WCC Member Spotlights

Immunize Wisconsin

The Immunize Wisconsin Coalition (IMWI) was founded in 2022 through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Stewarded by the Wisconsin Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the organization was developed to amplify the existing work being done by vaccination organizations and coalitions throughout Wisconsin.

The mission of Immunize Wisconsin is to create a healthier and more equitable Wisconsin through their commitment to supporting and amplifying the work of vaccination organizations. Their vision is to secure additional support to ensure the sustainability and longevity of IMWI, to maximize their impact, and to improve vaccination rates for children, adults, and families in all communities in the state.

Among the challenges the organization faces is vaccine hesitancy. Even prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy hampered the ability to keep our populations as safe from preventable disease as they would have liked. Since 2020, vaccination rates have plummeted and efforts to regain them have been incredibly challenging.

Previously eradicated, or nearly eradicated, diseases like measles, polio, and even mumps, have reappeared in U.S. populations. Flu rates have soared. One death from a preventable disease is too many. The charge for IMWI is to keep meeting people where they are, answer questions and stay the course. Facts are facts, but there are many barriers, especially from misinformation.

The IMWI annual conference, “Champions for Health: Boosting Vaccination Confidence in Uncertain Times,” will be held in Madison on May 14-15, 2025. Last year's attendance increased by 30%. Find out more at immunizewi.org/events/.

IMWI also holds a regular webinar series, and the recordings and presentation decks of those presentations can be found at immunizewi.org/events/#webinars.

As for the future, IMWI hopes to continue to create a strong vaccination ecosystem in the state, with dedicated partners and committed champions. Funding will be critical to the growth of the coalition. IMWI would like to provide a community platform for sharing best practices, collaboration among immunizers across the state, and continued support for up-to-date information and recommendations. They expect to need to fill ever-changing informational gaps that may be on the horizon in both the childhood and adult vaccination spaces.

To join the mailing list, and sign up for the Immunize Wisconsin listserv, visit their website at immunizewi.org. @immunizewi is up and running on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

American Indian Cancer Foundation

The American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) was founded in 2010, with the goal of eliminating the cancer burdens faced by Indigenous peoples across the United States. Through culturally-specific initiatives, research, and community-driven solutions, they work to reduce health disparities and empower Indigenous communities to take control of their health.

AICAF works closely with Indigenous communities and partners, providing culturally-tailored tools and resources that respect and incorporate Indigenous knowledge and traditions throughout the cancer continuum. They recognize that data erasure and underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples hinder efforts to address health disparities. Without accurate data, it’s challenging to assess needs and provide effective support to tribal communities. AICAF is dedicated to working with Indigenous leaders, researchers, and communities to ensure Native voices are included in data collection and analysis.

The AICAF commitment to innovation and community-centered leadership is strong. They believe the best solutions arise from within and prioritize listening to and working alongside their communities to understand their unique needs and gaps. Together, they strive to improve access to cancer screening and enhance health literacy, empowering Indigenous people to live healthier, cancer-free lives.

There are several exciting events on the AICAF calendar in 2025. In March, they will mark the 7th annual Blue Beads event for Colorectal Cancer Awareness, and in October, the 11th annual Indigenous Pink event for Breast Cancer Awareness. In November, they will host their inaugural conference to foster connection, knowledge sharing, and cultural engagement in addressing cancer disparities.

Collaboration is at the heart of their work, and they continually seek partnerships. Last year the Blue Beads event brought together two funders and 30 tribal and urban Indian clinics to create community-based colorectal cancer solutions, resulting in 444 people being screened.

Going forward, AICAF is committed to shaping the future of cancer care for Indigenous survivors and caregivers, while serving as a trusted resource for decision-makers and community partners. By fostering partnerships and advancing culturally-grounded solutions, they aim to lay a foundation for a future where cancer is no longer the leading cause of death for Indigenous people. Together, they will create a healthier, more equitable world for generations to come.

Molly Collins, American Lung Association

Molly Collins, accepting her Policy Change Maker award at the 2024 Cancer Summit

Molly Collins is the Advocacy Director for Wisconsin and South Dakota at the American Lung Association, where she works to expand healthcare access, champion clean air for all, improve the quality of life for those with lung disease and their families, create a tobacco free future, and end lung cancer. The Lung Association works toward those goals through research, education, and advocacy.

Molly was recognized by the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative with the Policy Change Maker Award in 2024. Molly agreed to tell us about her work for our Member Spotlight feature. Here is her story:

I spend plenty of time in the state capitol, but since this is the beginning of a new legislative session, I’m scheduling introductory meetings with all 40 of the newly elected legislators. I want to make sure they know about the Lung Association’s policy priorities, and how I can be a resource to them as they make law and policy that impacts us all.

I’m sort of a one-person department in Wisconsin, so I rely on a lot of organizational partners and volunteers for my work. We know that facts and figures don’t move elected officials as much as you might want – they need to hear the stories of people who are impacted by the problems that we want to address. I bring people with me to testify, or work with them to share their stories in the media or in a letter to their representatives. Last legislative session, I worked with partners and volunteers to defeat a bill that would have opened a loophole in our state’s clean indoor air law that prevents people from smoking tobacco indoors. It was very impactful when I was sharing my testimony in the committee hearing that I was also carrying with me the testimony of many others who would be harmed by allowing smoking indoors again. Unfortunately, I expect that bill might return this session, so we will be fighting that if it is reintroduced. If you hate the idea of returning to the smoky tobacco bars of fifteen years ago, please feel free to reach out and work with me on that!

The Lung Association has several other advocacy priorities, but one other big area is extending Medicaid coverage for postpartum people from the two months they receive to 12 months. We also expect to be doing defensive work to ensure that people who need Medicaid coverage can access it.

I work closely with the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative on their policy committee, because that is a group of people who care about so many of the same issues as I do. People who want to stay connected to my work might want to sign up for our Lung Action Network to get Wisconsin alerts. You can also just send me an email to Molly.Collins@Lung.org. I’m quite passionate about connecting individuals to the levers of power and helping them to advocate for meaningful change, so I’m always up for a chat about whatever state policy issue you are thinking about!

Wisconsin Department of Health Services Radon Program

Color coded map of the 17 Radon Information Centers covering all of Wisconsin (DHS, 2025).

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Radon Program leads statewide outreach efforts to educate the residents of Wisconsin on the health risks associated with indoor radon gas. Their goal is to minimize and prevent radon-related lung cancer in Wisconsin.

The Radon Program has long been a member of the Wisconsin Cancer Collaborative. They are the first organization to be featured in our new Member Spotlight, helping us know more about our fellow associates and the work they do to make progress against cancer in Wisconsin.

They encourage radon testing and mitigation among homeowners, business owners, renters, schools, and childcare centers; offer expert consultation on matters pertaining to radon and health; and provide leadership and financial support for radon outreach and education across Wisconsin.

The Radon Program has led radon outreach work in Wisconsin since 1989, and funds 17 regional Radon Information Centers (RICs) throughout the state. Each RIC has professionally trained staff in radon topics such as radon health risks and radon measurement. RICs offer radon test kits, usually at discounted prices, for residents in their region. Find your regional RIC by searching your county at https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/radon/infocenters.htm.

One of the challenges of radon work is that people don’t easily recognize radon as a health risk. Because you can't see radon gas or smell it, many people don't consider it a health risk until it's too late. While radon exposure doesn't cause health problems in the short-term, it can cause lung cancer after years of inhalation exposure at high levels. The radioactive particles from radon can damage lung cells over time, to the point where the cells become cancerous.

Radon testing generally increases during the winter, when doors and windows remain closed and provide optimal conditions for testing protocols. Additionally, National Radon Action Month is every January, and many regional RICs run awareness campaigns and offer free or discounted test kits to homeowners.