[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING KATHRYN A. KUHN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 10, 2023

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
Kathryn A. Kuhn. Kathryn is retiring after more than 30 years of 
leadership and service in federal, state, and local government and 
community relations, with leadership roles in both the private and 
public sector.
  Kathryn served as the Associate Director of Intergovernmental 
Relations for Milwaukee County where she led federal relations from 
1993 to 2000. During this time, she worked with the U.S. Congress to 
transfer land ownership from the Clement J. Zablocki Veterans' 
Administration Medical Center Facility VA to the stadium district, 
making way for the construction of Miller Park. Also, she secured a 
change in state statutes which facilitated the sale of Doyne County 
Hospital to Froedtert. As Legislative Associate at Wisconsin Counties 
Association, Kathryn secured a waiver from the George H. W. Bush 
Administration for Wisconsin's juvenile justice facilities that saved 
taxpayers millions of dollars.
  However, Kathryn's greatest achievements came from her position as 
Vice President of Government and Community Relations at the Medical 
College of Wisconsin (MCW). Kathryn joined the MCW in 2001 as Director 
of Government Affairs and was subsequently appointed Associate Vice 
President of Government Affairs and then Vice President.
  During her tenure at MCW, Kathryn's leadership has directly resulted 
in tens of millions of dollars in funding to support MCW's missions 
including the creation of MCW's regional campuses as a signature 
strategy for addressing the projected physician shortage. In 2013, her 
advocacy efforts with state legislators led to a $7.4 million State 
Building Commission grant for the development of MCW-Green Bay and MCW-
Central Wisconsin. She also advocated for the creation of a $5 million 
graduate program to fund a medical education grant program within the 
Wisconsin Department of Health Services to assist MCW create and expand 
residency programs across the state. In addition, she helped secure 
multiple increases for the MCW family and community medicine residency 
appropriations to support programs in southeast Wisconsin, Green Bay, 
Appleton, and Eau Claire and worked with elected officials to obtain a 
$25 million State Building Commission grant for aiding in the 
construction of MCW's Translational and Biomedical Research Center. 
Finally, she succeeded in securing an additional $5 million federal 
grant to supplement these state funds.
  Kathryn's legacy at MCW extends into the research mission. She has 
helped to provide critical infrastructure and laboratory space for MCW 
scientists pursuing new discoveries, as well as helped to open a new 
avenue of funding support through the U.S. Department of Defense that 
has led to considerable growth in extramural funding. Kathryn also has 
provided expert guidance to investigators with research strengths that 
match scientific priorities at the U.S. Department of Defense. This 
includes MCW's Center for Neurotrauma Research in the Department of 
Neurosurgery, which has been a key partner in the Concussion 
Assessment, Research and Education Consortium, the nation's largest and 
most comprehensive study of traumatic brain injury in U.S. military 
service academy cadets and collegiate athletes.
  Finally, Kathryn worked to enhance access to specialty care 
throughout Wisconsin, including overseeing efforts to support the 
creation of the Wisconsin Child Psychiatry Consultation Program. The 
program has improved access to mental and behavioral healthcare through 
a hotline for primary care physicians. The program greatly benefited 
children and adolescents with mental health challenges and educated 
primary care providers on how to better manage their patients' mental 
health needs. The program now covers the entire state of Wisconsin 
thanks to $2 million of ongoing, annual funding in the state budget.
  Kathryn Kuhn has been recognized throughout MCW for her expertise and 
dedication displayed in settings from major hearings to individual 
meetings with elected officials in many locations throughout Wisconsin. 
I am pleased to say that I have had the privilege of meeting with her 
on many occasions over the past 25 years while I served at both the 
state and federal levels. She always came extremely well-prepared and 
knowledgeable about the topic and programs she supported. I have 
developed a strong relationship with Kathryn Kuhn over the years and 
consider her a friend. Kathryn is kind and reaches out to assist 
whenever possible and sees a need to assist MCW, individuals, and the 
community at large.
  Mr. Speaker, for these reasons, I am honored to recognize Kathryn A. 
Kuhn and her lifelong service in the medical field to Wisconsinites and 
Americans everywhere. I wish her a happy retirement.

                          ____________________