Rebuilding a healthcare association website on WordPress

Founded in 1931, this US-based healthcare association brings together a diverse community of scientists, clinicians, and researchers. With a national presence and a long history of advancing medical knowledge, the organization supports its members through grants, publications, professional programming, and networking opportunities. Its administrative offices are shared with peer organizations, underscoring its collaborative role in the healthcare research landscape.

By late 2024, the organization’s website had become a serious obstacle for both staff and members. Built years earlier on WordPress, it relied on static templates that were difficult to update and offered little flexibility for growth. Members struggled to find resources or access journals, often needing to log in separately or request help by email. Staff spent hours on manual updates because even small changes required code edits or developer assistance.

The limitations went beyond usability. The static design failed to reflect the vibrancy of the organization, content was scattered across disconnected systems, and accessibility gaps left parts of the community underserved. At the same time, leadership wanted the website to do more than just publish information. The new platform had to centralize benefits, support member interaction, improve storytelling, and prepare the society for future goals like monetization and personalized services.

Our collaboration started with discovery workshops that brought together staff and member representatives. Through interviews, content audits, and technical scoping, we developed a shared understanding of how members used the site and where staff processes were slowing down. Navigation workshops helped define a clearer structure for resources and member benefits, while accessibility reviews were built into the design from the start. Development then moved in phases, beginning with the content architecture, followed by member access integrations, and ending with migration and staff training.

Key initiatives

• Structured content editing. A Gutenberg block theme with Advanced Custom Fields PRO enabled editors to create complex layouts without writing code.
  
• Member interaction tools. BuddyPress and the Members plugin introduced community-style features and a gated area for dues-paying members.
  
• Unified access control. MiniOrange SSO (SAML-based) gave members one secure login for journals, benefits, and the website.
  
• Smarter workflow. WPForms automated registrations and submissions, reducing manual staff tasks and improving response times.
  
• Monetization readiness. Easy Digital Downloads created a framework for future sales of publications or digital products.
  
• Accessibility compliance. WCAG 2.1 AA standards were validated with WAVE and Lighthouse, ensuring the platform was inclusive for all users.
  
• Performance optimization. Redis object cache, Cloudflare CDN, and lazy-loading improved speed and reliability across the site.
  
• SEO-backed migration. Content migration with redirects and SEO checks preserved visibility and cleaned up outdated pages.
• Training and documentation. A detailed style guide, editor manual, and staff workshops prepared the client team for independent management.

Why these technologies

We selected WordPress with Gutenberg and ACF to balance flexibility with structured governance, giving the small staff more control without complexity. BuddyPress and Members provided community-building tools without the overhead of a custom build. MiniOrange SSO integrated seamlessly with the association’s AMS and journal platform, securing access with minimal disruption. Redis caching and Cloudflare improved performance for a site with nearly two million annual visits, while accessibility testing kept inclusivity central to the process.

The rebuilt platform gave the association a modern, reliable foundation to serve its members. Editors now publish structured content quickly, members access journals and benefits with a single login, and navigation is clear across programs and resources. What was once a static, difficult-to-manage site has become an interactive hub that reflects the vitality of the organization and supports long-term growth.

Outcomes show measurable gains in efficiency, accessibility, and member experience. Staff reported dramatic time savings on publishing, while members benefit from faster access to the information and tools they rely on. With performance and accessibility baked in, the site is now positioned to support future goals such as community-building and content monetization.

After launch, the client’s team began using the new site to publish content, manage member access, and connect journals with benefits through a single login. We’ve stayed engaged to support their staff as they adjust to block-based editing and explore new ways to use structured content. Together, we’re refining submission workflows, monitoring accessibility, and making sure the platform performs reliably.

Looking ahead, the focus is on extending functionality. Planned initiatives include rolling out monetization features for publications, expanding the member community area, and introducing personalization to tailor resources by specialty or career stage. These next steps will turn the platform into more than a website—into a true digital hub for collaboration, research, and professional growth.