The Institute

Innovative leadership. Evidence-informed decisions. Collaborative solutions.

These are critical elements for Canada’s complex health care environment – and the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (IHPME) is creating the knowledge and leaders to deliver them.

Research

IHPME brings together leading researchers from a wide variety of disciplines to develop and translate innovative ideas into evidence-informed practices that improve the planning, delivery and outcomes of health care.

Responsible for more than $6.5 million in research funding each year, the Institute is making significant contributions to knowledge in the fields of system design, performance management, comparative health systems, health policy and health economics, health services research, quality improvement, patient safety, observational and decision sciences research, clinical trials and knowledge transfer.

Academic Programs

IHPME is developing Canada’s future health leaders and researchers through its outstanding educational programs:

• MHSc Health Administration – The MHSc in Health Administration combines expertise in health policy, business and management in a comprehensive program for health managers and professionals. The interdisciplinary curriculum reflects the Institute's strength in evidence-informed health management and policy and is further enriched by practicum placements under the mentorship of top health care executives. A MHSc Health Administration/MSW combined degree program and a MN/MHSc Health Administration combined degree program are also available.
• Master of Health Informatics – A new program, the Masters in Health Informatics (MHI) responds to the needs of the emerging discipline of health informatics. The MHI is designed to train health informaticians capable of leading organizational and health system change. The program combines expertise in health systems with applied knowledge in information and communication technologies.
• Master of Management of Innovation – The Masters of Management of Innovation brings together economics, management and technology transfer in a unique interdisciplinary professional program that prepares individuals for management careers in technology and innovation-focused organizations in the health care, research, government and industrial sectors.
• MSc/PhD Program – The Masters and Doctoral program provides a comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum with a particular focus on health policy, organization and management, e-health innovation and health services research. IHPME also offers a specialization in Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research and has an international reputation for excellence in training clinicians in clinical, health services and decision sciences research.
• Joint and Collaborative Programs – Joint and collaborative programs with other centres, departments, institutes, faculties and universities expand and enhance the program options available to IHPME students. In collaboration with five other Ontario universities, IHPME offers enhanced trans-disciplinary research training through the Ontario Training Centre in Health Services and Policy Research. IHPME also collaborates with universities and health technology assessment agencies in Canada and Europe to offer an international Master of Science degree in Health Technology Assessment and Management.
• Executive and Leadership Training – IHPME is committed to providing ongoing education for health care leaders. The Institute's highly successful Physician Leadership Program provides physicians with an intensive program to develop leadership and management skills. The Clinical Epidemiology Institute provides a week-long introduction to critical appraisal skills and evidence-based practice and policy for clinicians, decision-makers and industry.

Faculty

IHPME’s faculty members are leading thinkers and researchers. More than 100 faculty members hold appointments within the Institute, representing a wide variety of disciplines including health policy, organizational management, economics, law, clinical epidemiology, innovation, e-health and technology, sociology and political science.

A further 130 senior health care executives serve as adjunct faculty to the MHSc and MHI programs. The result is a unique combination of academic and professional expertise within the Institute and strong collaborative relationships between academic researchers and health care decision-makers and providers.

Knowledge Translation

The Institute bridges all three levels of health care – clinical, organizational and policy – and is committed to translating innovative ideas into practices that improve health care. IHPME is called upon to contribute ideas, information and analysis to discussions and decision-making at a local, regional, national and international level. Faculty members participate on committees, task groups, hospital and health agency boards and national and provincial research review panels.