May 13, 2019 – West Bend, WI – Dr. Mary Lewis, Emergency Department medical director at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital, has been honored with the sixth annual Excellence in Medicine Award from St. Joseph’s Hospital.
Dr. Lewis (being congratulated by Dr. Matthew Weston, anesthesiologist and St. Joseph’s Hospital medical staff president) was selected for her leadership; excellence in medical care; teaching and mentoring; collaboration; boards, committees and organizations she has served; community involvement; and overall legacy she has established at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“Dr. Lewis was one of the first women in the state of Wisconsin to become a director of an emergency department and she has proudly and capably held that position for 27+ years,” said her nominator, Joseph Schwartz, MD, emergency medicine physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“In the past 27 years, Dr. Lewis has been a steady constant, demonstrating excellence in medical care and excellence in leadership as this hospital progressed from an independent hospital to becoming part of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin network. I first met Dr. Lewis in 1988 when I was a medical student in Milwaukee and she was a resident on the trauma surgery service. Even at that early time, she demonstrated superior leadership skills and was quick to assist those around her with a true team spirit.”
Dr. Lewis has volunteered to serve on many committees and boards, including serving on the hospital’s board of directors, the Infinity Healthcare Board of Directors, and is a current member of the Medical Executive Committee. She has chaired the Section of Family Medicine, been a contributing member of the Performance Improvement Committee, been an active supporter of the emergency medical services community, been an advanced cardiovascular life support instructor, supported the St. Joseph’s Community Foundation, and has participated in many other committees and task forces to help raise the standard of care for the community. She has helped orient and on-board numerous physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners and she has helped train countless physician assistant students.
“Dr. Lewis believes in a collaborative effort with all the health care providers that impact patient care, and has devoted countless hours to meetings with the nurses and nursing leadership, support services, physician groups and quality experts to continue to elevate and evolve the patient care experience,” said Dr. Schwartz. “Dr. Lewis has been a strong supporter of enhancing the customer experience and consistently is rated as one of the best physicians in the hospital setting. Dr. Lewis has also participated in community education presentations, as she has shared her own family’s personal impact from the opioid epidemic.”
She has provided medical care to an estimated 76,000 patients and, when added up, has spent a full four years of her life working night shifts.
Physicians and nurses at St. Joseph’s Hospital and the general public were invited to nominate physicians and advanced practice providers for the award, which recognizes the accomplishments of an individual physician or advanced practitioner at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Nominees were evaluated based on upholding clinical practice standards, leadership, innovation, volunteerism to improve health care in a local community, the ability to communicate with colleagues and staff, and how the nominee supports the hospital’s mission, vision and values.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin St. Joseph’s Hospital, founded in 1930 by local doctors, community leaders and the Sisters of the Divine Savior, is a full-service hospital serving residents of West Bend and Washington County. St. Joseph’s Hospital specializes in women’s health and birthing services, cancer care, surgical procedures and rehabilitation services. It’s part of the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health care network, which includes four community hospital campuses, more than 1,600 physicians and nearly 40 health centers and clinics, drawing patients from throughout the Midwest and the nation.
