Improve health and wellness of the people of Indiana and beyond

We have a responsibility for improving the health of all in our communities. Doing this requires developing and making interventions in education, research and clinical care in partnership with the community to promote health care access and outcomes for all Hoosiers. As the medical school partner to the only academic health system in the state, we are also responsible for providing the most comprehensive and innovative care, informed by all available patient data and the most up-to-date research.

Goals

Work with IU Health to improve community health in prioritized areas including infant and maternal mortality, hypertension, mental health, and addiction and smoking cessation.
Work to increase focus on promoting health care access and outcomes for all Hoosiers through our education, research and clinical care missions.
Work with IU Health to align destination clinical services with research priorities.
Work with IU Health to integrate principles of precision health into clinical care.
Improve the health of our faculty, staff and learners.

Objectives

Work with clinical partners, regional campuses and community organizations to improve population and community health for all Hoosiers with a focus on prioritized areas including maternal and infant mortality, mental health and hypertension.
Create a database of programs and volunteer opportunities for members of the IU School of Medicine community to participate in addressing health needs in their communities.
Increase emphasis on health span and access to health care across the missions.
Develop ways of measuring health IU School of Medicine community and dashboards for community health in prioritized areas.
Establish robust infrastructure for the implementation of precision health care (including platforms to support genomic medicine and interventions to improve health).
Make tangible interventions to improve support and wellness for faculty, staff and learners.
Ensure a welcoming and supportive environment for all in IU School of Medicine.

Metrics

Improve Indiana's overall health ranking.

Indiana was ranked 35^th in overall health in 2023.

Lower Indiana's infant mortality rate.

In 2021, there were 6.7 infant deaths (before age 1) per 1,000 live births.

Reduce Indiana's maternal mortality rate.

In 2020, there were 117.1 deaths related to or aggravated by pregnancy per 100,000 live births.

Increase the number of pediatric and adult specialties ranked by U.S. News and World Report.

Increase specialties in the top 10 from 2 to 5.
Increase specialties in the top 20 from 7 to 10.
Increase specialties in the top 50 from 10 to 15.

Share your feedback

We encourage bidirectional communication with our faculty, staff, learners, alumni and broader community. Please share your ideas on how to make the School of Medicine and our work better.

Email Whitney Garrison

Recent Stories

Department of Surgery bariatric team. | Photo courtesy Sarah Muntel

IU Surgery bariatric program makes impact on patients, future bariatric surgeons

For years, the Department of Surgery's bariatric team at IU Health North has advanced research and quality care while training the next generation of bariatric surgeons with compassion at every step.

October 15, 2025

Teens surrounded by smoke from vaping

Helping teens stay sober: Strategies for ending adolescent substance use

October is National Substance Use Prevention Month. Zachary Adams is helping Indiana’s youth stop using alcohol, marijuana and other drugs through proven intervention strategies.

October 13, 2025

Wen Danh works with a student in the simulation lab

IU-trained anesthesiologist assistants work in hospitals across Indiana, addressing shortage of anesthetists

The Anesthesiologist Assistant program at IU School of Medicine is meeting a critical need for anesthesia professionals. Graduates work in hospitals across the state of Indiana and beyond.

September 22, 2025