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UW Health announced the creation of WorkForward, a new non-profit organization that is designed to bolster the national health care workforce. Building on the health system’s nationally recognized leadership in developing innovative career pathways in health care, WorkForward is the first employer-based intermediary in health care, aligning employers, educators, governing bodies and other organizations around shared workforce development goals and outcomes. WorkForward will guide and support efforts to build and scale innovative approaches to health care workforce development, drawing upon the sustained success achieved in the Madison area.
Jennifer Williams has been a nurse in the Trauma and Life Support Center at University Hospital for the past 13 years of her 18-year-and-counting nursing career, but nursing has always been part of the Madison native’s life. Williams, who goes by Jenn, is a fourth-generation nurse in the Madison area, dating back to her great-grandmother in the early 1900s. One of her most profound childhood memories is of her mother and grandmother saving a little girl while they were on vacation by administering emergency CPR. Then, a few years ago, the nursing family tree extended into her marriage when her husband, Andre Williams, who goes by Dre, became a nurse.
UW Health and the Green Bay Packers have announced a multi-year agreement for the health system to serve as the Official Health Care Partner of the Green Bay Packers. The partnership is extensive. UW Health and the Green Bay Packers will participate in joint community initiatives and fan-focused events throughout the year, and UW Health will have a highly visible presence at Lambeau Field. “The Green Bay Packers are a remarkable organization,” said Dr. Alan Kaplan, chief executive officer, UW Health. “They are one of the most successful sports teams in American history and are deeply dedicated to their millions of fans across Wisconsin and beyond. UW Health shares that strong commitment to be the best for our patients and the communities we serve.” UW Health will have a visible presence at Packers games and events, including permanent signage at the north entry gate of Lambeau Field and logo patches on Packers’ practice jerseys. The two organizations will collaborate on the highly impactful Packers vs. Cancer program to raise cancer awareness, education and survivor recognition. The initiative educates fans on the importance of early detection and screenings and raises funds to support cancer research, such as that conducted at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center.
The most recent release from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR), January 2026, confirms UW Health as the top-ranked heart transplant program in Wisconsin for several key adult outcomes, reinforcing its leadership as a trusted referral destination for patients with advanced heart failure. UW Health achieved the best adult heart transplant outcomes statewide for: Adult (18+): 3-month survival with a functioning deceased donor graft Adult (18+): 1-year survival with a functioning deceased donor graft Notably, UW Health outcomes exceed national benchmarks: 90-day survival rate: 100% at UW Health vs. 95.2% nationwide average 1-year survival rate: 97.5% at UW Health vs. 92.2% nationwide average These SRTR measures are among the most meaningful indicators of transplant program performance, reflecting not only surgical success, but also patient selection, perioperative care, post-transplant management and long-term follow-up.
As part of a landmark women’s sports partnership announced in September, UW Health will now be the official jersey patch sponsor of four University of Wisconsin–Madison women’s athletic programs, making it the first jersey sponsorship dedicated exclusively to collegiate women’s sports. As part of the agreement, which was facilitated by Learfield’s Badger Sports Properties, beginning with the 2026-27 season, the UW Health logo will appear on competition uniforms for basketball, volleyball, hockey and softball. The patch will be featured on both home and away uniforms. “We are incredibly proud to have UW Health, a trusted and longtime partner, as the Badgers’ first jersey patch sponsor,” said Chris McIntosh, director of athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. “Women’s sports have a powerful and storied legacy at Wisconsin, and UW Health’s landmark commitment sends a clear message about their support for our student‑athletes and the future we are building together for Wisconsin Athletics.” This jersey patch designation represents the next phase for UW Health as the official title sponsor for all Badgers women’s sports. As part of the partnership, UW Health will engage with female student athletes in various campaigns to share important health messages.
A childhood cancer diagnosis disrupts life for the entire family. The pediatric oncology nurse navigators at UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Center provide a consistent and compassionate point of connection as families move through each stage of treatment. From the very beginning of care, this specialized team partners with patients and their families, offering education, sharing tailored resources, and remaining readily available to answer questions and provide support during an overwhelming time. “Repetition is important,” said Emily Gulczynski, BSN. “Research shows that families can only absorb a small amount of information at once during a crisis like a new cancer diagnosis. For this reason, we revisit details about treatment again and again: what we’re doing, why we’re doing it and why their child may be feeling certain side effects. Sometimes we explain that, although treatment may make them feel sick, it’s ultimately helping them get better.” (Read more at the link below)
Dr. Mahua Dey, a UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center neurosurgeon, often operates on glioblastomas. Knowing how aggressive and deadly this form of brain cancer is, she is researching a new personalized vaccine that would revitalize the patient’s immune system to fight new cancer growth. “As a surgeon scientist, my approach to research is translational — a true combination of my clinical practice and basic science research,” Dey said. “Every tumor I operate on, we take it to the lab with three specific goals. One: to really understand the tumor biology. Two: to understand the immunogenomics of the tumor. And three: to leverage what we learned from one and two as a treatment opportunity.” According to Dey, glioblastomas are one of the most common, yet most aggressive, forms of brain cancer. Unfortunately, treatment options are limited and patients usually die within a few years of diagnosis. Brain cancers are more difficult to access and less prevalent than other cancers, leading to less research and fewer therapeutic developments. Dey is hoping to fill this gap. She is developing a vaccine that trains the immune system to fight new growth of glioblastoma. This treatment would be given after tumor removal surgery with the goal of stopping the cancer from returning. This is particularly important for glioblastoma, which has a nearly 100% recurrence rate because it is impossible to completely remove all the microscopic disease with surgery.
UW Health is introducing a magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, technologist apprenticeship program designed to address the increasing need for skilled imaging professionals and provide a new career pathway in advanced medical imaging. The use of MRI is rapidly growing in health care, offering detailed images without the use of ionizing radiation. Technologists play a critical role in patient care and diagnostic accuracy of MRI, operating complex imaging systems while ensuring patient safety and comfort, according to Bridgett Willey, director of allied health education and career pathways at UW Health. “This program is an innovative way to meet the growing demand for MRI technologists while supporting career advancement for individuals passionate about patient care and technology,” she said. The new apprenticeship program combines hands-on clinical training with focused classroom instruction. Apprentices will work alongside experienced MRI technologists at University Hospital, East Madison Hospital, Science Dr Medical Center and 1 S Park St Clinic, gaining practical experience in patient care, anatomy and image quality. The first cohort of five students were hired internally and instruction begins Jan. 12. A second cohort will start in August, with job postings expected in February.
In the fast-paced world of emergency care, nurse Sara Westra is a steady, compassionate presence. Her colleagues rely on her for guidance during critical situations—whether it’s leading a code, mentoring a new nurse or calmly navigating complex cases. With years of emergency department experience, Sara has become the person everyone turns to when it matters most. What truly sets Sara apart is her holistic approach to patient care. She doesn’t just treat the presenting complaint, she also looks at the full picture. Sara considers the medical, social and emotional needs of her patients, encouraging families to be active participants in care planning. Her empathy extends to everyone in the room, helping people feel seen and supported during some of the hardest moments of their lives. She brings professionalism, insight and unwavering kindness to every shift. For her leadership, mentorship and dedication to patient-centered care, Sara is honored with the Nursing Excellence Award in Emergency Services.
In Fall 2024, UW Health opened Eastpark Medical Center, a more than 475,000-square-foot, seven-story facility, and the largest medical facility to be completed in the United States that year. The first year the facility was open to patients exceeded almost every expectation, according to Teresa Neely, vice president and regional chief operating officer, UW Health. “We’ve seen some incredible responses from patients and staff to this new space,” she said. “Our weekly volume for appointments is above what we anticipated.” On average, there are approximately 1,050 clinic visits per day at Eastpark, or about 5,300 per week, as well as an average of 4,600 ancillary appointments — supportive or diagnostic appointments like imaging, lab, nutrition and rehab — per day, or almost 23,200 per week.
