Impact Accelerator Program

We are no longer accepting applications for the May 2024 program. Check back in fall 2024 for details on future sessions. 

The goal of the Impact Accelerator Program is to help IHPI members expand the reach and visibility of their work in order to make meaningful contributions to health policy and practice discussions, debates, and decisions.

This three-day program is designed to prepare you to navigate today’s policy and communications landscape; to frame, translate, and disseminate research findings for greater impact; and to identify and effectively engage with media and policy audiences.

You will develop skills to bridge the gap between research and policy through interactive skill-building sessions, practical policy and communications learnings and tools, and an interactive faculty expert panel to learn how other members have engaged firsthand with policymakers and the media. Sessions will be led by IHPI communications and policy & government relations professionals, IHPI faculty members, and external experts.

Program Details

The program will take place over the course of three days on May 21-23, 2024 from approximately 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105). We will serve a continental breakfast and lunch each day.
 

Define your health policy issue and clarify goals around policy and communications engagement

Identify your audiences by exploring the policy and communications landscape and practicing audience mapping with coaching from IHPI experts

Develop your key message and practice translating your findings for policy and media audiences through engaging sessions and an interactive “half-life your message” activity

Refine your online expert profiles and social media presence through a session on best practices paired with one-on-one coaching

Draft written products for target audiences through workshops on policy one-pagers, op-eds, and other opinion pieces

Create simple graphics to help your work stand out in presentations and on social media

Practice engaging with key audiences by participating in mock meetings with policymakers and reporters 

Map out your next steps for amplifying the reach of your work by developing an engagement roadmap and learning best practices from a panel of faculty experts

Expected Outcomes

You will come away with an improved understanding of how to translate, package, and amplify policy-relevant work for policy and media audiences. There will be opportunities to practice new skills through workshops and activities, and to connect with other members of the cohort, IHPI staff, and other faculty experts. 

You will develop an elevator pitch about yourself, talking points about your research, lists of key audiences and policy levers, dissemination strategies, and initial ideas for products such as one-pagers/issue briefs and op-eds or other opinion pieces. A workbook with tools, checklists, and handouts will be provided for you to reference during the program and as you plan to share future research findings.

Program Eligibility

IHPI members from any discipline, career level, and level of experience with policy engagement and health communications are invited to apply. 

For IHPI Clinician Scholars (National Clinician Scholars and Master’s Students): Because the curriculum includes similar training in policy and communications and given the limited spots available for this opportunity, current scholars are not eligible to participate in the Impact Accelerator program.

Space is limited, so please only apply if you can commit to attending the full three days. We ask that you hold the time on your calendar when you submit your application.

Application Requirements

Applications are due by Friday, November 17, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Members will be notified of acceptance in December 2023. 

Please fill out the online application, attach your CV or recent NIH biosketch, and provide responses to the following prompts: 

• A brief description of your research interest area and any initial thoughts you may have about how it relates to policy. 

• How will participating in this program help support any goals you may have related to policy engagement or health communications?

Selection Criteria
Applicants will be chosen based upon:

• Interest in policy-relevant health services research.
   
• The ability to meet the time commitments of the program.
   
• Interdisciplinary representation within the cohort.

Note: This opportunity is only open to IHPI members.

Thank you for your interest! If you have any questions or would like to discuss the program further, please contact Trevor Leatzow. 

Apply Here

Testimonials from Past Participants

Geoff Barnes

M.D., M.Sc.

2023 Impact Accelerator participant

Associate Professor of Internal Medicine

“The IHPI Impact Accelerator Program was some of the most high-yield time I spent this past year. I appreciated connecting with key IHPI experts who showed me different ways to increase the visibility and impact of my research. I also like how many of the sessions were “hands-on” and that we got immediate feedback on our ability to tell the story of our research in different venues.

Because of my involvement in the IHPI Impact Accelerator Program, I’m already working with the IHPI Policy Engagement team to develop a policy brief and connect with policymakers at CMS.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to take their research to the policy level as a way of maximizing their impact!  I would encourage anyone to set aside the time on their calendar to participate fully – it’s well worth it.”

Steven Broglio

Ph.D., A.T.C.

2023 Impact Accelerator participant

Professor of Kinesiology & Director of the Michigan Concussion Center

“The IHPI Impact Accelerator Program was a great way to better understand how to translate my laboratory research to a broader scope of individuals. After taking the course, my team and I started working with the State of Michigan to raise awareness about concussions, which ended with a proclamation from the Governor. I think anyone whose work influences health policy should consider the Impact Accelerator Program to expand the breadth of their influence.”

Nora Becker

M.D., Ph.D.

2023 Impact Accelerator participant

Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine

“My key takeaway from the IHPI Impact Accelerator Program is that communication and dissemination skills are just that—skills. They can be learned, practiced, and improved, just like all the other skills we use in our roles as researchers. The program gave me a chance to do exactly that, and my ability to communicate the results of my work effectively to the media and policymakers has improved as a result.”