Wisconsin Public Health Association

12/18/2025

Deadline Today | December 18th!

Conference Theme: Mobilizing for Health: Creating Change Together

Conference Objectives:

Inspire cross-sector partners to share creative solutions and collectively advocate for policies & systems that sustain healthy, thriving communities.
Build community by broadening participation, championing fairness and access, and enhancing civic engagement.
Strengthen our public health workforce by investing in people, collaboration, and innovation.

The 2026 Conference will again offer a hybrid format, combining an in-person experience with the option for virtual attendance through Whova, our conference app. For more details and to submit your session abstract, please review the call for proposals form at this link by Thursday, December 18. The Committee will notify selected presenters by end of January.

All presenters with accepted abstracts must register for the Conference and cover the registration fee. A discount code of approximately $75 off will be available to presenters to help reduce the cost.

https://form.jotform.com/253214589368164

12/17/2025

Congratulations to our newly elected board and nominations committee members!

Please join us in their welcome & congratulations! Thank you to all of our candidates and also our outgoing board members:

Kristie Egge, Adrian Jones, Lola Awoyinka, and Jasia Steinmetz!

12/11/2025

Be part of Mobilizing for Health: Creating Change Together at the 2026 Conference @ the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells!

We’re looking for dynamic, engaging sessions that spark action and move public health forward. Whether you’re innovating in a rural community, leading climate solutions, strengthening communication strategies, lifting up community-led work, or advancing civic engagement—you have a story worth sharing.

✨ Why Present? Just to name a few!:
Presenters with accepted abstracts receive an additional $75 discount on conference registration!

Showcase Your Expertise: Share your innovations, insights, and success stories with professionals across Wisconsin and beyond.

Expand Your Network: Connect with peers, collaborators, and decision-makers who can help amplify your work.

Elevate Your Organization: Highlight programs, partnerships, and initiatives that are making a real impact in your community.

Submit at this link: https://form.jotform.com/253214589368164

12/11/2025

Today's featured job! Work with state public health associations as a project manager! This position will work on workforce related initiatives and support policy in Wisconsin's public health workforce.

https://tinyurl.com/4xt4h92b

12/10/2025

WPHA President, Maureen Busalacchi, along with other health experts like Dr. Jonathan Temte (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and Dr. Margaret Hennessy (Wisconsin Chapter of the AAP, provided input on the update to the Hepatitis B vaccine schedule.

Wisconsin health leaders worry changes to a federal recommendation to vaccinate newborns against hepatitis B will create unnecessary confusion for families and providers.

12/08/2025

It's been great for WPHA to prioritize our partnerships and building visibility for our profession in other spaces. Last week, Past President Kristie and President-Elect Geeta were able to attend the WOW Collaborative (Wisconsin Owns Well-being) Meeting.

The WOW Collaborative aims to create a shared vision for Wisconsin's safety net and the individuals and communities served, and to spur and mature partnerships that will bring the vision to fruition.

12/08/2025

Great to have opportunities to meet w legislators like Representative Lisa Subeck through our section work! Thank you to the Representative, and thanks to our members for joining in person office hours! 🤓

On Friday, I met with members of the Wisconsin Public Health Association’s Health Promotion Section during their visit to Madison. We talked about effective advocacy and ways to build strong relationships with legislators as they continue their important work on public health issues.

12/05/2025

From Maureen Busalacchi, WPHA President: "Thank you to Governor Tony Evers for his leadership in protecting smoke-free air, and to all of you for your support and advocacy - those that emailed and called their legislators, responded to action alerts, or reached out to the Governor's office! So many have worked so hard to deliver smoke-free air in Wisconsin and we are glad to have been a part of keeping it this way."

American Lung Association in Wisconsin American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Wisconsin - ACS CAN American Heart Association

Let's keep WI smoke-free!

12/04/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Jonathan Temte!

Jonathan Temte, MD, PhD has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians for his impact on the field of family medicine through advancing public health, training family physicians, and exploring disease prevention and control. Congratulations, Dr. Temte!

Read more about his career: https://buff.ly/RoDOt5O

12/04/2025

New job posting on the WPHA career center for the WCHSA Executive Director! A great opportunity for an experienced public health professional!

Find out more information here: https://tinyurl.com/bdhmfkxc

11/26/2025

President's Message from Maureen Busalacchi

This past year has been especially difficult. The sheer volume of misinformation and disinformation is staggering. Seeing changes to CDC guidance on vaccines is deeply disturbing—and that’s just one example of the attacks on public health. It feels like nothing is off-limits for disruption or defunding, even programs that feed children.

We keep showing up, doing our jobs as best we can, but the constant barrage against the public health system takes a toll. Personally, I don’t recall ever feeling more frustrated or pessimistic. It’s enough to almost take the fight out of me—but not quite.

What keeps me going is what the people of WPHA have built: a strong public health system and partnerships with communities. We are not alone. While some voices are loud in their opposition, most people still believe in what we do. It feels fragile at times, but public health is fundamental. If it were dismantled, it would have to be rebuilt—because society cannot function without it. That’s not what we want to happen, but it underscores how essential our work is.

Even knowing that, it’s hard not to feel discouraged. I’ve been struggling, and I know others are too. For me, reconnecting with nature, diving into art projects, spending time with my favorite people—and my dog—has helped. Honestly, I was so frustrated and angry that it took time to calm down. The situation hasn’t changed, but I’m better prepared now. And I had help from friends in the Prevention Underground group on Facebook and from colleagues who were there—always there.

So, here’s my ask: Reach out and tell someone how much you appreciate them. It might be the balm that gets them through. Let's continue celebrating "Public Health Thank You Day!"

-Maureen

11/25/2025

As we reflect on National Injury Prevention Day, we extend our gratitude to the Child Death Review and Fetal Infant Mortality Review teams across Wisconsin. 💚

Your dedication to preventing injuries and reducing deaths in communities statewide doesn't go unnoticed. Thank you for the critical work you do every day to keep our children safe! See where teams like yours are making an impact.

Learn more about the Alliance's work and our injury prevention and death review initiative at www.chawisconsin.org/.