The origin of a new, endowed scholarship at University of Wisconsin–Madison harkens back to the history of the late Murray Katcher, MD, a beloved faculty member who had a 35-year career in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health’s (SMPH) Department of Pediatrics.
In 2022, when the Murray Katcher Child Health Advocacy Lectureship was established in the department, it was clear the first speaker would be its namesake. Despite retiring a decade earlier, Katcher had continued work as a tireless advocate for the health and safety of children and vulnerable adults, engaging in community organizations and with American Indian and Amish communities in Wisconsin. His lecture outlined the meaning of advocacy in medicine through examples of his work.
Katcher earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from UW–Madison, followed by a medical degree from the UW Medical School (now SMPH). There, he completed a pediatrics residency and joined the faculty. Katcher quickly became determined to communicate what he and other pediatricians saw too frequently when treating children who had been severely injured by unsafe products and policies.
He launched a campaign to reduce the top temperature setting allowed in residential water heaters because too-high settings had caused countless serious burns and preventable deaths in infants, children, and vulnerable adults. His efforts to connect with manufacturers, the public, and legislators resulted in the landmark 1987 Wisconsin Act 102, which mandated a top residential water heater setting of 125 degrees F for units sold in Wisconsin. The legislation was repeated across the nation.
Katcher also was one of four chief medical officers for the State of Wisconsin from 1985 to 1991, and he helped lead community health and advocacy organizations. All who knew him were saddened to learn of his July 2024 death due to complications from a fall.
He and his wife, Susan Katcher — the couple met in middle school and got married shortly after college — had been married 56 years when he died; they have two grown children. Susan Katcher holds a fine arts degree, a master’s in teaching, and a law degree from UW–Madison. During her 21-year career at the UW Law School’s East Asian Legal Studies Center, she was a researcher, senior lecturer, and associate director. She also was involved with the UW Law School’s graduate programs.
Throughout his career, Murray Katcher taught and mentored students interested in clinical work and health advocacy. To honor this, in spring 2026, Susan Katcher worked with the UW Foundation and Alumni Association to create the Dr. Murray and Susan Katcher Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students pursuing dual medical/master of public health (MPH) degrees at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (see below) or dual bachelor of science in nursing (BSN)/MPH degrees through a collaboration between the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and UW School of Nursing.
Initially planning to support MD/MPH students, Susan Katcher expanded the scope after talking with Murray Katcher’s colleague, Nan Peterson, RN.
“Nan said, ‘Remember the nurses,’” recalls Susan Katcher, adding, “I am glad she did because nurses were such an important part of Murray’s professional life.”
Peterson says, “Murray was an amazing mentor. He taught me the value of pediatric injury prevention, legislative advocacy, coalition-building, community health research, and grant writing. We collaborated on numerous projects, including injury-prevention laws to improve the health and well-being of Wisconsin’s children.”
Contribute to the scholarship online.
This story was written by Sharon M. Van Sluijs and appeared in Quarterly Volume 28, Number 1.
Thompson receives Katcher scholarship
In June 2026, Amelia Thompson and Emma Schaefer, BSN, RN, received inaugural scholarships from the Dr. Murray and Susan Katcher Endowed Scholarship Fund, created by Susan Katcher to support students who are pursuing dual MD/master of public health (MPH) degrees or dual bachelor of science in nursing/MPH degrees at University of Wisconsin–Madison. One student in each dual track received the honor in 2026.
An MD/MPH student in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine, Thompson says, “An MPH degree will give me the education to optimize my skills and provide tools to be successful in my career. I am certain that I will continue public health research throughout my career, and I am excited for the opportunities an MPH will grant me.”
A first-generation medical student from Lodi, Wisconsin, Thompson participates in community service and shows a strong commitment to public health. After earning a bachelor’s degree from UW–La Crosse, she served with AmeriCorps by running a mobile free clinic, St. Clare Health Mission. During medical school, she continues to work with that organization and volunteers for Madison Street Medicine and the Health Science Academy.
This story was written by Kris Whitman and appeared in Quarterly Volume 28, Number 1.