Heart Disease: Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance
Heart disease is the leading cause of death throughout Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance is committed to equal, just opportunities for everyone to be healthy. The reality is that some people have worse heart health outcomes than others because of unfair and unjust environmental, economic, and social factors beyond their control. People who live on lower incomes, people who live in rural areas, and people of color face significantly higher heart health risks in Wisconsin. These disparities worsened with the impact of COVID-19.
Now, more than ever, Wisconsin organizations need to team up on our efforts to fight heart disease. Let’s unite and commit to an improved focus on:
- Heart disease prevention.
- Disease management.
- Health equity.
Who we are and what we do
The Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance is a coalition of groups who share a commitment to improve heart health in Wisconsin. The group includes:
- Professional organizations.
- Health care organizations.
- Community agencies.
- Public health representatives.
We work together to improve prevention, screening, management, and treatment of heart disease, stroke, and co-morbid chronic conditions. Our group generally meets virtually twice a year on various topics.
The Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance works to promote:
- Best practices.
- Collaborative activities.
- Organizational and professional relationships.
- Ideas that help improve the heart health of all Wisconsin residents.
The Alliance also commits to health equity. This is the highest guiding principle for our work. We recognize that best practices haven’t truly been achieved until we remove all disparities of care in underserved communities.
View the series recordings to hear about best practices and stories of success from heart health experts. We hope you feel promise for Wisconsin’s future. Join us in reaffirming a commitment to heart health equity!
2023 Heart Health Meetings
Heart Health Alliance Virtual Meeting
Tuesday, November 28
Prevea Health
Dr. Ashok Rai, president and CEO of Prevea Health
At this meeting we will engage in discussion on how we can improve collaboration and put those best practices into action to make measurable differences in improving heart health in Wisconsin.
2023 Heart Health Equity Learning Series
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Chronic Disease Prevention Program and the Wisconsin Community Health Empowerment Fund, Inc. hosted the second annual Heart Health Equity Learning Series.
In the two sessions, local and national evidence-based improvement tools were shared, as well as implementation and success examples.
Session 1: Tuesday, March 7
Preventative Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Joanna Dagenais, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, Director of Clinical Education
This session shares best practices from PCNA’s work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as tools and resources for all health care providers looking to address health inequities.
Session 2: Wednesday, March 15
Million Hearts®
Kinetra Joseph, MMC, Campaign Director, Alliance for Million Hearts®
Taylor Streeter, MPH, Health Scientist, ASRT Inc., Million Hearts®
This session features best practices, resources, and success stories on Million Hearts hypertension control and health equity strategies including:
- “Live to the Beat” and “Start Small. Live Big.” Campaigns
- Finding People with Undiagnosed Hypertension (“Hiding in Plain Sight”)
- Self-measured blood pressure monitoring
- Medication adherence
- March 15 video meeting recording
- Advancing Blood Pressure Control from Multiple Angles presentation slides
2022 Heart Health Meetings
2022 Heart Health Equity Learning Series
Session 1
By Dr. Alanna Morris, MD, MSc, FHFSA, FACC, FAHA, Emory University
Session 2
By Sonia Ayala, MA, LCSW, Esperanza Health
Session 3
By Dr. Ed Behling, medical director; and Tammie Garris, quality improvement director for Hope Health Centers of Florence, SC
Session 4
By Rebecca Thompson, Wisconsin Community Health Empowerment Fund president and CEO; Dr. Michelle Robinson, DHS Office of Health Equity director; Jonette Arms, DHS Division of Public Health assistant administrator; Margarita Northrop, DHS Healthy Wisconsin coordinator; and Anne Gargano Ahmed, DHS Heart Health coordinator
Heart Health Alliance resources from 2021 and before
View recordings from past Alliance meetings
Join our Alliance
We invite you, as an individual or organization, to join us.
Contact us if you’re interested in sharing your experience, training, advocacy, energy, and resources to improve heart health and transform health care.
Email DHSChronicDiseasePrevention@dhs.wisconsin.gov to get details about future meetings.