Events

2025 Physician Leadership Development Conference

Physician leaders must represent both clinical and management interests. They must problem solve, lead their clinical colleagues and manage needed change in a rapidly evolving health care environment.

The annual WHA Physician Leadership Development Conference is an opportunity for Wisconsin hospitals and health systems to offer their physicians CME-qualifying education focused on developing their leadership skills.

DATE

Mar. 14 - Mar. 15, 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

LOCATION

The American Club
419 Highland Drive
Kohler, WI

Mar. 14, 2025

7:45 AM - 8:30 AM

Registration and Breakfast
Mar. 14, 2025

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Welcome and Speaker Introduction

Dr. Mike Dolan, Chief Clinical Officer – Emplify Health
Mar. 14, 2025

8:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Why physician engagement is imperative in tackling external threats to patient care, and how physician leaders can shepherd physician voice to drive positive change

Chris DeRienzo, MD, MPP, Sr. VP and Chief Physician Executive, AHA
Mar. 14, 2025

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Break
Mar. 14, 2025

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Identifying and Addressing Current Challenges Impacting Physician Practice in Wisconsin

Eric Borgerding, President and CEO, Wisconsin Hospital Association

Health care providers are facing challenges from all sides – workforce shortages, demands for cost-containment, resurgence in union demands, niche disruptors unconcerned with providing safety net services, payor consolidation and practices, demands for greater transparency in cost, quality and care, Medicare and Medicaid losses, and ever-shifting regulatory requirements. Understanding what these external challenges are can help equip physician leaders better communicate to staff the “why” and “how” these external factors drive disruptions and change within your organizations, as well as help physician leaders be an effective advocate with government officials for positive health care policy change.
Mar. 14, 2025

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Lunch
Mar. 14, 2025

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Leading High-Functioning Teams: Habits of Systems Thinkers that Build Followership

Andy Hillig, LAK Group

People follow the person, not the position. Leaders of high-functioning teams need to be enthusiastic and intentional about having a holistic understanding of the organization. They also need to understand the impact of their decisions and behaviors by seeking to understand their relationships, effects, and delays among information, problems, people, events, departments, and systems. And they form relationships which empower others to act, while allowing individuals freedom to make decisions, remove obstacles and thrive. In this program, Physician Leaders will learn the habits of systems thinkers, checking their assumptions, gaining perspective, and empowering and influencing others that create engaging experiences for their teams and activate the desired culture.
Mar. 14, 2025

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Break
Mar. 14, 2025

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM

Leading High-Functioning Teams: Habits of Systems Thinkers that Build Followership, con’t

Andy Hillig, LAK Group
Mar. 14, 2025

3:15 PM - 4:30 PM

Strategies to foster a positive, impactful physician culture within your organization – perspectives from physician and non-physician leaders

Panelists
Jeff Bahr, MD, FACP, Chief Physician Executive - Midwest Region, Advocate Health
Wendy Ledesma, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Sauk Prairie Healthcare
Chris Woleske, Executive Vice President and President Bellin Region, Emplify Health
Brad Groseth, Regional President - Western Wisconsin, Marshfield Clinic Health System
Mar. 14, 2025

4:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Adjourn for the Day
Mar. 14, 2025

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Dinner Reception
Mar. 15, 2025

7:45 AM - 8:30 AM

Breakfast
Mar. 15, 2025

8:30 AM - 8:45 AM

Welcome and Speaker Introduction

Paul Horvath, MD, Physician Site Lead, Mayo Clinic Health System, Red Cedar in Menomonie
Mar. 15, 2025

8:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Advancing physician well being – Survey of current internal and external strategies.

Ann Zenk, Senior Vice President Workforce and Clinical Practice
Nadine Allen, Chief Quality Officer, Wisconsin Hospital Association
Mar. 15, 2025

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Break
Mar. 15, 2025

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

An Executive Physician’s Personal Leadership Journey

Dr. Imran Andrabi, MD, President and CEO, Froedtert ThedaCare Health
Mar. 15, 2025

11:30 AM - 11:35 AM

Closing Remarks, 2026 Announcement, and Adjourn

Matthew Stanford, JD, MHA, General Counsel, Wisconsin Hospital Association

Location
The 2025 Physician Leadership Development Conference will be held at:

The American Club
419 Highland Drive
Kohler, WI 53044
1-855-209-5679

Lodging
A block of hotel rooms are on hold for our conference attendees. Please note:

1. Attendees must secure their own hotel room reservation.
2. To make a reservation, please call 1-855-209-5679. Please reference Reservation #38630 AND reiterate to them that you are part of a group block under the name of Wisconsin Hospital Association - WHA Physician Leadership Development Conference. This will alleviate reservations being made outside the designated block with possibly varying room rates.
3. After February 20, 2025 at 5:00PM, rooms that have not been reserved, in the room block, will be released.
4. Room rates are $198/night (Single) and $218/night (Double).

If you have any questions regarding your hotel reservation, please contact the hotel directly at 1-855-209-5679.

The American Club
We invite you to take advantage of everything that The American Club in Kohler has to offer. Visit their website here to learn more about this 5-star premier Wisconsin resort.

Meeting Attire
The attire for this conference is business casual. Also, remember that meeting rooms and public areas at The American Club may be cool. Please bring a jacket or sweater for your own comfort.

Questions
For questions regarding the conference, please contact the WHA Education department at education@wha.org or 608-274-1820.

Registration
Cost is $775/person and the online registration deadline is Friday, March 7. To register, please click here. After this date, please register in person at the conference.

Registrants attending the dinner reception at Destination Kohler Design Center, on the evening of March 14, are welcome to bring a guest. The cost for each dinner guest is $120.

Please note: Payment must be received prior to the conference beginning, in order for your registration to be active.

Payment Information
WHA accepts the following payment types:

Credit Card: Visa or MasterCard are accepted. Please note: There is a 3.5% service charge for all credit card payments.

Check: Checks should be made out to Wisconsin Hospital Association. If paying by check, please include a copy of your registration generated invoice and send to:

Wisconsin Hospital Association
Attn: 25PLDC
5510 Research Park Drive, Suite 200
Fitchburg, WI 53711

WHA Cancellation Policy
Cancellations received in writing up to fifteen (15) business days prior to the conference will be given a full refund less a $50 processing fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations received less than fifteen (15) business days prior and day-of-program no-shows. Substitutions are accepted.

Special Needs
Dietary special needs can be indicated through the registration process. If you have any other special needs, please contact the WHA Education department at education@wha.org

CME (Continuing Medical Education) has been applied for regarding this event. Please check back in the future for more detailed information

Sponsorship opportunities are available to WHA Corporate Members, only. If you are interested in learning more, please contact WHA Vice President of Education, Leigh Ann S. Larson, at llarson@wha.org

Developing Physician Leaders, including:
- Any physician who has recently taken on a leadership/management role
- Any physician with leadership/management potential
- Any physician who needs assistance making the transition from clinician to leader
Senior Physician Leaders, including:
- Any seasoned physician leader interested in enhancing his/her leadership skills
- Chief Medical Officers; VPMAs; Chiefs of Staff; Department Chairs; Medical Directors
Non-clinical, senior-level hospital or health system administrators/executives who accompany one or more physicians to the conference

$775/person

Eric Borgerding

President and CEO, Wisconsin Hospital Association

Previous to his current role, Eric Borgerding held positions as Vice President of Government Relations, See more

Chris DeRienzo, MD, MPP

Chief Physician Executive, AHA

Dr. Chris DeRienzo serves as Chief Physician Executive of the American Hospital Association (AHA) and See more

Andy Hillig

Director of Career Management Services and Executive Coach, LAK Group

Andy helps people and companies find their rhythm, get in sync, and discover real success. Andy joined the See more

Jeff Bahr, MD, FACP

Chief Physician Executive - Midwest Region, Advocate Health

As President of the Medical Group for the Midwest Region of Advocate Health, Dr. Bahr leads See more

Wendy Ledesma, MD

Chief Medical Officer, Sauk Prairie Healthcare

As a physician executive, Dr. Wendy Ledesma is a dynamic catalyst for positive change, an See more

As a physician executive, Dr. Wendy Ledesma is a dynamic catalyst for positive change, an innovator in provider wellness, and a tireless advocate for healthcare equity. With more than a decade of dedicated medical leadership, Dr. Ledesma has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in driving data-informed results in patient safety, quality improvement, and service line expansion within rural healthcare settings. Her passion for fostering physician and advanced practice provider wellness and advocating for diversity and inclusivity in healthcare delivery sets her apart as a true trailblazer in our field.

Chief Medical Officer of Patient Safety & Quality at Sauk Prairie Healthcare, Dr. Ledesma leads by example, caring for her team of providers and caregivers while spearheading leading-edge initiatives to deliver safe, effective, and patient-centered care. Her visionary leadership has resulted in numerous accolades and recognitions, including awards for patient safety, maternity care, organ and tissue donation, and joint replacement programs.

As if her professional accomplishments weren't impressive enough, Dr. Ledesma's commitment to community engagement and professional affiliations further exemplifies her dedication to serving others. Dr. Ledesma serves as a volunteer bilingual, bicultural provider at the Good Neighbor Clinic, a free clinic for rural patients with minimal or no health insurance. She is a mentor for undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, working with minority students from the same scholarship program from which she graduated.

Dr. Ledesma is a board member of both the National Association of Latino Healthcare Executives and the American College of Healthcare Executives Wisconsin Chapters. Currently Dr. Ledesma is pursuing her Executive Master of Business Administration through the University of Wisconsin School of Business. She is an international speaker on the topics of physician and provider wellness, physician leadership, and overcoming challenges to deliver medical care with a renewed passion. Outside of work you’ll find her cycling with coach Robin Arzon on her Peloton bike, driving her five kids to lacrosse or soccer, or enjoying time with her husband and friends.

Chris Woleske

Executive Vice President and President Bellin Region, Emplify Health

Imran Andrabi, MD

President and CEO, Froedtert ThedaCare Health

Since June, 2017, Imran Andrabi, MD, has been president and See more

Brad Groseth

Regional President - Western Wisconsin, Marshfield Clinic Health System

Ann Zenk, RN, BSN, MHA

Sr. Vice President, Workforce and Clinical Practice

Ann has served the Wisconsin Hospital Association as Vice President of Workforce and Clinical Practice since June 2017. As a member of WHA’s Government Relations (GR) team, Ann acts as See more

Nadine Allen, BS, MBA

Chief Quality Officer

Nadine Allen is the Chief Quality Officer for the Wisconsin Hospital Association. In this role, she provides See more

Events

2025 Physician Leadership Development Conference

DATE

LOCATION

Mar. 14, 2025

Registration and Breakfast

Mar. 14, 2025

Welcome and Speaker Introduction

Mar. 14, 2025

Why physician engagement is imperative in tackling external threats to patient care, and how physician leaders can shepherd physician voice to drive positive change

Mar. 14, 2025

Break

Mar. 14, 2025

Identifying and Addressing Current Challenges Impacting Physician Practice in Wisconsin

Mar. 14, 2025

Lunch

Mar. 14, 2025

Leading High-Functioning Teams: Habits of Systems Thinkers that Build Followership

Mar. 14, 2025

Break

Mar. 14, 2025

Leading High-Functioning Teams: Habits of Systems Thinkers that Build Followership, con’t

Mar. 14, 2025

Strategies to foster a positive, impactful physician culture within your organization – perspectives from physician and non-physician leaders

Mar. 14, 2025

Adjourn for the Day

Mar. 14, 2025

Dinner Reception

Mar. 15, 2025

Breakfast

Mar. 15, 2025

Welcome and Speaker Introduction

Mar. 15, 2025

Advancing physician well being – Survey of current internal and external strategies.

Mar. 15, 2025

Break

Mar. 15, 2025

An Executive Physician’s Personal Leadership Journey

Mar. 15, 2025

Closing Remarks, 2026 Announcement, and Adjourn

Conference Information

Registration Information

Continuing Education

Sponsors

Intended Audience

Cost

Eric Borgerding

Chris DeRienzo, MD, MPP

Andy Hillig

Jeff Bahr, MD, FACP

Wendy Ledesma, MD

Chris Woleske

Imran Andrabi, MD

Brad Groseth

Ann Zenk, RN, BSN, MHA

Nadine Allen, BS, MBA