First master of social work degree
U-M offers its first master of social work degree (MSW) through the Institute of Public and Social Administration (later to become the Institute of Social Work in 1946).
SPH Professor Avedis Donabedian publishes the Seven Pillars of Quality. The Donabedian Paradigm forms the basis for the statistical model used to rank hospitals and health care facilities.
Michigan Comprehensive Hand Center for Innovation Research (M-CHOIR) established
M-CHOIR, the research arm of the U-M Comprehensive Hand and Upper Extremity Center, conducts a wide array of clinical and health services research.
Center for Managing Chronic Disease established
The U-M Center for Managing Chronic Disease (CMCD), dedicated to helping people control the effects of chronic illness by conducting research that develops new and better ways to support patients and their caregivers in disease management, is established at U-M.
The Curtis Center for Health Equity Research and Training is established
Located at the U-M School of Social Work, the Curtis Center for Health Equity Research and Training is dedicated to furthering society’s understanding of social and behavioral health conditions and to improve the lives of marginalized populations.
Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education is established
The Michigan Center for Interprofessional Education brings together the health science schools on all three U-M campuses to support the advancement of curriculum, culture, faculty development, and research to transform the future of collaborative health practice.
CHEAR becomes a fully recognized research center within the U-M Medical School.
Inaugural IHPI Clinician Scholars Program cohort
In collaboration with the National Clinician Scholars Program, IHPI’s first Clinician Scholars begin their two-year training program on addressing new and emerging issues related to healthcare delivery and improving the health of communities. IHPI’s inaugural CSP cohort includes nurse, physician, and pharmacist researchers.
Michigan Integrated Center for Health Analytics and Medical Prediction (MiCHAMP) is established
MiCHAMP is a multidisciplinary research collaborative harnessing existing national, regional and local healthcare data to develop medical prediction models that address complex clinical problems.
Acute Care Research Unit (ACRU) is established
ACRU represents a group of investigators based at U-M and a number of other institutions researching ways to improve Access, Costs, Utilization, Transitions and Effectiveness through multidisciplinary health services research across the acute care continuum.

Michigan OPEN launches
The Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network (Michigan OPEN), an initiative to develop a novel preventative approach to the opioid epidemic in the state of Michigan, launches with support from IHPI.
CHEAR establishes its Pediatrics Health Services Research Fellowship.
Center for Evaluating Health Reform (CEHR) is established
CEHR is charged with advancing our knowledge of health system reform through improving the process of academic research.
Center for Eye Policy & Innovation (CEPI) is established
CEPI’s work spans many areas of health services research in ophthalmology, collaborating across the U-M and beyond using an interdisciplinary approach to address some of the most pressing issues facing patients and the delivery of eye care.
IHPI launches National Poll on Healthy Aging
IHPI, with sponsorship from AARP and Michigan Medicine, launches the National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA). The poll taps into the perspectives of people throughout the U.S. to help inform clinicians, researchers, and policymakers about a range of aging-related topics.
Center for Improving Patient and Population Health (CIPPH) established
CIPPH works to address the most vexing problems faced by patients and vulnerable populations.
IHPI reaches 500 members
IHPI membership grows to 500 faculty across U-M.
The Concussion Center is established at U-M
The Concussion Center conducts multi-disciplinary research to answer crucial questions about concussion prevention, identification, diagnosis, management, and outcomes to advance patient health and support outreach and engagement programs for communities.
CHEAR receives a gift from alumni Susan and Paul Meister. The Center is renamed the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research Center.
Center for Precision Health Data Science established
The Center’s mission is to democratize the use of big data to improve human health by disseminating user-friendly analytic and visualization tools for health researchers aspiring to reduce disease and improve health for the population and the patient.
The Cognitive Health Services Research Program is established
The COG-HSR Program‘s mission is to perform interdisciplinary research, publishing, and training that aims to optimize brain health and impact public policy in order to protect and improve the health and well-being of individuals.
The Pivot Hub is established at U-M
The overarching aim of the Preventing Harms through Discovery and Innovation (Pivot) Hub at the U-M School of Nursing is to revolutionize thinking around preventing healthcare-associated harm through training, collaboration with healthcare systems, and research.
IHPI reaches 600 members
The institute grows from its original cohort of 318 members to 600 and counting. IHPI members hail from 18 U-M schools, colleges, and institutes, span 3 U-M campuses, and represent 20+ specialized health services research centers and programs.
Center for Disability Health and Wellness (UM-CDHW) is established
UM-CDHW develops and applies innovative research, clinical, and educational strategies to address inequities in healthcare access, quality, and outcomes experienced by individuals with physical, sensory and developmental disabilities across the lifespan.
The Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation & Research Center – Life Sciences Institute (CHEAR-LSI) Child Health Policy Scholars fellowship program is established.

IHPI Turns 10
On May 19, 2021, the Institute marked its first decade of developing, sharing, and implementing evidence and critical insights in healthcare policy and practice. Read more in 10 Years of Collaboration, Evidence, and Impact.