Secretary Rhoades was a strong advocate for EMS
Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhoades died Saturday in Madison after falling ill last week, Governor Scott Walker announced.
Rhoades became the Department of Health Services secretary in February 2013. Before joining the health agency in January 2011 as its deputy secretary, Rhoades represented the Hudson area as its Assembly representative from 1999 until 2010. She was co-chairwoman of the powerful Joint Finance Committee is 2007 and 2008.
According to PAAW Executive Director Joe Covelli, "Secretary Rhoades was a friend and strong advocate for emergency medical services for 17 years. She could fluently discuss the issues. One of her sons is a volunteer first responder in Minnesota, and through him she felt a connection to EMS".
When serving as Assembly representative, Rhoades was credited with leading the single paramedic legislative effort in the early 2000's. The eventual law allowed municipalities 
the option to staff one paramedic per ambulance, not two as was required back then. "I recall our conversations about this and how she told me she wasn't giving up this fight to help rural Wisconsin residents get paramedic level care", according to Covelli. He added, "Once the single paramedic bill became law, she shared with me her Assembly counterparts gave her the nickname "bulldog", because she didn't give up on this issue. Her devotion to state government and interest in advocating for EMS will be missed". (Picture insert: Then DHS Deputy Secretary Kitty Rhoades welcomes Stars of Life honorees to the State Capitol in October 2011).
Rhoades, 65 years old and a native of Hudson leaves behind a husband and three adult sons.
