Age: 38
Emergency Department Physician, Emplify Health by Bellin
Brad Burmeister grew up in Seymour, the son of a logger and a mill worker. Medical school wasn’t exactly his expected path, but he took it anyway.
After earning a biochemistry degree from UW-La Crosse, an M.D. from Michigan State and an MBA from the UW MBA Consortium, Burmeister joined Bellin Health’s emergency medicine group in 2017 and now serves as its president. (Fun fact: Burmeister was born at Bellin and now works just down a flight of stairs from where he entered the world.)
Today Burmeister sits on two nonprofit boards, has launched a nursing recognition fund and a community sustainability fund, and is pushing for smarter, more coordinated care across Northeast Wisconsin’s aging population.
“To truly improve, we must think regionally and proactively,” he says.
Biggest break: Being asked to do a media interview early in COVID. At the time I was just a frontline ER physician. I didn’t think much of it, but that first interview led to over 300 more over the next two years. It became an unexpected platform to help people during a very uncertain time, and it stretched me professionally in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
Biggest fail: Early in my career, I experienced imposter syndrome — something many emerging leaders face. I often hesitated to give my perspective, thinking my lack of experience didn’t add value. Over time, I came to learn that I have good ideas and I should speak up. Effective leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room; it’s about being a steady, credible one that moves meaningful progress forward.
Best advice: The world belongs to people who show up.
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