Director's Message

Northwestern University’s Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM) envisions a future where all people are able to realize their highest possible health and well-being. We pursue this vision by advancing collaborative research and education that improves health and well-being for all individuals and their communities.

IPHAM members span over 50 departments in seven Northwestern University schools, partnering with numerous agencies, community and faith-based organizations, employers, health payers, and healthcare delivery systems. Together, our research and training programs are far-reaching and reflect the broad perspectives of our institution, of greater Chicago and of our nation.

IPHAM values the complementary strengths of all people, organizations, and communities, investing our time and resources in partnership capacity building, workforce development, and strategies to catalyze, support and disseminate many different forms of research, all in an effort to advance population health and health equity.

Health Equity

Health equity is the recognition that our world and our health are interconnected, and the absence of health in any one community affects the health of all of us. As such, we pursue a model of population health that advances care without exception to people or place.

IPHAM members work to identify and address obstacles that impede individuals from achieving their highest level of health such as poverty, housing, access to safe and affordable healthcare, education, healthy food access, and safe environments.

I want to welcome you to IPHAM and encourage you to get involved. Please explore our website and contact us to learn more about the many ways our Institute can help you to advance population health and health equity, here in Chicago and across the globe.

Ron Ackermann
Director, Institute for Public Health and Medicine
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine