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Joint Committee on Finance
Sen. Howard Marklein, Co-Chair
Rep. Mark Born, Co-Chair
Dear Co-Chairs Marklein and Born,
We strongly support UW-Milwaukee’s Health Sciences Renovation request of $189 million to renovate approximately 340,000 square feet in the Northwest Quadrant. This strategic investment will consolidate and enhance lab, classroom, and simulation spaces in the former Columbia St. Mary’s complex. Thanks to the $5M in planning dollars allocated in 2023–25 in addition to UW System design funds previously loaned to the project, UWM is on track to be shovel-ready this biennium.
This project is essential to addressing Wisconsin’s critical healthcare workforce shortage. Nearly 20% of Wisconsin’s population is 65 and older. Healthcare demand increases as age increases. UWM graduates more healthcare professionals than any other institution in the state, awarding 2,011 health-related degrees in 2023-24 alone. Overall, employment in healthcare fields is expected to grow between 7-25% in the next decade, far exceeding the capacity of current training programs.
The proposed renovation will consolidate UWM’s College of Health Professions and Sciences from five locations into a single, state-of-the-art facility, increasing enrollment capacity by 15%. This expansion is critical, as 40% of Wisconsin’s healthcare professionals will reach retirement age within the next 10-15 years. By modernizing and expanding educational facilities, UWM can ensure a steady pipeline of highly trained professionals ready to serve our communities. This includes physical therapists, occupational therapists, radiology technicians and medical lab scientists to name a few. Bringing health care professionals together for their education is a coordinated care best practice that mimics the workforce.
The project will also create additional spaces and synergies with the adjacent James and Yvonne Ziemer Clinical Simulation Center, which already allows students to complete clinical hours on campus using advanced patient models and medical equipment donated by GE Healthcare. This hands-on training replicates real-world healthcare environments, ensuring graduates are workforce-ready on day one.
Without this investment, large portions of the building will remain underutilized, creating ongoing maintenance costs without fulfilling its potential. Wisconsin risks missing a crucial opportunity to educate and graduate more healthcare professionals at a time when they are urgently needed.
Healthcare delivery in Wisconsin is a shared responsibility, and UWM plays a pivotal role in providing skilled professionals to serve our communities. We urge you to support UWM’s Health Sciences Renovation. This investment will not only help alleviate the healthcare workforce crisis but will also enhance healthcare quality statewide and deliver a significant return for Wisconsin’s future.
Best regards,
Mark A. Mone, Ph.D.
Chancellor