AcademyHealth joins the health services research community in mourning the passing of John K. Iglehart, the founding editor of Health Affairs and long-time national correspondent for the New England Journal of Medicine. Known for his work in health policy journalism and for breaking down silos, he launched Health Affairs in 1981 with the mission of bridging the gap between people who make decisions about health care and those who study the health care system.
"John was a friend and partner to AcademyHealth. Under his leadership, Health Affairs became an Official Journal of AcademyHealth and a longtime partner in our National Health Policy Conference," said former AcademyHealth CEO Dr. Lisa Simpson. "He was a fixture at our meetings and events, sharing his deep expertise and unique perspective for the benefit of members and participants."
"John Iglehart was a great friend and colleague to me as I navigated the establishment of AcademyHealth through the merger the Alpha Center with the Association of Health Services Research," added Dr. David Helms who served as AcademyHealth President and CEO from 1999 to 2010.
In 2006, AcademyHealth recognized his tremendous leadership in the translation of research into policy with the AcademyHealth Chair Award.
"John leaves a lasting legacy in both media and health policy. A gifted communicator, he helped move evidence forward by bridging the gap between research and policy, building trusted relationships with leaders across the political spectrum. Doing so, he shaped the future of the journal and by extension, the field," said AcademyHealth CEO Aaron Carroll.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and all who were touched by his warmth, generosity, and optimism. He will be missed as much as he is remembered for his impact on the field.
Read more about his legacy in Health Affairs here.