Zilber College of Public Health Seminar – From Data to Action: Building a Healthier Milwaukee County

Presented by:
Ben Weston, MD, MPH, FAEMS
Professor at Medical College of Wisconsin and
Chief Health Policy Advisor for Milwaukee County

Improving community health requires more than identifying problems. It requires bringing together data, evidence, partnerships, and public systems to turn what we know into action. In this moderated conversation, Dr. Ben Weston will discuss Milwaukee County’s approach to some of the community’s most pressing public health challenges, including drug overdose, motor vehicle crashes, violence, suicide, and cardiac arrest. Drawing on his roles at the intersection of medicine, emergency medical services, public health, and county government, the discussion will explore how data can identify opportunities for intervention, how partnerships can translate evidence into practice, and what we can learn from both successes and ongoing challenges.

About the presenter:

Dr. Weston is a Professor with Tenure in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He serves as Chief Health Policy Advisor for Milwaukee County working to enhance the health of one million citizens. In addition, Dr. Weston is the Chief Medical Director for the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, directing medical services for 15 fire departments with 120,000 annual patient encounters. Through strategic planning, effective communication and crisis management, Dr. Weston’s local, regional and national leadership has centered on community and partner engagement to advance population health and organizational achievement. He was recently among seven selected fellows to the National Academy of Medicine. He has been featured on MSNBC, CNN, BBC, and in The New York Times and provided medical oversight for the NFL, NBA, MLB, Indycar, and USA Triathlon. He practices clinically in the emergency department at Froedtert Hospital, a level 1 trauma center and is an NIH funded researcher with interests in prehospital care, resuscitation, health equity, and public health surveillance.

The seminar can also be attended virtually on Teams.