On March 1st, 2026, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin (GHC-SCW) celebrated 50 years since we welcomed our very first patient in 1976. As Wisconsin’s first member-owned, non-profit health care cooperative, we have always believed that our patients and members deserve a place at the top of the leadership structure, giving them a voice in their health care.
Throughout 2026, we are excited to reflect on the past five decades of milestones and continue to look for ways to maximize health and well-being for our south central Wisconsin communities. We are so thankful to all our GHC-SCW members, staff and community partners for being a part of our 50-year journey.
Continue reading to learn more about this year’s celebrations and GHC-SCW’s legacy of Better Together!
Our Founding Story
Started with merely 49 founding members, we have grown to serve over 70,000 member-owners across south central Wisconsin, bridging quality health care and health insurance together.
GHC-SCW’s story begins with the novel vision of early founding members: consumers of health care should own and direct the way that their health care is delivered. These members believed that preventive care was essential for lifelong health. They also wanted greater control of member costs as the established health system was notorious for high medical costs.
With only 49 founding members, the Cooperative faced an uphill battle of securing funding, building a quality care delivery system and establishing an organizational foundation that could sustain itself over time. Despite these challenges, the founders’ steadfast belief in the mission ushered GHC-SCW forward.
Each year, membership and staff grew, resulting in expanded care and growth opportunities. Access to a federal grant supported this growth and confirmed that GHC-SCW’s vision was a worthwhile investment for the health of Wisconsinites. And after celebrating our 20th anniversary in 1996, GHC-SCW was named the #1 HMO in the country. This recognition affirmed that GHC-SCW was on the right path, toward a future where member-owned health care cooperatives make a real difference.
Since these initial years, we have established five GHC-SCW primary care clinics and two specialty clinics to provide high quality, accessible care and health insurance to over 70,000 in Dane County and beyond. From physical and occupational therapy to behavioral health services to imaging and lab services, we continue to expand our offerings to support the changing needs of our communities. GHC-SCW is incredibly proud of our commitment to our founding members’ original vision, and we can’t wait to see where the next fifty years take us next!
Check out our history page to learn more: ghcscw.com/about-us/history
Celebrate with Us!
Throughout the year, we will be introducing community activities, opportunities to win prizes, sharing our history in member communications and more to celebrate our long history! Here’s a sneak peak of what you can expect:
- 50 Years, 50 Stories: We are collecting 50 stories through recorded and written interviews from people who have helped shape our Better Together legacy, including members, staff, employer group leaders, community partners and more. Videos will be shared on our website, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
- Clinic History Wall Installations: Each of our clinics will be getting new history wall installations, featuring our major milestones over the past five decades. Installations will occur on a clinic per month basis.
- Share Your Story or Staff Kudos: We want to hear from you! Members, staff and community parters can fill out this form to share their GHC-SCW experiences and memories. [ghcscw.com/form/share-your-story]. We’ll be sharing these stories with staff, our website, social media platforms, HouseCall and email communications to highlight GHC-SCW’s impact.
- Member Communications: 50th anniversary content will be shared in the monthly member emails, a special 50th mailer in April, our Spring HouseCall newsletter in May and across our social media accounts throughout the year. We will highlight key history events, community stories, opportunities to get involved and much more!
- GHC-SCW Legacy Trail Activity: Participate in our outdoor or virtual Geocache scavenger Hunt (with prizes!) starting on May 4, 2026. More details to come in the special 50th Anniversary mailer and on our website.
- Annual Membership Meeting: Participate in our 50th annual membership meeting and election on June 25, 2026. Thank You for 50 Years!
Thank you for being a part of our 50-year history as a member-owned cooperative. GHC-SCW looks forward to a year of reflection, celebration and growth as we continue to shape the Better Together legacy for many years to come.
Early Photo Highlights
GHC-SCW Opens Its Doors (1976)
Sauk Trails Construction (1993) and Open House (1994)
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Capitol Clinic Groundbreaking (1994) and Open House (1995)
Annual Service Dinner (1997) – GHC-SCW Named #1 HMO in the Country
