All About Towne
Next year, Jonathan Towne, MD, Medical College of Wisconsin vascular surgeon and chief of Vascular Surgery, will celebrate his 30th anniversary with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Recently, he shared some memories of his life and career in medicine.
First Things First
Dr. Towne grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, where his vocation as a doctor came early. “I knew what I wanted to do with my life by the ninth grade.” He eventually steered toward vascular surgery, because it seemed challenging and technical—“like high-class plumbing.”
In 1975, Dr. Towne joined the faculty of the Medical College of Wisconsin as a professor of vascular surgery. This discipline uses a variety of techniques to treat the whole range of diseases that affect the blood vessels. When asked about his medical philosophy, Towne refers to a famous line in the Hippocratic oath: Primum non nocere. “First, do no harm.”
True Heritage
Married, with three children and three grandchildren, Dr. Towne lives in Brookfield and is a great advocate of physical fitness. During his student days, he ran in 5K and 10K events. “I ran a lot until about two years ago, when my knees gave out.” Now, Towne says he gets his exercise from walking and has also taken up rollerblading.
Dr. Towne says one of the most enjoyable parts of his job has been training other surgeons. “It is truly a heritage,” he says, “because that’s what you leave when you move on.” Towne says he values the rapport and bond he has developed with young doctors learning the art of vascular surgery.
He also says he appreciates the chance he has had to work with the talented and dedicated people of Froedtert & Medical College. “This is a very special place.”