AcademyHealth CEO Lisa Simpson presenting

Since its inception, AcademyHealth has been advancing this field by acting as an objective broker of information, bringing together stakeholders to address the current and future needs of an evolving health system, inform health policy and practice, and translate evidence into action. As the professional home and leading national organization for health services researchers, policymakers, and health care practitioners and stakeholders, AcademyHealth – together with its members – increases the understanding of methods and data used in the field, enhances the professional skills of researchers and research users, and expands awareness.

 

We work year-round to fulfill our mission by:

  • Hosting conferences and events that highlight innovative health services research and provide insight into the state of health policy;
  • Offering programs, scholarships and fellowships, and learning networks that contribute to the financial, human, and data infrastructure necessary to improve the scientific basis of the field; and
  • Working alongside policymakers and providers at all levels to apply research evidence to real-world health care challenges.

AcademyHealth has a long and successful track record in this space. The organization was formed in June 2000, following a merger between the Alpha Center, a leading health policy resource center providing research analysis, facilitation, education, and training, and the Association for Health Services Research, a non-profit professional society for those with a commitment to health services research, whose mission involved educating consumers and policymakers about the importance of health services research, securing funding for the field, and providing networking and professional development opportunities.

Building on the strengths of its predecessor organizations and remaining ever-receptive to the evolving needs of the field, AcademyHealth has grown to become a trusted partner in the discovery and dissemination of timely and relevant research-based strategies to improve health and health care.