Why She’s Running
Gillian lives in Wausau with her husband, Ben, where they have raised their six children. She is a recently retired physician who has practiced in Wausau, Marshfield and Madison and is committed to serving the working families, farmers and businesses in Central Wisconsin. She has seen firsthand the struggles Central Wisconsinites face from poor healthcare access, underfunded public schools, the current housing crisis and crumbling rural roads and bridges. Gillian has worked hard for over 20 years to keep working families healthy and she will continue that work as State Senator.
Meet Gillian
Gillian has dedicated her life to serving others. She started as a volunteer at age 12 in classrooms with her younger brother who has special needs, then as a camp counselor for special needs kids and adults in her twenties and finally, a physician. She spent much of her career dedicated to women fighting breast cancer in Central Wisconsin and volunteering in a non-profit organization in collaboration with the World Health Organization to help people across the globe. Service has defined her life.
Gillian (née Chapin) was born in Athens, Ohio and raised by her mother and stepfather after losing her dad as a toddler. She graduated from John Carroll University in 1992, where she studied biology with a special interest in fresh water fish. She attended Ohio State University College of Medicine, graduating in 1996, and completed residency at the University of Cincinnati with Board Certification in Diagnostic Radiology in 2001. In 2005, Gillian moved with her family to Wausau, where she still lives today. In 2010, she returned to training to complete the Breast Imaging Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Gillian has worked widely in the healthcare systems in Wisconsin, from rural hospitals and clinics to large academic research facilities. Her vast healthcare experiences span three decades and include patient care, teaching and non-profit work. Gillian has a special interest in healthcare systems in resource limited areas and has worked extensively in Central and South America building education and service programs so patients can access life saving local healthcare. She retired in 2023. Her experience and dedication bring a firsthand understanding of the value of accessible, affordable, and high quality healthcare.
Gillian married Benjamin Battino in 1995 after meeting in medical school. Ben has been a urologist in Wausau for over 20 years. They have young adult children who have grown up in Wausau, graduated from public schools and have deep connections there. Gillian and Ben are both avid runners and animal lovers. Gillian has had the opportunity to serve as a board member for various nonprofits including RAD-AID International (a radiology nonprofit for underserved regions of the world), CASA of Marathon County (Court Appointed Special Advocates, a children’s advocacy group,) Medical College of Wisconsin’s Regional Admissions Committee, and just recently, The Monk Botanical Gardens. (These affiliations are listed for identification purposes only and do not imply endorsement of her campaign.)
Gillian is running for State Senate because for over 20 years she has lived and worked in Central Wisconsin, and watched as her friends, neighbors, and patients have proudly worked and tirelessly fought for their families and their way of life. She believes there is something special about the connectedness of the small community she has raised her children in and which her family calls home. The same people she has cheered with on the sidelines of the soccer field or that taught her children are her neighbors, friends, and former patients. Gillian is proud of the education, healthcare, and beautiful outdoors that calls folks to this part of the state. And she is worried about the future of our small cities and rural communities.