Gabrielle Rude, CPHQ, PhD, President and CEO

On September 12, 2025, the WCHQ Board of Directors convened for their annual strategic planning retreat, setting the stage for dynamic action and future growth. Guided by President and CEO Gabrielle Rude, the session focused on expanding WCHQ’s reach, deepening partnerships, and leveraging their robust data infrastructure to drive statewide health improvements.

Actionable Insights and Key Takeaways

Expanding Member Impact and Diversity

WCHQ continues to invest in its members, with approximately half of revenue dedicated directly to member-facing projects. The organization’s strong support for grant applications and academic research has enabled over $30 million in funding for research partners. Members are encouraged to identify missing voices, share success stories, and help expand the organization’s reach to influence policy and improve health outcomes across Wisconsin.

Building Strategic Partnerships

The retreat featured a strategic dialogue with Simone Ikonomides and Jim Gaither of Novo Nordisk, focusing on actionable ways to collaborate with diverse organizations. Discussion centered on forging lasting relationships between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers, with a shared commitment to making obesity and chronic disease medications more affordable and accessible—especially for uninsured patients. Novo Nordisk expressed a keen interest in shifting from treatment to prevention and wellness, emphasizing upstream interventions. Both parties agreed this conversation was an essential first step toward lowering costs and improving health outcomes for all Wisconsinites.

Leveraging Data for Policy and Health Equity

Jolie Ritzo of Civitas Networks for Health showcased the organization’s role in data-driven, multi-stakeholder health improvement and WCHQ’s leadership at the national level. She highlighted key trends including state-level Medicaid changes, the push for interoperability, and new federal payment models. Jolie stressed the importance of using local infrastructure and collaborative partnerships to maximize the impact of upcoming rural health funding and advance health equity.

Industry Engagement: Trust, Transparency, and Compliance

During the first breakout session, board members focused on activating and expanding collaboration with corporate and industry partners. They emphasized the need for robust compliance policies, transparency, and leveraging grants to support member programs. Action points included building trust, sharing data appropriately, and developing partnerships that align with WCHQ’s mission while maintaining independence in clinical and measurement decisions.

Government Relations: Elevating the Voice of Wisconsin Providers

The second breakout session centered on WCHQ’s approach to engaging public health partners and policymakers. Gabrielle Rude outlined the proactive sharing of WCHQ’s high-quality, provider-driven data to inform decision-making and influence policy. The board discussed deploying data repository and mapping tools to provide district-level insights to legislators and stressed the importance of branding and attribution to ensure the value of WCHQ data is recognized. The session concluded with a call to action to close gaps in stakeholder engagement and clarify messaging for government audiences.

Looking Ahead

The retreat ended with heartfelt thanks from Board Chair Pete Bacon for the board’s strategic vision, open dialogue, and commitment to WCHQ’s collaborative mission

Stay tuned for more updates as WCHQ transforms actionable ideas into real-world health care solutions for Wisconsin.