Eric Borgerding Health Care Advocacy Scholarship

In recognition of WHA President & CEO Eric Borgerding’s retirement and 27 years of service to Wisconsin’s hospitals, the WHA Foundation is proud to announce the creation of the Eric Borgerding Health Care Advocacy Scholarship. This scholarship honors Eric’s unwavering commitment to advancing public policies that have enabled Wisconsin hospitals to lead the nation in quality, access and innovation.

Through this initiative, we aim to inspire the next generation of health care advocates and ensure a strong future for hospital policy leadership in Wisconsin.

About Eric Borgerding

Eric served as President/CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association from 2015 to 2025, capping a four-decade career as a Wisconsin lobbyist. Eric began his advocacy career in 1987, when as an undergraduate at UW-Madison he participated in an internship with one of Madison’s largest lobbying firms. In addition to his professional roles, Borgerding has served on the UW-Madison Political Science Department and UW-Madison LaFollette Institute Board of Visitors, the Wisconsin State Historical Society Board and the Association of Wisconsin Lobbyists Board of Directors.

A Legacy of Advocacy

During his tenure, Eric championed countless initiatives that have had a lasting impact, including:

• Restored Wisconsin’s non-economic damages cap in medical malpractice cases
• Significantly increased Medicaid reimbursement through the state’s hospital assessment, Disproportionate Share Hospital and Rural Critical Care supplements
• Enacted legislation to create the WHA Information Center
• Enacted peer-review protections through the Quality Improvement Act
• Enacted policies that provided over $100 million in new public/private investments in Wisconsin physician residency programs
• Provided invaluable policy and industry leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Massively bolstered WHA’s political engagement through the Wisconsin Hospitals PAC & Conduit, making WHA the leading advocacy organization in the state

About the Internship and Scholarship Program

Each year, two students will be selected for a 15-week WHA internship, gaining hands-on experience in health policy, regulatory affairs and advocacy. At the conclusion of their internship, participants will present their learnings and may be awarded up to $5,000 each.

This experience is designed to prepare future health policy leaders who share Eric’s passion for supporting hospitals and improving health care for all Wisconsinites.

Honoring our Contributors

The WHA Foundation gratefully acknowledges the individuals and organizations whose generous contributions are bringing the Eric Borgerding Health Care Advocacy Scholarship to life. These gifts celebrate Eric’s remarkable legacy and invest in the future of health care policy leadership in Wisconsin.

Legacy Leader

Ascension Wisconsin

Aspirus Health

Emplify Health

Visionary Advocate

Aurora Health Care

HealthPartners - Amery, Hudson and Westfields Hospitals & Clinics

Prairie Ridge Health

UW Health

Founding Contributor

Children's Wisconsin

Damond Boatwright

Findorff

Godfrey & Kahn

Hospital Sisters Health System

Husch Blackwell

M3 Insurance

Platform Communications

Quarles

RWHC Healthy Wisconsin Foundation

SSM Health - Wisconsin

Tomah Health

UnityPoint Health - Meriter Hospital

Supporting Partner

CG Schmidt

Cumberland Healthcare

Door County Medical Center

Edgerton Hospital & Health Services

First Business Bank

Health Policy Source

Kyle & Laura O'Brien

Reedsburg Area Medical Center

Dan & Amy Rohrbach

Schreiber GR Group

Southwest Health

Spooner Health

Stoughton Health

The Kammer Group

The Richland Hospital & Clinics

Upland Hills Health, Inc. 

Friend of the Fund

Capitol Navigators

Dr. Michael & Laurie Dolan

Essentia Health

Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin

Rachel Roller

How to Contribute

Contributions from corporate or personal funds are welcome and fully tax-deductible through the WHA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit a pledge, please complete the online pledge form. If you need an invoice, simply indicate that preference in the form or contact Kari Hofer, Vice President, External Affairs, directly. To make a contribution online with a credit card, click the Contribute Now button below.