Milwaukee – September 20, 2026 -- The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) formally inaugurated Shekar N. Kurpad, MD, PhD, as its seventh President and Chief Executive Officer on September 17 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center in downtown Milwaukee, marking a leadership transition at the nation's third-largest private medical school.
Kurpad succeeds a 16-year CEO tenure at one of the country's top-performing academic medical centers
Dr. Kurpad, a neurosurgeon with more than two decades of service at MCW, takes over from John R. Raymond, Sr., MD, who led the institution as President and CEO for 16 years.
Hundreds of industry, government and academic leaders attended the ceremony
Attendees included MCW faculty, staff, learners, alumni and trustees, alongside area health system and higher education executives, state and local elected officials, and Wisconsin business and community leaders. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Greater Milwaukee Committee President and CEO Cristy Garcia-Thomas delivered video remarks for the occasion.
Kurpad outlines a growth agenda tying research, care and talent investment to regional economic development
In his inaugural address, Dr. Kurpad set a vision to position MCW and its health system partners as a national destination for advanced medical education, clinical care and research, while positioning Milwaukee as an innovation hub capable of attracting talent, industry and investment.
"Our opportunity is to connect our strengths in new ways: to move faster, act bolder, and turn collaboration into momentum," Dr. Kurpad said, adding that the goal is to build a destination for health strengthened by community partnerships.