Patrick Hammes, former Chair of the Children’s Wisconsin Board of Directors, has received the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) Trustee Award in recognition of his leadership, commitment to patient safety and dedication to advancing health care for children and families across Wisconsin. Hammes is CEO of Hammes Partners.

The WHA Trustee Award honors trustees of member organizations who demonstrate exemplary commitment to the hospitals and communities they serve. Hammes’ recognition reflects his longstanding devotion to advancing pediatric health care and strengthening the mission of Children’s Wisconsin.

“Those who nominated Patrick describe a humble servant leader who listens first, ensures quieter voices are heard and consistently puts the mission of Children’s Wisconsin and the needs of children and families first,” said Kyle O’Brien, President and CEO of the Wisconsin Hospital Association. “It is my privilege to be able to present this award to a trustee that is highly revered by his peers and some of Wisconsin’s most respected health care leaders.”

Hammes joined the Children’s Wisconsin Board of Directors in 2017, initially as Chair of the Quality Committee and later serving two terms as Board Chair. During his tenure, he helped guide the organization through significant strategic growth and transformation while keeping its mission and the needs of children and families at the forefront.

“Patrick’s leadership has made Children’s Wisconsin a stronger organization, better prepared to meet the evolving needs of children and families,” said Gil Peri, President and CEO of Children’s Wisconsin. “For more than a decade, he has kept us focused on what matters most: providing the best and safest possible care for every child. We are grateful for his service and the lasting difference he has made for our patients, our care teams and our community. He is extremely deserving of this statewide recognition.”

As Board Chair, Hammes helped oversee the implementation of a landmark 30-year affiliation agreement with the Medical College of Wisconsin, strengthening the organizations’ clinical, academic and research missions and ensuring continued access to specialized pediatric care for Wisconsin children. He also supported the launch of strategic partnerships with other Wisconsin health systems, expanding the reach and impact of Children’s Wisconsin across the region and beyond.

In addition, Hammes led Children’s Wisconsin through another important transition when former President and CEO Peggy Troy announced her retirement. He chaired the search committee, engaging more than 150 stakeholders to define what Children’s Wisconsin needed in its next leader. After a nationwide search, Peri was hired to guide the next era of Children’s Wisconsin. 

Hammes has been an advocate for a whole-child approach to health. Under his Board leadership, Children’s Wisconsin broadened its commitment to expand access to mental and behavioral health care, including embedding therapists in primary and urgent care clinics, a model that has received attention nationwide. He also helped shape how Children’s Wisconsin approaches the review of important clinical quality outcomes, championing the hospital’s participation in Solutions for Patient Safety, a national network of children’s hospitals that works to eliminate preventable harm.

A committed civic leader, Hammes serves on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, the University of Wisconsin’s Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking, and the Greater Milwaukee Committee.