Jeb Bush to Keynote Medical College of Wisconsin’s Healthcare Dinner

Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, and son of President George Bush and Barbara Bush, will be the keynote speaker for the Medical College of Wisconsin's (MCW) for Digestive Disease Center 2013 Healthcare Dinner, Monday, November 4, at the Pfister Hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

Individual tickets and sponsored tables are now on sale to hear Bush discuss “America’s Promise in Uncertain Times.” The Medical College’s Digestive Disease Center Board, the host of the event, is a group of community leaders who raise awareness of digestive diseases and funds for research.

Prior to serving two terms as Florida’s governor, Bush served as Florida’s secretary of commerce. He founded the non-profit Foundation for Florida’s Future, which joined forces with the Greater Miami Urban League to establish one of the state’s first charter schools.

Bush is currently the head of his own consulting business, Jeb Bush and Associates. He is also the chairman of Foundation for Excellence in Education, a national foundation focused on education reform, co-chairman of the Barbara Bush Family Literacy Foundation and chair of the National Constitution Center.

The event will also include presentation of the Warren P. Knowles Humanitarian Award to Patti and Jack McKeithan. The award honors an individual or organization from Wisconsin with a commitment to health-related issues and whose work reflects the dedication to public service and education marking the career of Governor Warren P. Knowles.

Daniel F. (Jack) McKeithan, Jr., is chairman and CEO, and director of Tamarack Petroleum Company, Inc. He is also the president of Active Investor Management, Inc.; and President and CEO of SeisTech Development Inc.

Patti Brash McKeithan is the former Vice President – Corporate Affairs for Miller Brewing Company. She retired from the company in May 2004.

Both McKeithans are extremely active in the community; Jack McKeithan serves as a Director of the Marcus Corporation; Southeast Wisconsin Professional Baseball Park District; the Zoological Society (past board chair); Milwaukee County Research Park Corporation; Co-chairman and Trustee of Great Circus Parade, Inc.; and others. He is a current member of MCW’s Cardiovascular Center Advisory Board.

Patti McKeithan has served on the Board of Directors of the Milwaukee Public Museum (past board chair); the United Performing Arts Fund; World Festivals Inc. (Summerfest); Wisconsin State Fair Park; The Milwaukee Repertory Theater (past board chair); the Wisconsin AIDS Fund (past board chair); and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and also served as a trustee for St. Norbert College for 18 years. She is a current member of MCW’s Women in Science Advisory Committee.

Co-chairs of the event are Ruth Brash and Laura Gralton.

Registration and a reception will begin at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m., and the program at 8 p.m. Individual ticket prices start at $500.

For sponsorship opportunities, table reservations of tickets, call 414-955-4701 or visit www.mcw.edu/healthcaredinner.

The Medical College of Wisconsin Digestive Disease Center (DDC) has a tradition of excellence that spans four decades. The unique collaboration of Center physicians and scientists provide a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, research and education in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of digestive diseases such as; dysphagia, acid related disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreaticobiliary diseases, hepatology, liver transplantation, women’s health and functional bowel disorders, and gastrointestinal cancer and esophageal cancer surveillance and treatment.