The second in a series of summer/fall community forums on universal health care will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the Hillsboro Brew Pub, 815 Water Ave.
Titled “Our Dysfunctional Healthcare System: Which Way Forward?” the forum will feature a panel of three medical professionals: Dr. Mark Neumann, Emma Hood, RN, and Dr. Robert Jecklin, plus Ed Hoskin, a former resident of the U.K.
The goal of this forum series is for Vernon County citizens to have open, nonpartisan conversations about improving our current healthcare system. Forums are planned for Stoddard, Westby and Viroqua, with dates and times to come.
Neumann, a recently retired pediatrician who practiced in Africa, Madison and La Crosse from 1980 until 2019, will discuss what comprehensive single-payer coverage could look like in the United States.
Hood, who grew up and training in nursing in Canada, will contrast the Canadian single-payer system to the U.S. system.
Jecklin, who teaches in the public health programs at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, will discuss the reasons to improve healthcare in the U.S. Prior to teaching, his work included public health in South Carolina, HMO managed care in Chicago, American Cancer Society, and efforts to improve primary care, including Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers in Cashton and Norwalk.
Hoskin, who was born in Nottingham, England, is a special education teacher who lives in Holmen, Wis., with his wife and daughter. He will compare his experiences with the healthcare systems in his homeland and the United States.
The forum is sponsored by the Vernon County Democratic Party and is free and open to the public.
The Vernon County Democratic Party is dedicated to increasing civic engagement, informing voters, and promoting progressive values. For more information and to get involved, visit vernoncountydems.org or email vernoncountydems@gmail.com.