Doug is a second year law student. He was drawn to patient advocacy because his former position showed him the struggles people often have with the health care system, and wanted to help. Past experience with the health care system includes working with patients, doctors, nurses, and other professionals in Pulmonary Clinical Research at the UW Medical School.
Felice is a second year law student at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She was drawn to patient advocacy in part because of personal and familial experiences with the medical system, and in part because she has a long-standing interest in medical ethics. As an undergraduate student, she trained as an Emergency Medical Technician, and served as a Health Advocate for students in her dormitory. She has also helped the American Cancer Society in its fundraising and advocacy efforts. This summer, she worked as a law clerk for Clean Wisconsin, an Environmental Advocacy group, where she advocated for improved regulation of endocrine disrupting chemicals in ground water and drinking water. She is currently advocating in her community, as a Village Trustee, to make their community center accessible and ADA compliant.
Irene is a first year Capstone student. She received her BA in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and also works at Wisconsin Public Television. She has always been drawn to advocacy, and found that she has a passion for healthcare advocacy when called into action to advocate for family members dealing with long-term, complicated illnesses. To more fully engage in and understand the entire process, Irene has taken several healthcare-related courses, worked in a local emergency room, and currently serves on that hospital's Patient and Family Advisory Council and Health and Healing Committee. She is excited to be able to share her knowledge and assist patients and families navigate through the sometimes complicated healthcare system. Irene intends to continue her education after the Capstone program by pursuing a Masters in Public Health.
Jennifer is a 2nd year law student. She was drawn to patient advocacy because of her interest in public health, medicine, and interdisciplinary studies as well as her own personal experiences with the health care system. Past advocacy experience includes: interning for a human rights organization in Thailand where she taught legal rights to unmarried young mothers at a shelter in addition to teaching Vietnamese and Thai law students how to start a legal clinic and teaching teenage girls how to speak English at a juvenile detention center. In the past she has volunteered with homeless children. Past experience with the health care system includes: certification in health counseling from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. She was a legal secretary for a workers' compensation attorney, which allowed her to communicate directly with hospitals and medical centers on a regular basis. As an undergraduate, she interned in the public relations and media department and the video production department for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. She helped produce informational videos for patients and hospital employees. She also volunteered at a Kaiser Permanente hospital in high school.
Kathe is a registered nurse currently working at a hospital in Madison. Advocacy has been a cornerstone of my nursing practice for over 30 years. My primary obligation to the patient, in addition to providing safety and comfort, is to promote their personal journey through the health care process. My years of experience have given me knowledge and expertise to assist the patient in navigating the often intimidating and bewildering system. The Center will help me become an even better provider.
Kyla is a third year law student. She was drawn to patient advocacy because she recognizes that the healthcare system is something we all struggle to navigate and wants to strengthen her ability to provide legal assistance in this area. Her past advocacy experiences include working with the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence and spending a year as an AmeriCorps Member.
Ming-Yuan is a doctorial student in the field of health systems engineering. He was drawn to patient advocacy because he likes to help patients take a more active role in managing and improving their health and life. Past experiences with the health care system include family caregiving for his father, and various projects in telehealth, eHealth, and quality improvement.
Rosa is a 2L at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She was drawn to patient advocacy due to her experiences prior to law school working in healthcare in both social services and the non-profit sector. These experiences highlighted how daunting the entire process of healthcare can be for consumers, especially those with acute issues and needs. Her past advocacy experience includes working directly with consumers diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and female high-risk populations, as a programs administrator for minority and female cancer researchers, and in an organization working to prevent domestic violence and sexual assaults. She is excited to be working with the Center this year.
Vanessa is a 2nd year Law Student. She was drawn to patient advocacy because she would like hands on experience working with clients and she would like to use her education to help others whenever given the opportunity. Also she has a grandmother that she helps navigate the healthcare system so she empathizes with the difficulties people face with the healthcare system. Vanessa has experience working as a physician recruiter where she was responsible for finding doctors to work at various hospitals.
Students from the Fall 09 clinical.
Students from the Summer '07 clinical gather weekly to discuss cases. Back row, L to R: Wendy Nguyen (Med 1), Carissa Gottlieb (MS1, Population Health), Rachel Adams (Law 2), Barbara Conley (Law 3), Kim Nichols (MSW 1), Maura Heffernan (Law 2). Front row: Steve Grunder (Law 3), Brian Harahan (MD/PhD program, Population Health), Craig Johnson (Law 2), and Patient Advocate Pete Daly.Wendy Nguyen (MD expected 2011, UW - Madison)
When Wendy Nguyen, who grew up in Stevens Point, finished her college degree in political science, she sought an experience to prepare her for the clinical side of medical school. She wanted to learn more about what patients deal with outside of a medical setting. She came to the right place.
Volunteering at the Center for more than a year at the Center after finishing her undergraduate degree in biochemistry and political science, Wendy advocated with clients on a variety of issues, including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) reconsideration applications, coordination of care, end-of-life care, and research on clinical trials.
"My experiences working with clients facing a diverse range of healthcare-related issues will make me a more well-rounded and socially conscious physician," Wendy notes. "Anyone entering a healthcare field could benefit from this invaluable opportunity."
In August 2008, Wendy began her second year studying medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She also intends to complete a Master's Degree in Public Health.
Craig Johnson (JD 2009, University of Wisconsin Law School)
Originally from Green Bay, Craig Johnson grew up around healthcare and eventually studied politics and economics as an undergraduate. After completing his first year of law school, he came to the Center with a desire to apply his personal experience, knowledge and skills towards assisting clients navigate this complicated system.
As a student in our summer clinical, Craig advocated with clients on a variety of issues including insurance coverage and appeals, interpreting treatment options and government programs, and a research project on Wisconsin hospitals' Community Care programs.
"Being challenged with the responsibility to help real clients with serious situations has forced me to take strides as a professional and a person," Craig says. "I am confident that the experience, reward, and impact of working at the CPP make it the absolute best way to have spent the summer following my first year of law school."
Craig graduated in 2009 from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
