The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has awarded its 2021 Advocacy All-Star Award to SSM Health. The annual award recognizes one hospital or health care system for its exemplary dedication to grassroots advocacy on behalf of the state’s health care providers and in partnership with WHA.
SSM Health Regional President Damond Boatwright accepted the award at WHA’s Advocacy Day event, held virtually this year and attended by nearly 1,000 hospital supporters.
“SSM Health Wisconsin has been an outstanding advocacy partner with WHA. We are a successful advocacy organization because of proactive policy development, effective lobbying and actively engaged members like SSM Health Wisconsin,” said WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding. “Even as advocacy activities shifted virtual, SSM Health never turned down an opportunity to participate, having representation present whenever called upon,” Borgerding added.
“Receiving this recognition is incredibly meaningful for me and our organization,” said Boatwright. “We know the value and importance of advocacy and the role it plays in making meaningful, positive changes not just for our health care organization, but for patients and communities all across Wisconsin.”
SSM Health Wisconsin actively participates on WHA’s board of directors, councils and work groups, attends virtual advocacy events and engages directly with state and federal lawmakers in their districts. The health system has also shown strong growth in the number of new members to the Hospital Education and Advocacy Team (HEAT), a statewide network designed to facilitate grassroots involvement on state and federal issues that impact Wisconsin hospitals.
To view a video of WHA’s Borgerding presenting and SSM’s Boatwright accepting the 2021 Advocacy All-Star Award, click
here.