belief is 'so inspiring'

Dr. Dolan says that anytime there's an organization that buys into your future success, you feel compelled to strive to meet those expectations and put that belief-be it financial or otherwise-to good use.

"Knowing that I had people outside of my immediate circle, my friends and my family, supporting me in my pursuit of medical school and career in medicine, it grows your confidence," Dr. Emily Dolan says. "On the really hard days when all you're doing is studying and you doubt yourself, to know that there's someone somewhere who believes in you, it's so inspiring."

Ranallo says scholarship applicants typically share stories about why they are inspired to work in the medical field or about the events in life that steered them in that direction. Often, those stories are quite moving.

"Those who apply are motivated individuals who are passionate about making a difference," she says. "Our hope is to help them on their journey."

Emplify Health by Gundersen is home

Emplify Health by Gundersen has been a well-known part of Dr. Dolan's life. Her dad, Dr. Michael Dolan, is the Gundersen Region Chief Clinical Officer and is also a graduate of the internal medicine residency program. He, too, signed on after his residency and has spent his entire career in La Crosse.

Her brother is an anesthesiology assistant here as well, and her grandparents, Barb and Herb Heili, have been closely tied to the Foundation for decades. And Barb and Emily's mom, Laurie, are both members of Gundersen Partners.

But beyond the familial ties, Dr. Dolan knows how special Emplify Health by Gundersen is, and although she's studied in other areas of the country, she never counted out the idea of returning to her hometown for her residency-and to pursue a career.

"I interviewed at other places across the country, and there wasn't a place that felt like it was going to be a better fit," she says. "This is just where I really am supposed to be."

That feeling is affirmed day in and day out by the staff and patients she works with, and she could tell stories for days about the little things that have meant the most to her. It's seeing some of her hospitalist colleagues, who were once her senior residents, go above and beyond for her clinic patients; it's being allowed to train under her dad, which will always be a special memory for her; it's seeing the resident physicians she's trained buy into the "love plus medicine" mantra.

"To see them do that, it's like okay, there's good in the world," Dr. Dolan says, "and Gundersen is a part of that."

And Partners is just as happy to see a student they supported, like Dr. Dolan, make her indelible mark on the community.