Contact
Children’s Wisconsin
Name: Andy Brodzeller
Phone: (414) 266-4797
Email: abrodzeller@childrenswi.org
MILWAUKEE, Wis., March. 21, 2023 — Karen Timberlake will join the Children’s Wisconsin executive team on April 3 as a senior vice president for the system and as president of its Child Well-being division.
Timberlake will provide executive leadership of Children’s Wisconsin extensive community health and child well-being programs, as well as legislative, advocacy and regulatory issues. She will work closely with partners in the community, businesses, and private and public agencies to further critical child health initiatives.
“I am pleased to welcome Karen to Children’s Wisconsin, and for her to bring her diverse and extensive experience to our health system in support of our mission and vision,” Peggy Troy, president and CEO, Children’s Wisconsin, said. “For the past 10 years, we have expanded our efforts to improve kids’ health through collaboration and partnerships on the local, state and federal level. Her deep experience as a leader in health care reform, public policy, strategy and equity will help to advance these efforts.”
Timberlake’s career has focused on health care innovation, including working collaboratively with private and public sector organizations to improve health systems and address community drivers of health. Timberlake has served twice as secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services where she helped to improve access to mental and behavioral health services, respond to the infant formula shortage, address the opioid epidemic and overdose deaths, guide the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and worked to address disparities in health outcomes.
She was also a partner at Michael Best Strategies, where she advised on public health issues, health care delivery models and healthy community investments. Other positions included serving as the director of the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and as an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
“Children’s Wisconsin plays a critical role in advancing the health and success of kids throughout the state through its wide array of excellent services and its commitment to working collaboratively toward its vision that all of Wisconsin’s kids can be the healthiest in the nation. I could not be more excited for the opportunity to accelerate and expand the impact of this amazing organization,” Timberlake said.
The impact of her work has been recognized by various community groups. In 2022, Forward Latino recognized Timberlake as Health Equity Champion of the year, and the United Way of Dane County honored Karen for her community-building and philanthropic efforts.
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About Children’s Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin is the region’s only independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children. The hospital, with locations in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wisconsin, is recognized as one of the leading pediatric health care centers in the United States. It is ranked in eight specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary care, specialty care, urgent care, emergency care, community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services and family resource centers. In 2021, Children’s invested more than $151 million in the community to improve the health status of children through medical care, advocacy, education and pediatric medical research. Children’s achieves its mission in part through donations from individuals, corporations and foundations and is proud to be a member of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.
