Impact Accelerator Program

IHPI is no longer accepting applications for the May 2025 program. Please check back for more information about future programs in fall 2025.

The goal of the Impact Accelerator Program is to help IHPI members expand the reach and visibility of their work 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, including a “half-life” your message session and an interactive faculty expert panel, where you will 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 other experts at U-M. 

Program Details

The program will take place over three days, from May 20-22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. each day at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens (1800 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105). IHPI will serve a continental breakfast and lunch each day.

Reflecting on what impact means to you

Understanding today’s policy and communications landscapes and defining the health policy issue you aim to address

Mapping out your target audiences and methods of reaching them

Learning how to describe yourself and your work for external audiences, including translating your findings and the resulting real-world implications

Brainstorming policy levers and identify what stages of the policymaking or clinical change process your work could inform

Practicing engaging with the media through a mock interview with a public relations professional

Drafting written policy-relevant products, including policy one-pagers and op-eds

Mapping out tangible next steps to amplify the reach of your work

Expected Outcomes

Participants will improve their 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 build relationships with cohort members, IHPI staff, and other experts, which you can continue to cultivate following the program.

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

Current IHPI members from any discipline, career level, and level of experience with policy engagement and health communications are invited to apply. The most successful candidates will be those who have research projects or findings ready to share with external audiences. 

Space is limited, so 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. 

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

Application Requirements

Applications are due by Monday, November 18, at 11:59 p.m. Members will be notified of acceptance in December 2024. 

Please fill out the online application on Competition Space. As part of the application, you will be asked to respond to the two prompts below and attach your CV or recent NIH biosketch.

• A brief description of your research portfolio and any initial thoughts on how your findings could inform policy or practice. 

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

Selection Criteria 
Applicants will be chosen based upon the following criteria: 

1. Demonstrated commitment to policy-relevant health services research. 

2. Potential for the program to further any goals related to policy engagement or research-informed communications. 

3. Able to meet the time commitments of the program (must attend all three days). 

4. Interdisciplinary representation within the cohort. 

Note: This opportunity is only open to current IHPI members. 

Thank you for your interest! If you have questions or would like to discuss the program further, please contact Sarah Wang at [email protected].

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.”

Robin Brewer

Ph.D.

2024 Impact Accelerator participant

Assistant Professor in the School of Information

“The Impact Accelerator program was the highlight of my year. I learned strategies for communicating my research in different formats (in-person conversation, policy briefs) and to different policy audiences (busy lawmakers, advocacy organizations, reporters). This should be required training for any faculty member!”

Daniel Hertz

Pharm.D., Ph.D.

2024 Impact Accelerator participant

Associate Professor of Pharmacy

“The IHPI Impact Accelerator program gave me a whole new perspective on my research. The guided sessions allowed me to focus my message and identify avenues for promoting my research beyond academia. I recommend this program to anyone who wants to maximize the impact of their research on society.”

Cathryn Lapedis

M.D., M.P.H.

2024 Impact Accelerator participant

Assistant Professor of Pathology

“The impact accelerator program was phenomenal. There were so many opportunities to meet and learn from driven and intelligent colleagues doing fascinating work. There were many interactive activities which allowed us to remember why we do this work, and to model how to translate our academic research to the media and how to think about how our work could influence policy. All the faculty and panelists were superstars, and it was such a pleasure to take time out of a busy schedule to reflect, spend some time in nature, and meet fascinating people who could help change how we think about our role and our research.”