The mission of the University of Wisconsin Department of Pediatrics is to promote and enhance the health of children through outstanding clinical care, exemplary education of pediatrics trainees, performance of cutting-edge research, and vigorous advocacy.
Pediatricians are natural advocates. In addition to daily bedside and outpatient clinical advocacy for individual patients, our providers practice broader advocacy activities as well.
Community Advocacy
We partner with local schools and community organizations to promote evidence-based, culturally centered solutions in children’s physical and mental health, and serve as board members on various local organizations. Every three years, we partner with UW Health Population Health to ensure a pediatric voices are included in their community-based needs assessment.
Legislative Advocacy
Children can’t vote and can’t necessarily speak for themselves, so we advocate on their behalf, whether that be for safe sports participation or effective vaccine use. We also serve as advisors on various governmental councils and to school districts.
Professional Advocacy
Many of our department members hold leadership positions within the American Academy of Pediatrics or other professional organizations. They collaborate with pediatricians across the state, country, and world to improve child health.
Communication and Media Advocacy
Department members impart their expertise through media interviews, op-eds, letters to the editor, and journal articles.
Our Partners
Advocacy in Action
Learn More
- Murray Katcher Child Health Advocacy Lectureship
- Pediatrics in the Media
- Publications
- Resources
- Contact
The Murray Katcher Child Health Advocacy Lectureship
Thursday, June 10, 2027 | 7:30-8:30 a.m.
Speaker: TBD
Murray Katcher, MD’75, PhD’72, emeritus professor of pediatrics, retired from the Department of Pediatrics in 2012 after 35 years as both a clinician and a focused, tireless, prodigious advocate for the health and safety of children and vulnerable adults. The Katcher Lectureship features speakers who address the challenges and successes of such advocacy. Learn more here.
For a full list of Department of Pediatrics members featured in the media, visit our Media Mentions page.
- John Williams, MD, talks with the Badger Herald about vaccine safety and misinformation.
- Dipesh Navsaria, MPH, MSLIS, MD, speaks to food insecurity and children’s health.
- James Conway, MD, speaks with NPR regarding what could happen to a child who doesn’t get vaccinated.
- Andrew Lewandowsi, MD, provides insight on how to protect your health after flooding.
- Elizabeth Goetz, MD, MPH, urges screening for common newborn infection.
- Christine Seroogy, MD, weighs in about raw milk in the New York Times.
- Laura Houser, MD and Mary Ehlenbach, MD, share their opinion on how school shootings can be prevented.
- Jim Gern, MD, shows that children in formerly redlined areas have increased asthma risk today.
- Jasmine Zapata, MD, MPH, shares where Wisconsin stands in the face of infant mortality rising in the U.S. for the first time since 2002.
Nacht CL, Contreras J, Ehlenbach M, McGregory K, Houser L, Allen BJ. Long-Acting but Reversible: Opportunities to Address Provider Bias in Contraceptive Care. Hosp Pediatr. 2024 Aug 1;14(8):690-699. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2023-007673. PMID: 39005135.
Klass P, Heard-Garris N, Navsaria D. Effective Communication for Child Advocacy: Getting the Message out Beyond Clinic Walls. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2023 Feb;70(1):165-179. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2022.09.015. PMID: 36402466.
McAdams RM. Artist’s Statement: Seeking Asylum. Acad Med. 2022 Oct 1;97(10):1437. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004841. Epub 2022 Sep 23. PMID: 36198156.
Zimmerman KO, Goldman JL, Schuster JE, Mena A, Quiriconi M, Butteris SM, Koval S, DeMuri GP, Mueller NB, Benjamin DK, Armstrong SC, Kalu IC, Boutzoukas A, Moorthy GS, Lane H, Weber DJ, Newland JG. Building a National Framework to Pair Scientists and Schools During a Global Pandemic. Pediatrics. 2022 Feb 1;149(Suppl 2):e2021054268D. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-054268D. PMID: 34737179.
Shah S, Brumberg HL, Kuo A, Balasubramaniam V, Wong S, Opipari V. Academic Advocacy and Promotion: How to Climb a Ladder Not Yet Built. J Pediatr. 2019 Oct;213:4-7.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2019.07.051. PMID: 31561780.
Child Nutrition
- AAP policy statement on “Advocacy for Improving Nutrition in the First 1000 Days to Support Childhood Development and Adult Health”
- Food Insecurity Toolkit
- Madison and Dane County Food Resources
Disabilities and Special Needs
General Resources
- AAP Children’s Health Care Coverage Fact Sheets
- American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy
- American Public Health Association Advocacy
- Children’s Hospital Association Advocacy Tools
Local Resources
- 2025-2027 Dane County Child Health Needs Assessment, Healthy Dane
- 211 Wisconsin
- Kids Forward
- Public Health Madison and Dane County
- The Rainbow Project
- Rise Wisconsin
- Safe Communities of Madison
- Safe Kids South Central Wisconsin
- Starter Guide on Policy and Advocacy in Wisconsin, Kids Forward
- Well Badger Resource Center
- WIC Dane County, sign up here
- Wisconsin American Academy of Pediatrics Advocacy
Safety
More Advocacy
Governor Tony Evers signs bill extending Medicaid coverage for birthing parents from 60 days to one year postpartum
On March 18, Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 102 (SB 23/AB97) extending Medicaid coverage from the previous limit of 60 days to 12 months postpartum for birthing parents. The Wisconsin Chapter of the American …
Dipesh Navsaria contributes to updated AAP Literacy Promotion policy statement
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages parents and caregivers to read aloud with their newborns and young children as an opportunity to foster loving, nurturing relationships during a critical time of brain development, and …
In memoriam: Murray Katcher, a tireless advocate for child health and safety
Surprise, sadness, and grief spread through the Department of Pediatrics as members learned that Murray Katcher, MD, PhD, emeritus professor of pediatrics, had unexpectedly died on July 13 following complications from a fall. Katcher joined …
- More Advocacy posts