Meet Dr. Jennifer Vipond, Congressional Candidate For Wisconsin

ELM GROVE, WI — This year's Fifth District congressional race features a new Republican candidate, Jennifer Hoppe Vipond. Vipond is challenging Representative Jim Sensenbrenner, who has held the office since 1979.

The Republican Primary vote takes place on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. Vipond's run for Congress in Wisconsin's fifth district marks the first time in history that a woman has run for this seat in office. Wisconsin's Fifth Congressional District covers all of Washington and Jefferson Counties, most of Waukesha and Dodge Counties, as well as three communities in Milwaukee County.

Patch reached out to her campaign to ask her what she would do if she were elected to the office. Here are Vipond's replies in her own words:

Name: Jennifer Hoppe Vipond MD

Age: 55

Hometown: Born and raised in Wauwatosa currently living in Elm Grove. I have also lived in Brookfield and Okauchee.

Occupation: I have been a pediatrician with Medical Associates/Prohealthcare in Waukesha for 27 years

Please characterize where you fall on the political spectrum (liberal/moderate/conservative, etc.): I am a fiscally conservative/socially moderate Republican

Please describe your relevant political experience: I am one of ten children raised in Wauwatosa and have been a pediatrician in Waukesha for 27 years. My husband and I have raised six children in District 5. I have been ingrained in this community my entire life and have been involved in the daily challenges and successes of thousands of families. While I do not have political experience I have intelligence, energy and an intimate connection with the people of District 5.

Please talk about the top 1 or 2 leading issues in your campaign and how you plan to approach them if elected:

I entered this race because I am frustrated by the lack of a sensible approach to healthcare policy. We need to address the actual cost of healthcare if we are to develop a sustainable and affordable policy. For years, Congress has issued policies to SHIFT rather than REDUCE healthcare costs resulting in American families crushed by out of control increases in the cost of care. We need sustainable healthcare policies now. As a physician, I have practical solutions to reduce healthcare costs. I will work to develop a policy based on price transparency, consumer driven price reduction, bundling of payments, expanded HSA's and population health systems. With a fresh approach to healthcare delivery and billing my employer has been able to reduce costs for Medicare patients by 28% while at the same time improving the quality of care. These are the healthcare changes we should be promoting at a federal level and we need physician guidance to ensure that the decisions made have input from a representative with a true understanding of what is happening to real people who need help.

As a pediatrician I have seen the effects of the opioid epidemic in all of its ugly forms. I have had patients die of overdose. I have had patients left orphaned and in foster care. I have seen the struggles of grandparents and other family members who struggle to keep families together. I have seen children subjected to horrible abuse while their parents were incapacitated. I have also seen a few patients hit rock bottom and manage to come back to a drug-free life. But in the ten years since I first had a patient die, I have seen very little meaningful legislation to combat this epidemic. Bills that offer hope are grossly underfunded. One bill, the Ensuring Patient Access and Drug Enforcement Act of 2015, supported by pharmaceutical companies and coincidentally passed unanimously by Congress, worsened the crisis and allowed huge shipments of pain pills to flood small town America. Clearly we need an experienced physician rather than special interest funded lawyers to address this problem.

I have decided to take a break from my practice for a maximum of six years to work toward these and several other goals including workforce development and school safety. My employer has offered me a leave of absence. I will not be a career politician and do not have or need the baggage of special-interest support. I will be working for the American people and specifically for the people of District 5.

______________________
Get Patched In:
Stay up-to-date with Metro Milwaukee News with Patch! There are many ways for you to connect and stay in touch: Newsletters and E-Mail Alerts | Facebook | Twitter
Submitted Photo