In the News
Please direct media inquiries to mediarelations@aah.org.
See media procedures
The Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM) aims to expand access to quality healthcare in rural Wisconsin communities. Through the WARM program, students studying medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison can get training at health systems with rural clinics, like Aurora BayCare Medical Center, with many then returning to practice in rural settings and provide much needed care to the community.
Dr. Ryan Woods, a non-operative sports medicine physician at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, stopped at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about regenerative medicine for orthopedic conditions. Regenerative medicine treats acute injuries and chronic conditions by using injections made of the body’s own cells to promote healing without surgery.
Jaime’s family history of breast cancer led to a life-changing conversation with her primary care doctor, where she was referred to the high-risk program at Aurora BayCare Medical Center. The program offers enhanced and increased screening options, including yearly mammograms and bi-annual MRIs. During one of the MRIs, it was discovered that Jaime had breast cancer. Due to her proactive approach and participation in the high-risk program, she received an early diagnosis and was able to start treatment right away.
Dr. Demet Gokalp Yasar, a hematologist and oncologist at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, stopped at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about anemia. Anemia occurs when the body doesn't have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen. Incredibly common, anemia affects about 30 million individuals in the United States.
Troy didn’t realize how tired and run down he felt until a few episodes of passing out led to the discovery that the bottom portion of his heart wasn’t working properly. He was told that he would need a pacemaker to regulate his rhythm. His doctors at Aurora BayCare offered the option of a leadless pacemaker. The small device has no leads or wires connected to the heart, which requires a less invasive implant process and offers a quicker recovery time. Today Troy feels better than ever and is thankful for the team that helped him.
Dr. Michael Schnaubelt, an orthopedic surgeon at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, stopped at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about total joint replacement. The intent of joint replacement procedures is to ease pain, improve mobility, and restore function. There have been several advancements in joint replacement surgery, including a cementless knee replacement targeted at younger, active patients.
Dr. Michael Mackowski, a general and vascular surgeon at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, stopped at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about screenings for colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cause of cancer in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Adults age 45 and over should have regular screenings to detect and prevent colorectal cancer.
Dr. Natalie Luehmann, a breast surgeon at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, joined the team at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about early detection for breast cancer. Detection through regular screenings before symptoms appear usually allows for less invasive treatments, better quality of life, and better outcomes for breast cancer patients.
When Connie suffered a stroke last summer, she felt many changes in her body, but also in her emotions. While she was immediately guided through physical and occupational therapy, she wasn’t aware of resources that were available to guide her survivor journey. Thanks to Aurora BayCare Medical Center, she’s found the support she needed and hopes others can too.
Laura Gintner, a physician assistant for bariatric surgery at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, joined the crew at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about weight loss surgery. Someone considering weight loss surgery will undergo a comprehensive medical examination to make sure that this is going to be a healthy step for them. Eligibility for surgery typically includes a BMI of 40 or higher, or 35+ with an associated health condition like diabetes or sleep apnea, among other requirements.
Dr. Hassanain A. Jassim, a general and bariatric surgeon at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, joined the crew at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about digestive issues and when to seek help. While occasional indigestion, bloating or heartburn is normal, symptoms that last more than a couple weeks or pain that disrupts daily life should be evaluated.
Korissa was diligent about regular mammograms, which were routinely clear. When she found a lump between screenings, she wasn't overly worried and planned to follow up with her primary care doctor in a few days at her annual visit. Her primary doctor suggested a mammogram, which confirmed a mass, leading to an ultrasound and a biopsy, and, ultimately, her breast cancer diagnosis. Korissa worked with the multidisciplinary breast health team at Aurora BayCare to fight the disease and now advocates for other women to be proactive with screenings.
Aurora BayCare Speech Language Pathologist Madeline Baretta stopped at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about the role of speech therapy in brain injury recovery. While many may associate speech therapy strictly with sounds or articulation, it can also support cognitive-communication skills that may change after a concussion or brain injury. These changes include confusion, memory loss or difficulty with attention, problem solving, and planning tasks.
Green Bay Blizzard player Andre White Jr. sustained a mid-season thumb injury that required surgery. Aurora BayCare Medical Center orthopedic surgeon Dr. Andrew Kirkpatrick placed pins to stabilize the injury and start the healing process. Once the pins were removed, Andre began working with Aurora BayCare occupational therapist Mithcell Voss to get him back in the game.
Dr. Gabriel Mufuka, a cardiologist at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, visited the FOX 11 Field House to talk about hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called the silent killer because it typically has no noticeable symptoms until serious complications arise. Regular screening is essential.
Aurora BayCare Registered Dietitian Lindsay Fencl offers nutrition guidance for youth athletes on a FOX 11 Field House Friday. Eating enough is important to fuel the growing bodies of young athletes, and she reminds players not to forget a pre-workout snack that includes easy-to-digest carbs.
Dr. Brandon Scharer, a foot and ankle surgeon at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, stopped at the FOX 11 Field House to talk about ankle arthritis and treatment options. While nonsurgical options are the first course of treatment, complex ankle reconstruction is an option for serious cases.
Aurora BayCare Medical Center partnered with the YWCA to offer girls in the community a chance to explore medical careers involving science, technology, engineering, art and math. From learning how to make a splint, to testing out laparoscopic tools, TechGYRLS gave real-world examples of how students can take what they learn in school and apply it to a future in medicine.
A few years ago, Peter and his primary care doctor began monitoring a mole on his back that had looked fairly typical. After some changes and symptoms with the mole, they decided in February to have it biopsied. Peter was not expecting the results – stage 3 malignant melanoma. He underwent surgery to remove the cancerous spot and affected lymph nodes and is undergoing immunotherapy treatment to prevent recurrence. Aurora BayCare oncologist, Dr. Demet Gokalp Yasar says these are other things to look out for when it comes to watching for skin cancer.
Haley got into fitness following a car accident when she was 18 to heal her body and mind. After years of intense exercise, fitness fads, and a complex relationship with food, she had unknowingly dysregulated her hormones leading to a PCOS diagnosis and pre-diabetes insulin resistance. She worked to get off her medication but was still experiencing a lot of inflammation and severe PCOS symptoms, which led her to Aurora BayCare dietitian Lindsay Fencl to ultimately heal the root cause of her symptoms.
Kate has struggled with asthma since she was an infant. Despite using a nebulizer and rescue inhaler to treat her symptoms, things like wildfire smoke, exercise and allergies could make symptoms worse. One of Kate’s friends encouraged her to visit the pulmonology department at Aurora BayCare Medical Center. The team took a deeper look at Kate's asthma and found a new course of treatment that has allowed her to regain control of her life without asthma symptoms getting in the way.
Life after a stroke varies greatly from person to person. For some, complications include anything from complete to partial paralysis, issues with balance and dizziness, changes in speech, difficulty with memory and attention, and even emotional changes. Chuck suffered a stroke more than 15 years ago, losing function in his left hand and leaving him with minimal use of his left leg. He and his wife started attending Aurora BayCare Medical Center’s stroke support group to help them adjust to these changes.
Knowing what to do during sudden cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death. Aurora BayCare is teaming up with the Compress and Shock Foundation to host a free training program on June 8 to help the community learn what to do if they encounter someone experiencing symptoms of cardiac arrest.
Children may be referred to speech-language pathologists for a variety of communication difficulties: problems with articulation, fluency, language comprehension and expression. For kids like Konner and Dominic, communication difficulties also made them self-conscious. Aurora BayCare launched Kids Konnection to help connect children with speech difficulties and give them space to be themselves.
Daniel Buyarski discovered heart troubles after dealing with kidney stones. His doctors at Aurora Baycare performed a heart valve replacement. During recovery, he faced complications due to weakened heart muscles. To improve his prognosis, his team implanted a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to monitor his heart and deliver shocks if needed. Dan is grateful for the care team that helped him through the complications and gave him a new lease on life.
Hands-on training is a critical tool for emergency medical services personnel. Aurora BayCare Medical Center provides local public safety agencies access to its accredited simulation center to enhance their emergency training. When life-threatening situations occur, the training helps first responders provide the best care from the moment an emergency call comes in.
Natasha Taylor lives with a rare genetic disorder called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP), which causes bone to form in places it shouldn’t like muscles and soft tissue. Despite her health challenges, Natasha has a positive spirit. Her Aurora BayCare pediatrician was honored to celebrate her resilience and nominate Natasha and her family for a trip of a lifetime to Brewers Spring Training.
When Joy Parmentier’s family history with colon cancer changed after her brother was diagnosed, she mentioned it to her primary care physician. Despite this being the first case of colon cancer in their family and a clear colonoscopy five years prior, Joy’s doctor recommended a colonoscopy. A single polyp was found to be cancerous, but because of this early detection Joy’s cancer was cured with a single surgery.
Christian Cottingham-Endter has several chronic conditions that make staying active and eating right a challenge, including psoriatic arthritis, an autoimmune condition that causes her immune system to attack healthy tissue. Instead of letting this lifelong condition keep her down, she partners with Aurora BayCare Medical Center’s health and wellness programs to focus on her health and keep her active.
Whitney Sinclair began experiencing night sweats and other vague symptoms that interfered with her life. She thought perhaps it was perimenopause, but with a family history of cancer, she decided to check in with her primary care doctor. When a CT scan revealed a large mass in her uterus, she was referred to Aurora BayCare Medical Center and gynecologic oncologist Dr. Elizabeth Dickson Michelson. The benign mass was ultimately removed via robotic hysterectomy, restoring her quality of life.
When Michelle Palubicki began experiencing facial drooping in 2021, her provider directed her to the emergency room. After ruling out a stroke, Michelle would learn that she had Bell’s Palsy, a type of facial paralysis. She worked with a variety of specialists including Karen Floriano-Heimerl, senior speech-language pathologist and rehabilitation facial therapy specialist at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, to help retrain her facial muscles and improve her condition.
Men and women have different symptoms when it comes to heart attacks. Dr. Armaan Shaikh, an interventional cardiologist at Aurora BayCare, spoke with Fox 11 on Field House Friday, explaining that men often experience chest pain, whereas women may experience nausea, fatigue, or cold sweats.
Jenna Spude, a Nurse Practitioner at Aurora BayCare, was featured on a Field House Friday to talk about digestive health. She suggests consuming smaller, more frequent meals to help with digestion and avoiding foods that cause discomfort like spicy foods, caffeine, and high-fat meals.
If your ankle feels like it could “give out” at any moment, you may have ankle instability. Dr. Jeremy Saller from Aurora BayCare explains that repeated injuries can weaken ligaments, but treatments like therapy, braces, or surgery can help you stay active.
Dr. Natalie Luehmann, a breast surgeon at Aurora BayCare, reminds us on a Fox 11 Field House Friday that early detection is key for breast cancer to improve prognosis. Be sure to talk to your doctor about your risk and screening before age 40.
Amy Schoenebeck, Certified Genetic Counselor, joined Fox 11’s Field House Friday to explain how genetic testing can help identify increased cancer risks in families with a history of certain cancers, like breast, ovarian, or colorectal cancer.
Dr. John Awowale, orthopedic surgeon, joined Fox 11’s Field House Friday to discuss knee pain and treatment. He recommends trying the RICE technique - rest, ice, compression, and elevation - for initial relief. If the pain continues, see your doctor.
Dr. Raul Mendoza joins Fox 11 in the Field House to explain that early detection for lung cancer is key, and Aurora BayCare patients have advanced detection options such as low-dose CT scans and robotic bronchoscopy.
We’re inspired by the courage of breast cancer survivor Stephanie Skrede. She was diagnosed early through Aurora BayCare’s high-risk breast cancer program. Now, Stephanie is on a mission to spread awareness and encourage women to get screened.
Jessica Smith had no family history of breast cancer, but a bump on her chest led her to Dr. Natalie Luehmann, a breast surgeon at Aurora BayCare, where she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer. Now recovering, she’s sharing her story highlighting the importance of screenings.
At birth, Sophia Skrede was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a condition that severely damages the liver. With just a 7% chance of survival, Sophia beat the odds thanks to Dr. Andrea Schimke her family medicine physician. With a life-saving liver transplant, she’s now 11 and inspiring others.
Aurora BayCare is proud to have nearly 70 active clinical trials, including 15 for breast cancer. With experts like Dr. Umang Gautam, Director of Oncology and Radiation Oncologist Dr. Pam Vanderwall, we’re making treatments safer and more effective.
Following the loss of his sister to breast cancer, Jared was inspired to improve his health for his children. With support from dietitian Lindsay Fencl, he’s following a personalized plan and shed over 30 pounds, becoming more energetic and active than ever.
After a serious accident, Madeline Vasiliev faced chronic hip and back pain. With the help of chiropractor Dr. Martin Jacobson, she found relief from a treatment plan that was tailored to her needs, even during her pregnancy.
Marilyn Rupert, a former smoker from Marinette, discovered her lung cancer early thanks to Dr. Raul Mendoza and the pulmonary team at Aurora BayCare. Now, she’s sharing her story to encourage others to quit smoking.
Urinary incontinence affects all ages but is more common in women, especially after pregnancy or menopause. Pelvic floor physical therapist Kelly Gerl joined Fox 11 on a Field House Friday to share tips on strengthening muscles, improving bladder control, and regaining confidence.
Colorectal cancer can be caught early with regular screenings. Dr. Alexander Casella, a colorectal surgeon, recommends starting screenings at 45 or earlier if you have a family history or risk factors.
If you are experiencing numbness, tingling, or pain in your hands or wrists it might be carpal tunnel syndrome. Dr. Brian Klika, an orthopedic hand surgeon, joined Fox 11 in the Field House to explain the symptoms and treatment options.
More than 11,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year. Through a routine physical during pregnancy, Heidi Maye received her diagnosis. Following successful treatment, Heidi and her team at Aurora BayCare emphasize the importance of regular screenings.
When hearing loss started impacting his daily interactions and favorite activities, Kurt Steuber knew he needed to take action. He worked with audiologist Dr. Kyle Martell to find a personalized hearing device that matched his lifestyle.
For years, Brenda Nowack struggled with congestion, facial pain and difficulty breathing. Her chronic sinusitis made getting out of bed difficult. But after connecting with ENT physician Dr. Jon Slezak, she finally found relief through a nasal surgery called septoplasty.
Slipping and falling on ice can lead to serious shoulder injuries, including rotator cuff tears. Dr. Harold Schock, an orthopedic surgeon, joins Fox 11 for a Field House Friday segment to share more about shoulder injuries and treatment options.