Valued Voice

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) has named State Sen. Romaine Quinn (R–Birchwood) the 2025 Health Care Advocate of the Year. The award was presented by Spooner Health President and CEO Mike Schafer at WHA’s annual Advocacy Day event on April 9, which drew 1,200 hospital and health system advocates from across the state.

Spooner Health CEO Mike Schafer and Sen. Romaine Quinn

Schafer, a WHA Board member and constituent of Sen. Quinn’s, praised Quinn’s long-standing dedication to strengthening health care in Wisconsin. “A lawmaker’s support for hospitals is best demonstrated in moments when they’re under pressure to do something that could negatively impact us — and they choose to stand with hospitals,” said Schafer. “Senator Quinn is a consistent, influential voice for the health care needs of rural communities.”

A public servant since age 19, Quinn was elected to the State Assembly in 2014 and the State Senate in 2022, representing a district that includes eight Critical Access Hospitals. He was appointed in 2024 to the Legislature’s powerful Joint Finance Committee, where he has continued to champion budget priorities that benefit hospitals and patients statewide.

Quinn has been a key partner on legislation supporting workforce development in health care, including his leadership in expanding funding for Wisconsin’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program — which has provided 144 grants with 70 new health care training opportunities statewide, totaling more than $100 million of public-private investment. He also supported “next of kin” legislation to address delayed hospital discharges caused by unnecessary guardianship proceedings and has consistently supported increased Medicaid reimbursement for hospitals.

“I’m honored to receive this award and proud to support the hospitals that serve our communities,” said Sen. Quinn. “Health care is a pillar of rural Wisconsin’s strength, and I’ll continue working to ensure our hospitals have the tools and resources they need.”

WHA’s Advocacy Day is the state’s premier health care advocacy event, providing hospital leaders and advocates a platform to engage directly with policymakers. The Health Care Advocate of the Year Award is presented annually to a lawmaker who supports Wisconsin hospitals and champions health care issues.