Advocacy Day

WHA is known for its superior government relations results and impactful advocacy on behalf of its members. The annual WHA Advocacy Day is designed to educate and motivate health care employees, trustees and volunteers on important health care-related issues and to encourage grassroots advocacy opportunities. 

Each year, featured national speakers give timely insight to state and federal health care issues, and participating in state legislative visits allows attendees to advocate on behalf of their hospitals.

WHA Contact

Kari Hofer
Vice President, External Affairs
608-274-1820
EMAIL: Kari Hofer

Leigh Ann S. Larson
Vice President, Education & Marketing
608-274-1820
EMAIL: Leigh Ann S. Larson


Join Us in 2024!


Register today for our upcoming Advocacy Day - March 20, 2024! 

Register Now!
WHA encourages and invites hospital CEOs, CFOs, managers, nurse executives, quality managers, hospital volunteers, hospital trustees, WHA HEAT grassroots members, Partners of WHA members, WHA corporate members, and any other hospital staff interested in helping to shape the future of health care in Wisconsin communities to attend.

Sponsorship Opportunities


WHA's Advocacy Day would not be possible without the generous support of its event sponsors. WHA event sponsorship opportunities are exclusive to WHA Corporate Members only. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for this year's event, contact WHA's Leigh Ann Larson at llarson@wha.org for more information.
 

Relevant Videos


Video highlights from 2019 Advocacy Day in Madison.

Highlights from Past Advocacy Day Events



Nearly 1,000 hospital and health care leaders, providers, staff, trustees and volunteers participated in WHA’s annual Advocacy Day in 2023, the first held in person since the pandemic. Former Govs. Jim Doyle and Tommy G. Thompson were keynote speakers at the event that also included an address by current Gov. Tony Evers and a bipartisan state legislative panel of Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam), Rep. Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee), Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) and Sen. Pat Testin (R-Stevens Point).

In addition to the program, Advocacy Day grassroots advocates also visited state senators and representatives at the Wisconsin State Capitol, calling on the Legislature to discuss solutions to health care funding and workforce shortages Wisconsin hospitals have faced for the past several years.
 

Advocacy Day 2023 Event Summaries Advocacy Day 2023 -- In Review (PDF) Advocacy Day 2023 Photos

Inaugural Health Care Quality Showcase


Wisconsin hospitals showcased their quality improvement successes at the Capitol Rotunda in a Pre-Advocacy Day Poster Showcase.


Twenty-three posters were featured, representing 50 Wisconsin hospitals and health systems, highlighting their hospitals’ improvement projects. Topics were wide ranging and included Age-Friendly Health Systems, reducing opioid prescriptions,  reducing health disparities, and reducing readmissions. Presenters, representing hospital staff responsible for improving patient care, patient safety and access and creating value, had an opportunity to interact with their legislators and other hospital staff leaders.
 

2023 Health Care Quality Showcase Photos