The Center for Patient Partnerships Joins UW-Extension

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Resource navigators at UW Health Wingra Clinic

Training leaders for 21st Century health

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Research to elevate patient voices

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Advocacy that puts patients at the core

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Zooming out: Learning strategies for systems change

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Explore our work

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Our programs combine patient advocacy, health systems, and experiential learning to boost marketable skills.

Our courses

Two people sitting with hands folded on lapsAdvocacy

Graduate and professional students offer free advocacy services for patients navigating the health care system.

Advocacy services

doc seeing dad and daughter in officeAction research

The Qualitative and Health Experiences Lab team shines a light on diverse patient experiences, using findings to promote patient-centered care.

Research

Wisconsin State CapitolSystems Change

Students learn how to navigate legal and policy systems, identifying issues where they can advocate for change at a broader level.

Systems change

Wisconsin law school building on Bascom Hill

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Our Mission

By amplifying diverse lived experiences and patient-generated ideas for change, the Center for Patient Partnerships transforms healthcare to prioritize the well-being of patients, families and communities. 

Our interdisciplinary approach combines experiential education, action research, advocacy and systems change.

Our statement on racial justice

For two decades the Center for Patient Partnerships has prepared emerging leaders to take on complexity. Whether it’s in a classroom, in the community, or online, our approach grounds students in reflection, listening, and empathy that strengthens one of the key elements found in successful 20th-century leaders: Self-awareness. 

Our students, who come from a wide range of disciplines, learn directly from clients as they navigate complicated challenges that emerge within health care, human services, benefits, legal, and insurance systems. 

As we assist patients seeking safe, necessary health care options, we actively share patients’ stories with policymakers and people who design services to ensure that systems become more responsive to the lived experiences of people most affected by health, social, and economic problems. 

News

  • Welcome new LGBTQ+ Health Justice Coordinator

    We are thrilled to welcome Lily Katz as our new LGBTQ+ Health Justice Coordinator.  They will start with us on February 19th! Lily (they/them) is a healthcare quality improvement professional with a passion for LGBTQ+ …

  • Grob Publishes on Long COVID and Patient Feedback

    Our research partner Rachel Grob recently published two different articles, the first of which included in-depth semi-structured interviews from 2020 to 2022 with 25 people with experience of long COVID living predominately in the Midwest. The second article assessed whether …

  • All the Fall News That’s Fit to Print

    Our Fall Newsletter is available here.

  • CPPers Present at SMPH Diversity Summit

    Student Madeline Koengeter and Director Sarah Davis presented with Nurse Navigators Katrina Becker and Callen Smith at the October 5th  School of Medicine and Public Health Diversity Summit: Protecting and Advancing Trans Health.  Their breakout …

  • We Are Hiring: LGBTQ+ Health Justice Coordinator

    The Center for Patient Partnerships is thrilled to announce that we are hiring an LGBTQ+ Health Justice Coordinator. This new position will lead our LGBTQ+ service-learning education programming in which students help clients file insurance …

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group of students“CPP has been the most personally impactful experience of my graduate program. Through the coursework, but especially through the connections I’ve made with clients and fellow advocates, I’ve gained important understanding of healthcare from an individual to systems level.

My time at CPP has laid the foundation for a future career grounded in patient narratives.”

2020 Graduate Student
Law, Medical Sciences and Nursing 768

   All are welcome here.

The Center for Patient Partnerships and the University of Wisconsin-Madison
are located on unceded, ancestral lands of the Ho-Chunk people.