Who We Are and What We Do
The Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance (WHHA) is a coalition of professional and health care organizations, community agencies, and public health representatives who share a commitment to improve heart health in Wisconsin. We collaborate to advance prevention, screening, management, and treatment of heart disease, stroke, and co-morbid chronic conditions. The group meets virtually twice a year on various topics.
WHHA exists to promote best practices, collaborative activities, organizational and professional relationships, and ideas that help to improve the heart health of all Wisconsin residents. The Alliance also commits to health equity as the highest guiding principle in all of its work as it recognizes that best practices have not truly been achieved until all disparities of care in underserved communities have been eliminated.
We welcome organizations and individuals interested in sharing their experience, training, advocacy, energy, and resources to improve heart health and transform health care. Email DHSChronicDiseasePrevention@dhs.wisconsin.gov to be added to our email list for future meeting announcements.
2022 Heart Health Equity Learning Series
Heart disease has been–and still remains–the leading cause of death throughout Wisconsin, even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to 2020, striking heart disease disparities existed that were exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19. Now, more than ever, Wisconsin organizations need to unite and commit to a focus on heart disease prevention, management, and health equity.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) and Wisconsin Community Health Empowerment Fund, Inc., collaborating members of the Wisconsin Heart Health Alliance, invite you to re-center your heart health efforts at our Heart Health Equity Learning Series, where you will hear about promising practices and stories of success from heart health experts. Come join us in reaffirming Wisconsin's commitment to heart health equity for all!
- Session 1: Tuesday, February 22, 2022: “Heart Failure in Black Americans: Differences and Disparities.” Dr. Alanna Morris, MD, MSc, FHFSA, FACC, FAHA, Emory University.
- Session 2: Monday, February 28, 2022: “Hypertension in the Time of Telemedicine: Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring.” Sonia Ayala, MA, LCSW, Esperanza Health.
- Session 3: Thursday, March 10, 2022: "Improving Hypertension Control in the Stroke Belt." Dr. Behling, Medical Director and Tammie Garris, Quality Improvement Director for Hope Health Centers of Florene, South Carolina.
- Session 4: Monday, April 11, 2022: “Working Together to Improve Heart Health Equity Across Wisconsin.” 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; Anne Gargano Ahmed, DHS Heart Health Coordinator.
