Health services research is by nature a multidisciplinary, applied science. Our members are seeking answers to real world problems, testing interventions to improve cost, quality, access, and equity, and evaluating the impact of policies and practices on the value and outcome of health care. It’s important, complex work that is still too often overlooked and minimized compared to its siblings in the continuum of health research.
It’s also really, really hard to explain to your friends and neighbors.
Most health services researchers don’t directly discover or cure diseases and many of our members spend their days on computers or in classrooms, not hospital rounds (But some do!). In fact, our work may be one or many steps removed from direct patient care. That’s because health services research doesn’t focus on one patient, but on systems of care that impact patients and populations writ large. The evidence our members generate helps decision-makers understand what works, for whom, in what setting, and at what cost – critical information that drives outcomes for all of us.
That evidence is powerful. For example, technical assistance delivered through AcademyHealth has helped bring evidence-based care to 250 clinics across nine states—touching the lives of 250,000 patients who will now have access to better, more effective care.But evidence doesn’t make an impact on its own.
AcademyHealth invests significant resources in making sure the insights generated by our community reach the people who need them most. We raise the visibility of the field, defend the value of research, and help translate complex findings into meaningful guidance for decision-makers at every level. We do this through proactive and reactive media outreach, offering training to improve the communication skills of researchers and advocates, and advocacy and education for policymakers.
This year, that work has mattered more than ever.
In 2025, AcademyHealth helped bring health services research into the national spotlight—appearing in outlets including The New York Times, KFF News, Politico, and STAT News. Our experts helped shape the public conversation about where evidence fits in a rapidly shifting policy environment.
When our analysis of federal grant data revealed a troubling halt in AHRQ grantmaking—no new awards since April 1 and sharply reduced ongoing grants—we raised the alarm. Coverage in STAT News amplified our findings and positioned AcademyHealth as a trusted, data-driven, nonpartisan voice. As a result, congressional offices began asking questions about AHRQ funding and the implications of the proposed HHS reorganization.
We also ensured the field’s voice was represented during major policy announcements. In coverage of CMS’ new Health Tech Ecosystem Initiative, AcademyHealth’s commentary provided sober, systems-level analysis in a conversation otherwise dominated by political spectacle and tech-sector enthusiasm. We elevated concerns about public trust, market incentives, data privacy, and implementation realities—underscoring the essential role of health services research in navigating complex, fast-moving health policy issues.
Beyond media engagement, AcademyHealth continued acting as a bridge between researchers, policymakers, and the public. A Washington Post op-ed from our CEO Aaron Carroll on strengthening trust in science, along with appearances on KFF’s What the Health? and Health Affairs’ This Week in Health, helped elevate the voice of our community. These efforts combined reached an estimated 3.6 million people in a single week.
In a time of tremendous competition for resources and airtime, AcademyHealth is amplifying the voice of the research community and demonstrating its value in policy and practice. As a 501c3 nonprofit, we rely on our members, partners, and donors to make this work possible.
As we close in on our Giving Tuesday goals, we’re asking for your gift to ensure those voices continue to be heard.
Help keep evidence in the headlines and at the heart of decision-making by donating here.