The Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI) was founded in 2009 through the vision of CommonHealth ACTION, a public-private partnership established to improve the health of communities across the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Recognizing the need for a regional organization dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and systems change, CommonHealth ACTION helped launch IPHI to strengthen public health practice and address the region’s most pressing health challenges.

Seed funding from the National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI), The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States helped launch the organization and underscored the importance of investing in a regional public health institute. Within its first six years, IPHI grew to an operating budget of more than $3 million, supported by dozens of public and private funders, and expanded to a team of more than 35 staff members.

As IPHI’s regional mission and impact continued to grow, the organization formed its own Board of Directors and secured independent incorporation and 501(c)(3) nonprofit status in 2013. The first board of directors were:

• Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, MPH
• Ume Ahluwalia
• Jeffrey S. Cribbs, Sr.
• Michael A. Horberg, MD
• Jeffrey Levi, PhD
• Saul Levin, MD
• Margaret O’Bryon
• Norm Oliver, MD
• Alicia Wilson

On July 1, 2015, IPHI began operating as an independent nonprofit organization.

Since its inception, IPHI has grown into a trusted nonprofit partner, working alongside government agencies, healthcare organizations, community-based organizations, academic institutions, and residents to advance health equity and improve population health. The organization has expanded its regional partnerships and impact through initiatives focused on workforce development, chronic disease prevention, healthy housing, food systems, environmental health, and community health.

In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, IPHI was well-positioned to assist the region in responding. IPHI’s understanding, commitment to public health, and the organization’s scale were the perfect blend for rapid responses. In the height of the pandemic, we employed over 500 employees, many of whom were deployed to state and local health departments.

Today, IPHI continues to invest in the future of public health by leading workforce development initiatives, including the Mid-Atlantic Regional Public Health Training Center and programs that strengthen the community health workforce. Guided by a commitment to equity, innovation, and collaboration, IPHI continues to build healthier, more resilient communities throughout the region.

View our 15-year celebration photos.

View our 10-year recap.