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In 1949, a group of Wichita physicians met at the home of Dr. Bert Stofer to organize the Wichita Foundation of Medical Research to further medical science by investigative pursuits, and the advancement of knowledge in medicine.
The group hoped to ultimately provide laboratory equipment and facilities to carry out research projects.
The first meeting for incorporation was on November 20, 1949. Those who signed the incorporation papers were: Phillip Cooper MD; Ernest W. Crow MD; Leo K. Crumpacker MD; James S. Hibbard MD; Gerhart R. Tonn MD; Donald P. Trees MD; Charles K. Weir MD.; and Bert E. Stofer MD.
In 1959 the name of the Wichita Foundation of Medical Research changed to Wesley Medical Research Institutes.
Even though the program was later developed and centered at Wesley Medical Center, the services and assistance of the Research Institutes were made available to all medical practitioners, medical residents and other recognized medical and scientifically-qualified investigators residing in the Wichita area.
 In the fall of 2001, the Board of Directors voted to change the name once again to Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation (WMREF). The change reflects the emphasis on supporting and funding medical research and medical continuing education in Wichita and throughout the state.
The current President of WMREF is Carol A. Johnson M.D, a local family physician with a private practice in Park City. WMREF's Scientific Director is Thomas R Kluzak, and the head of pathologist for Via Christi Medical Center.
Dr. Kluzak also serves as the Institutional Review Board Chair for Via Christi.
Wichita
Medical Research and Education Foundation Officers:
WMREF
Officers
Executive Committee
Board of Directors
Directors Emeritus
Staff
WMREF
Officers:
President Carol A. Johnson MD
Vice-President Dwight Oxley MD
Secretary/Treasurer Kedre Mellor, CPA/PFS
Scientific Director Thomas R Kluzak, MD
Executive Director/COO Peggy L Johnson
Ex-Officio James E Delmore MD
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Other
Members of the Executive Committee:
Richard Shaw MD
Kenneth P. Stewart
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Other Members of the Board of Directors
Barry T. Bloom, MD
Sandee Francel
JIm Garrelts, Pharm D
William Hendry, PhD
V. E. 'Gene' Lygrisse
Carol Oppreicht, RN
William Tinker, Jr, JD
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Directors
Emertius
J.G. Kendrick, MD
Harry O. Lytle, Jr
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Staff
 Peggy
L. Johnson - WMREF Executive Director/COO
Peggy L. Johnson serves as Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation. She has been with the Foundation since Spring of 1999. She has been an active health care advocate for many years. In her role as Executive Director of WMREF, Peggy is responsible for day to day business in addition to assisting the Board of Directors in developing future ventures into medical research and medical education in the Wichita community.
Peggy has a long history of volunteerism in Wichita and other communities. She currently serves on the boards of a number of Wichita foundations and charities. In her role as National Chairman of the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Peggy testified before Congress on a number of occasions, speaking on subjects such as breast cancer research and access to quality health care. She has served on a number of national committees and boards and co-chaired and helped organize Poland’s first national breast cancer conference.
 Ginger Farley French, Pharm.D., CIM, CIP, IRB Director
Dr. French serves as the IRB Director for Wichita Medical Research and Education Foundation (WMREF). She has been on staff with the Foundation since 2000. In this time she has helped implement major changes in the IRB structure and function. During Dr. French’s tenure she has written new policies and procedures and continues to educate and facilitate policy changes. She works actively with investigators through all phases of research preparation, and is proud of the team approach used to manage research oversight at WMREF.
Dr. French is a member of Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA) and the National Association of IRB Managers (NAIM). She was certified as a Certified IRB Manager (CIM) in September 2000 and as a Certified IRB Professional (CIP) with the first offering in October 2000.
As a clinical pharmacist with a strong background in drug information and inpatient care, Dr. French has served as a member on three different IRBs. She has been a board member on the WMREF IRB since March 1987. She was also named a member of the WMREF Scientific Review Committee at that time. Dr. French was a charter member of the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita Branch Human Subjects Committee. Additionally, she served three years on a behavioral science IRB at a local psychiatric hospital.
Dr. French is interested in using her talents for the benefit of human research protection. She is an avid reader and loves to learn – two components which serve her well in her work.
 Teresa L. Carter, CPA, Controller
Teresa L. Carter is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a BS in Accounting and Marketing. As WMREF Controller, Teresa is responsible for the financial business of the Foundation, from the day-to-day accounting operations, preparation of monthly financial statements to oversight of the Foundation’s investment portfolio for the Board of Directors. Teresa came to WMREF, in 1995, as a part-time staff accountant. Teresa also serves on the Foundation's Educational Grant Review Committee which has responsibility for the Foundation's educational funding priorities. Prior to working at the Foundation, Teresa was an Accounting Manager at Koch Industries for 14 years. Teresa also holds a CPA certificate from the State of Kansas.
Teresa is an committed volunteer in the Wichita Community. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Mid-Kansas Affiliate. She is a former Co-Chair of the Komen Wichita Race for the Cure®, a Girl Scout Leader, an active member of Delta Theta Chi Sorority, the secretary/treasurer on the Board of Directors of Bridges International, and is an active volunteer at the Church of the Magdalen, Wichita, Kansas. In her spare time she uses her years of accounting experience to provide accounting assistance to small not-for-profit organizations that cannot afford a staff accountant.
 Charlotte Jewell, Research Administrative Secretary
Charlotte Jewell has been with the Foundation since the summer of 1983. She is responsible for administrative support for the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Institutional Review Board and Scientific Review Committee. Charlotte is especially interested in the area of medical research and assisting new researchers as they develop their research proposals.
Charlotte attended Wichita State University. She serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors for the Mid-Kansas Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and for the Komen Wichita Race for the Cure®. An avid genealogist for many years, she previously was employed with McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis during the Gemini spacecraft program and later with the Boeing Company in Wichita. She has two grown children and three grandchildren.
Charlotte attended Wichita State University. She serves as Secretary for the Board of Directors for the Mid-Kansas Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and for the Komen Wichita Race for the Cure®. An avid genealogist for many years, she previously was employed with McDonnell Douglas in St. Louis during the Gemini spacecraft program and later with the Boeing Company in Wichita. She has two grown children and three grandchildren.
 Margo Shepler, Research Administrative Assistant
Margo Shepler is research administrative assistant for the Foundation. Margo came to WMREF as a part time replacement for Carol Wood in April of 2005, and started full time employment in November of 2005 after Carols’ retirement. She is a graduate of Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She is responsible for the day-to-day administrative duties for WMREF, Institutional Review Board, Scientific Review Board, and the Board of Directors.
Margo is a volunteer for Susan G Komen for the Cure® Mid-Kansas Affiliate and also the Willowbend Ladies Golf Association. She is an avid golfer and volunteers for many golf events. Margo was the General Manager at the Wichita Bindery Inc, a company her father founded, for 20 years.
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