Dr. Margaret “Gretchen” Schwarze, professor in the Division of Vascular Surgery, was awarded the 2026 MacLean Center Prize in Clinical Ethics and Health Outcomes. Dr. Schwarze previously completed a clinical ethics fellowship at the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics.
The MacLean Prize recognizes individuals who have made transformative contributions to the field of clinical medical ethics through scholarship, practice, leadership and policy development. Dr. Schwarze will receive this prize during the 37th Annual MacLean Center Conference on April 10-11, 2026 at the University of Chicago, where she will also present a keynote address.
“It’s a really big honor, particularly when I look at the past recipients,” Dr. Schwarze said. “I think being here at the UW–Madison, where people valued this work, made a huge difference.”
Dr. Schwarze has impacted the field of bioethics through the development of the Best Case/Worst Case framework and the Better Conversations framework. These tools help patients and surgeons communicate more clearly before surgery so that patients can better understand what their lives might look like after surgery, and make the choice that is right for them. These frameworks have been applied in other disciplines and are being taught to trainees so they know how to navigate treatment decisions with patients and families.
The MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics is a part of the University of Chicago. It engages in all aspects of ethics work. The center is a hub for education and training fellows and its research helps to advance the field.