Diversity in Health Care: Meet the Winners of the Group Health Cooperative of SouthCentral Wisconsin Pre-Professional Medical Diversity Scholarship

MADISON, WISCONSIN, October 20, 2025 – Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin (GHC-SCW) is excited to award three current University of Wisconsin–Madison medical students with the 2025 GHC-SCW Pre-Professional Medical Diversity Scholarship.

The 2025 scholarship winners are:

• Saba Moges (University of Wisconsin–Madison, Anticipated Degree: Doctor of Nursing Practice in Pediatric Primary Care)
• Evelyn Quarm (University of Wisconsin–Madison, Anticipated Degree: Doctor of Nursing Practice with a specialty in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care)
• Steven Xiong (University of Wisconsin–Madison, Anticipated Degree: Doctor of Medicine)

Eligible students for the 2025 GHC-SCW Pre-Professional Medical Diversity Scholarship
meet the following criteria:

• Identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian and/or Hispanic/Latinx
• Enrolled in a Wisconsin-based Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) program.

Each winning student receives a $5,000 scholarship to use as needed for tuition, books or other educational expenses, along with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience through on-site shadowing at a GHC-SCW clinic.

“Research shows that when our health care teams reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, care improves, patients feel seen, outcomes strengthen and lives are lengthened,” stated Dr. Matthew Swedlund, Senior Medical Director at GHC-SCW. “Supporting clinicians from backgrounds that are underrepresented in medicine is an essential step toward achieving equitable, high-quality care for all patients.”

During the application process, each student was tasked with submitting an essay on the importance of diversity among health care providers and sharing what inspired them to pursue a career in health care. Each of the 2025 winners brings unique insights, experiences and commitment to advancing diversity and equity in the medical field. In their essays, they shared powerful perspectives on what diversity means in health care today through their own lens:

• Saba Moges: “While working in a primary care clinic on the north side of Milwaukee, I saw firsthand how treatment and care for patients can suffer when the majority of the healthcare staff does not reflect the community they serve. Yes, this made me angry, but it also lit a fire in me to be part of changing that. When patients are cared for by providers who reflect their backgrounds— or who are trained to understand their lived experiences—they are more likely to feel respected and to engage fully in their care.”
• Evelyn Quarm: “As someone who immigrated to the United States and navigated the health care system from both the patient and provider perspectives, I understand how cultural barriers can lead to miscommunication, mistrust and even misdiagnosis. Diverse providers help bridge these gaps not only through language or cultural familiarity, but by advocating for more inclusive practices and policies within the health care system.”
• Steven Xiong: “Providers from underrepresented backgrounds often see what others do not. They notice blind spots, question assumptions, and offer solutions grounded in personal and cultural awareness. No formal medical training can match the value of the lived experiences that diverse doctors bring—experiences that foster equity, trust and culturally sensitive care.”

GHC-SCW continues its commitment in improving health outcomes for people from every type of background through this scholarship program by addressing racial and ethnic health disparities. These scholarships offer both financial support and mentorship to students from underrepresented communities, helping to shape a more inclusive future for health care.

“I’m incredibly thankful for organizations like GHC that not only acknowledge the importance of diversity in health care but also take concrete steps to support students like me. I eagerly look forward to becoming a role model for minority children, students and professionals alike,” stated past scholarship winner Salma Salama.

About GHC-SCW

Proudly serving over 68,000 members, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin (GHC-SCW) is Wisconsin’s first, and Dane County’s only, member-owned, nonprofit health care cooperative, ensuring patients and members are at the top of the leadership chart, giving them a voice in their health care. Services extend across greater Dane County and select areas in South Central Wisconsin, offering insurance coverage and clinical care.

Celebrating nearly 50 years, GHC-SCW is the first health plan in Wisconsin to offer patients a money-back guarantee if they are dissatisfied with their experience at a GHC-SCW clinic. GHC-SCW is perennially a national leader in quality. In 2025, GHC-SCW received a 4.5 out of 5 Commercial rating according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance‘s (NCQA) Commercial Health Plan Ratings for 2025. They are highly dedicated to giving back to the community and partnering with local organizations, such as the Madison Children’s Museum, to create positive change. To learn more about GHC-SCW, visit ghcscw.com.

Get ready for Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison’s Halloween Boo-Nanza

Get ready for the ultimate Halloween Boo-Nanza!

Join us for our free Cash BOO-Nanza on Friday, Oct 31. 18 winners will receive $800 in cash, with one lucky grand prize of $5,000. You can also enter our free costume contest, where we’re giving away $6,000 in cash prizes. Plus, we’ll have a DJ, a free photo booth, and free Rewards Play for those who arrive wearing a costume. Bring your Halloween spirit to… Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison.

4002 Evan Acres Rd, Madison, Wisconsin 53718

For more information, visit the Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison website or visit the rewards club booth at HCGM. 21 +.

Dupaco supports local creators and entrepreneurs with grants to Key City Creative Center

DUBUQUE, Iowa— Dupaco Credit Union, in partnership with Key City Creative Center (KCCC), is now accepting applications for three six-month membership grants to the Dubuque-based makerspace. These grants are designed to empower individuals to turn ideas into action—whether by building new skills, launching a creative venture or growing a small business.

KCCC is a dynamic, low-cost makerspace offering 24/7 access to equipment and classes in woodworking, welding, metalworking, 3-D printing, pottery, sewing and more. It provides a collaborative environment where members can build, learn and connect with fellow creators.

This partnership is part of Dupaco’s broader commitment to fostering individuals’ financial well-being and community resilience.

“Small business development and upskilling are focus areas for Dupaco,” says Dupaco President and CEO Joe Hearn. “This partnership presents a great opportunity to provide invaluable resources to those who are considering starting a business or learning new skills. As a financial cooperative, Dupaco equips members with the tools and resources they may need to achieve their goals and create a life worth loving.”

“This partnership with Dupaco allows us to reach more people who may not otherwise have access to the resources needed to bring their ideas to life,” said Eric Ethier, Key City Creative Center Board President. “It’s about unlocking individuals’ potential and strengthening our community.”

Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. To apply for the Key City Creative Center Membership Grant, visit dupaco.com/ways-we-give.

As an added credit union benefit, all Dupaco members receive a $10 discount off monthly KCCC membership fees.

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ABOUT DUPACO COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION

Dupaco Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, member-owned financial cooperative headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa. It is dedicated to the financial well-being of its members, and specializes in personalized financial counseling, money advice and education. It offers savings, loans, investments, insurance and wealth management products for individuals and businesses. Dupaco serves residents in 118 counties throughout Iowa, northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin. Founded in 1948 by ten Dubuque Packing Company employees, membership has grown to more than 175,000 with assets exceeding $3.5 billion. It has over 600 employees and 23 branch office locations. It is a Des Moines Register Top Workplace. Learn more at www.dupaco.com.

raSmith Strengthens Madison Presence with New Office Designed for Growth

MADISON, Wis. — raSmith’s Madison office has recently moved to 5201 East Terrace Drive, Suite 380, to support the firm’s growth and continue providing responsive service to municipalities, developers, civil engineers, architects, attorneys, and business owners in Dane County and the surrounding areas. The new office location features expanded office space and amenities such as an exercise area, enhanced conference room, and nursing room.

The Madison-based team offers a comprehensive range of services, including municipal engineering, site design, landscape architecture, structural engineering, transportation and traffic engineering, ecological services, construction services, and surveying (inclusive of capabilities such as UAS mapping and LiDAR). These services support an array of projects, including higher education and K-12 schools, mixed-use and commercial developments, multi-family developments, community centers, transportation infrastructure, and more.

A few of raSmith’s award-winning projects located in Madison include the Camp Randall Stadium south end zone renovations at UW-Madison, the Hamel Music Center at UW-Madison, the Madison Children’s Museum rooftop garden, and the Highland Manor community safe room. In addition to these projects, raSmith has provided structural engineering, surveying, and other services for numerous projects across the UW-Madison campus over the years, including the Kohl Center expansion, reinforcing the firm’s long-standing partnership with the university.

About raSmith

raSmith is a multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm established in the city of Brookfield, Wisconsin, in 1978. Our services include civil engineering, structural engineering, transportation and traffic, land surveying, geographic information systems (GIS), development management, landscape architecture, ecological services, construction services, LiDAR (3D laser scanning), and UAS (unmanned aircraft systems). We work on projects nationwide from our six locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, and California. The firm employs a staff of 220. For more information about raSmith, visit www.rasmith.com.

Empower Employers and Employees with Free State of Wisconsin Consumer Protection Resources

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), in partnership with the Department of Financial Institutions and the Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy and Capability, has launched new Consumer Protection Outreach Toolkits designed to help Wisconsin organizations educate their teams and communities about important consumer protection topics. (Link to media release)

These free, ready-to-use digital toolkits include downloadable presenter guides, PowerPoint materials, shareable infographics, sample newsletter articles, posters, and even fun educational activities like word scrambles and crosswords. They can easily be incorporated into employee newsletters, training sessions, staff meetings, or workplace learning programs.

The toolkits currently cover four key topics:

• Common Scams and Fraud
• Identity Theft
• Safe Online Shopping
• Consumer Protection for Young Adults

You can explore and download all the materials today at DATCPOutreachToolkit.wi.gov.

By sharing these resources with employers and their employees, you can help them strengthen their financial and digital literacy, stay alert to scams, and make informed consumer decisions — both at work and at home.

For more information, or to request a live presentation from DATCP’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, visit ConsumerProtection.wi.gov or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at (800) 422-7128.

If you have questions about this program, please feel free to reach out to David Mancl, Director, Office of Financial Literacy

Cell: (608) 572-5794

Email: David.Mancl@dfi.wisconsin.gov

Website: dfi.wi.gov