As 2023 came to a close, we noted the many accomplishments of IHPI’s community of faculty, staff, and learners. We now move forward in 2024 and beyond with renewed momentum to tackle major challenges in health and healthcare through creative and collaborative research and public engagement.
Our collective impact over the past year has been substantial and wide-reaching, with IHPI members contributing expertise across a range of health policy topics. In November, for example, Chad Ellimoottil, M.D., M.S., testified before the U.S. Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Health Care about the urgent need for action to ensure continued telehealth access for people with Medicare and other forms of health insurance. And in December Ashley Gearhardt, Ph.D., testified before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee about the role of addiction to ultra-processed foods in the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
We were able to provide rapid evidence on timely, policy-relevant issues through the IHPI Policy Sprints program, including projects on coverage for sickle cell disease and the costs of key cancer medications.
The IHPI team piloted a new Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging in November, complementing the highly successful National Poll on Healthy Aging. The first Michigan poll report found nearly 1 in 3 older Michiganders reported they were victims of financial scams in the last two years.
And we ended the year on a high note with the Healthcare Leadership Council honoring IHPI with its Redefining American Healthcare Award, which recognizes the broad impact of the work of the institute, its faculty members, and research staff to inform policymakers, public health professionals, health system leaders, clinicians, and patients to optimize care for communities across the nation.
This month we are celebrating a notable membership milestone: Lianlian Lei, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychiatry, became the 700th IHPI faculty member! IHPI’s membership has grown steadily since 2011 from our original cohort of 318 members, and in collaboration with the stellar IHPI staff team, our collective impact also continues to grow.
Other notable events on the horizon for 2024:
- On February 14, we will host an LGBTQ+ Health Research Network kick-off event.
- On March 8, we will welcome Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, M.D., Director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, for the annual IHPI Director’s Lecture.
- On April 18, we look forward to in-person discussion and networking during our annual Member Forum.
- On May 21-23, a new cohort will participate in our highly regarded Impact Accelerator communications and policy training program, which launched last year.
Please contact me or Managing Director Trish Meyer with your ideas for engaging our community and advancing our collaborative potential.
I am energized by our IHPI community at the start of the New Year, and we look forward to continued engagement with all of you in 2024!
John Z. Ayanian, M.D., M.P.P.