Events

Jun. 8, 2026

Golf Outing Registration

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms
1 Long Drive
Sheboygan Falls, WI  53085

Each golfer will be provided with a name tag and 2 drink tickets. Hole prize winners will be announced at the conference on June 9. 

Jun. 8, 2026

Golf Outing

Optional activity for conference attendees only. 

The Bull at Pinehurst Farms
1 Long Drive
Sheboygan Falls, WI  53085

 

Jun. 8, 2026

BBQ Grilling Cooking Class

Optional activity for conference attendees only, held at The Osthoff Resort & Spa.

Jun. 8, 2026

Welcome Reception

Please join us for this social and networking reception. Light appetizers and hosted bar will be available. 

Jun. 9, 2026

Registration, Breakfast, and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 9, 2026

Welcome and Speaker Introduction

Derek Daly, CEO, Tomah Health
WHA Chair, Council on Rural Health

Jun. 9, 2026

GenHealth: Navigating Generational Dynamics in Healthcare

Healthcare workers face layers of complexity every day, from staffing shortages to rising patient
expectations. Adding to this challenge are the generational differences that shape how patients interpret
professionalism, bedside manner, and trust. For patients, navigating health concerns can feel confusing,
emotional, or even embarrassing—making it vital for providers to approach interactions with both
empathy and generational awareness.

GenHealth equips healthcare professionals with insights into how different generations prefer to
communicate, engage, and build trust in care settings. This session explores not only the patient-provider
relationship but also the dynamics among generationally diverse healthcare teams. Participants will
uncover practical strategies to improve communication, strengthen collaboration, and ease generational
disconnects that can impact both patient satisfaction and staff morale. Attendees will walk away with actionable takeaways to immediately apply in their daily work—helping them enhance the patient experience, build stronger team connections, and ultimately improve healthcare outcomes.

Phil Gwoke
CEO, Generational Expert and Thought Leader

Jun. 9, 2026

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 9, 2026

The State of Health Care in Wisconsin

Over the last year, rural health care has been at the center of politics and policy in Madison and Washington. During this fireside chat, Kyle O’Brien and Tim Size team up to share their perspectives on how hospitals have influenced the state and national debates on health care policy, while offering frank perspectives on the state of health care in Wisconsin.

Kyle O'Brien, President & CEO, WHA
Tim Size, Executive Director, RWHC

Jun. 9, 2026

Lunch and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 9, 2026

Breakout Session 1

1A: Pediatric Readiness: Ensuring Rural and Critical Access Hospitals are Prepared

Pediatric readiness is the capacity of an emergency department to provide safe, timely, and high-quality emergency care to children, regardless of where they live. Many children in Wisconsin seek care at rural and critical access hospitals, therefore a strong commitment to pediatric readiness is essential to support these local systems that are often the first point of care for critically ill and injured children. Sustained focus on pediatric readiness strengthens local care delivery, equips front line teams with the resources and processes needed to manage pediatric emergencies and ensures that children receive the right care in the right place at the right time.  Continued investment in and collaboration with rural and critical access hospitals is a proven strategy to reduce preventable morbidity and mortality, improve outcomes and advance health equity for Wisconsin’s children. This presentation will describe the core components of pediatric readiness, highlight the ongoing work of the Wisconsin Pediatric Readiness for Community Hospitals Project and identify practical strategies to implement and sustain pediatric ready practices in rural and critical access settings. 

Maureen Luetje, DO, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical Director of Pediatric Readiness, Associate Medical Director for Trauma, Surgery and Disaster Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin – Children’s Wisconsin

Anna VerKuilen, MPH, Program Manager – Emergency Care, Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin



1B: Multi generational Employee Wellness Programs

This panel will explore how organizations can design and implement multi generational employee wellness programs that meet the unique needs of today’s diverse workforce. Discussion will focus on practical strategies to enhance engagement, support well-being across age groups, and strengthen retention through inclusive wellness initiatives.

Katie Ott, Director of Benefits Engagement Solutions, Partner, M3 Insurance
Panel, TBA


1C: 340B Update for Rural Providers

With 340B evolving rapidly, rural hospitals and grantees face unique challenges and opportunities. This session will deliver timely insights tailored to critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, and organizations serving rural communities. Anticipated topics include rebate pilot implementation, referred patient compliance, and strategies for responding to manufacturer inquiries. Attendees will gain practical guidance to navigate compliance and optimize program benefits in today’s dynamic environment.

James Junger, Attorney, Hall, Render, Killian, Heath & Lyman, P.C.

Jun. 9, 2026

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 9, 2026

Breakout Session 2

2A: Empathy Restored Among Healthcare Workers: Rebuilding Connection, Improving Care, Sustaining Well-Being

In today’s healthcare environment, empathy fatigue is a silent crisis. Clinicians are expected to deliver exceptional care while operating under relentless stress, time pressure, and administrative complexity. This presentation offers a pragmatic framework for restoring empathy across clinical teams—without adding one more thing to the to-do list. Participants will leave with tools they can use on their very next shift to reset emotionally, engage meaningfully, and maintain professional boundaries that protect their own well-being. The session combines research, storytelling, and hands-on practice to make empathy tangible and sustainable, even in high-acuity or fast-paced settings.

Hank Drummond PhD RN, Enterprise Chief Nurse Executive, Divisional Senior Vice President Cross Country


2B: Better Health Better Margins The Role of Energy in Rural Healthcare

A panel focused on the opportunities, misconceptions, and unknowns of energy use for rural hospitals and health systems. Healthcare is causing adverse health effects to our communities – an action that contradicts our mission. Learn how to improve the environment while improving your margins. Learn about rural hospitals and clinics that have reaped the benefits of energy sustainability. Understand the opportunities of energy sustainability and energy management to improve margins and the environment.

Kristie McCoic, VP Critical Access Hospitals North Region, Theda Care Medical Center - Shawno  
Keith Edgerton, U.S. Director of Climate Solutions Practice, GreenHealth

Moderator 
Laura Olson, CBDO, Eneration


2C: Delivering Care for Rural Women and Babies: The Wisconsin Way

Rural Wisconsin has had 9 labor and delivery unit closures in the last 3 years. It is up to each of us to begin creating change now to preserve the quality and quantity of obstetrical care available in our state. This session will share how rural hospitals in Wisconsin are working collaboratively and internally to preserve access to safe obstetrical care.  Panelists will discuss workforce shortages, supportive staffing and provider coverage models, financial challenges, and quality/safety concerns surrounding rural obstetrical care. The tangible initiatives shared will equip and inspire hospital attendees with practical ideas they can use to serve women and babies in their communities successfully, whether they still offer L+D services or are seeing these patients in clinic, the ED, or postpartum.

Marie Barry, Director of Community Economic & Workforce Development,  RWHC
Eilidh Pederson, CEO, Western Wisconsin Health
Brianna Juszczak, Director of Acute Care and OB, Mile Bluff Medical Center

Jun. 9, 2026

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 9, 2026

Breakout Session 3

3A: Caring for Wisconsin’s Caregivers: A Panel on Advancing Health Workforce Well Being Across Hospital Settings

Rising patient complexity and an aging population are demographic factors, largely beyond the state’s control, that will continue to increase health care demand and stress on the health care workforce for decades to come. Recognizing the urgency to support and sustain those who care for Wisconsin’s communities, the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) selected the Health Workforce Well Being Initiative as a landmark investment and awarded WHA the responsibility to lead this transformative statewide effort. This session will highlight the early work, vision and impact of the five-year initiative to strengthen workforce well being across all care settings. Grounded in evidence, national standards and the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation (LBF) multi-phase model, this initiative is building a statewide infrastructure to equip hospitals and health systems with tools, resources, training and other strategies to better support clinician well being.

Kick off
Dr. Mike Stadler, Chief Medical Officer & AHW Initiative Champion, AHW
Nadine Allen, Chief Quality Officer & WHA Initiative Sponsor, WHA

Panelists
Sue Anderson, Regional President, SSM Health Wisconsin
Shawn Lerch, CEO, Sauk Prairie Health
Heather Schmidt, DO, Chief Wellness Officer, SSM Health Found du Lac Integrative Health
Wendy Ledesma, MD, Chief Wellness Officer, Sauk Prairie Health

Moderator 
Dr. Stefanie Simmons, Chief Medical Officer, LBF


3B: National Perspectives: Rural Health Transformation Programs

Join us in identifying key commonalities across states, comparing different state operating models for the Rural Health Transformation Programs, with examples of unique state programs.

Greg Bice, Senior Manager, Deloitte
Elise Winter, Senior Manager, Deloitte


3C: Top 10 Rural Hospital Wins for 2026 that can be implemented without draining your finances

In this session, a presentation of practical, low-cost performance improvements that rural hospitals can implement across finance, nursing, HR, operations and clinics will be shared. The conditions that make these strategies effective in small and rural settings will also be explored. Early warning signs of operational or financial fragility that can be mitigated through targeted improvements will be discussed. In addition, an examination of how cross-departmental teams collaborate to achieve measurable gains without major new investments will be provided. Finally, ten evidence-based strategies that rural hospitals across Wisconsin and the U.S. have used to strengthen performance in the past 12–24 months will be shared.

Kris Jacobson, MBA, LNHA,LALD, CEO/Owner, Momentum Healthcare Solutions Group
Matthew Borchardt, MBA, CPA, Atrelis Co
Madison Johnson, CFO, Osceola Medical Center

 

Jun. 9, 2026

Adjourn

Jun. 9, 2026

Dinner Reception and Exhibitor Showcase

Join us for a gourmet dinner, while networking with peers and visiting the expansive group of WHA Corporate Members who are in attendance and ready to share their products and services to assist WHA member hospitals with their needs. 

Jun. 10, 2026

Breakfast and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 10, 2026

Welcome and Speaker Introduction

Derek Daly, CEO, Tomah Health
Chair, WHA Council on Rural Health

Jun. 10, 2026

Rural Health Care Today and Tomorrow: A Conversation with WHA CEO Leaders

This panel will bring together four prominent rural hospital and health system leaders from across the state. This must-attend session, featuring WHA Board members, will offer candid perspectives on the trends, challenges and opportunities shaping rural health care delivery in Wisconsin. Attendees will hear directly from leaders who are navigating these issues every day and helping guide the future of health care in rural communities.

Matt Heywood, President & CEO, Aspirus
Dan Rohrbach, President & CEO, Southwest Health
John Russell, President & CEO, Prairie Ridge Health
Heather Schimmers, President, Emplify Health

Jun. 10, 2026

Break and Visiting Exhibitors

Jun. 10, 2026

Culture By Design: Transforming Workplaces One Brain Pattern Interrupt at a Time

Our minds have the tendency to habitually focus on what’s wrong and why we’re frustrated instead of where we could be and what it would take to get there. Workplace culture expert Paul Long has discovered a powerful truth: Culture isn’t something you fix—it’s something you create through moment-by-moment choices. Through his principles of deliberate connection, he teaches leaders and teams how to implement “brain pattern interrupts” that shift attention from problems to possibilities. When you become intentional about how you show up, how you connect, and where you focus, you transform your experience—and your organization’s culture.

Hailed by multiple state hospital associations, Paul Long draws from his experience leading thousands to deliver actionable insights that energize teams, fuel engagement, and bring meaning back to work.

Paul Long, Workplace Culture Expert

Jun. 10, 2026

Adjourn and Save the Date for 2027