History

2004 - Development of a public health institute in Wisconsin had been discussed for many years. But actual planning for what has become IWHI began in 2004, when the Wisconsin Division of Public Health hosted discussions focused on institute options.
    
2004-05 - The Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) suggested what was initially called the Wisconsin Idea Public Health Incubator. The model was well received by the public health community and led to support for the next phase - development of an institute concept. 
    
2006 - WPHA requested that Nancy Young of GrayHorse Consulting facilitate a collaborative exploration effort to further develop the model’s potential with ten public health leaders in the state. The group of  “explorers” completed a gap analysis, refined the concept, and held their last meeting in July 2006.
 
2006-07 - An initial board of directors was formed in late 2006 and focused on start-up and strategic activities in 2007, with volunteer assistance from Nancy Young.
 
2007-08 - IWHI received its first two competitive grant awards in early 2008 and has now developed a web site, established an office presence in Madison, and named a part-time executive director.

 

 

Institute exploration group (positions listed are those held in 2005-6):


MaryJo Baisch, Director of the Institute for Urban Health Partnerships atthe University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee


Sarah Beversdorf, Wisconsin Public Health Association Past President


Ron Cisler, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Center for Urban Population Health


Stephen Hargarten, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin


Carolyn Jahnke, Office of Assemblyman JA Hines


Muriel Nagel, Director of Health Promotion, Public Health Madison-Dane County


Patrick Remington, Director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute


Geof Swain, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health; Center Scientist, Center for Urban Population Health; Medical Director & Chief Medical Officer, City of Milwaukee Health Department; Vice President, Wisconsin Public Health Association


Susan Turney, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Vice President, Wisconsin Medical Society


Susan Wood, Director of the Bureau of Health Information and Policy, Wisconsin Division of Public Health