Solutions for whole, equitable health — at your fingertips

News of the Week is beginning a series of periodic updates about resources produced by the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership at Loma Linda University Health.

The Institute for Health Policy and Leadership is an active player in analyzing current issues, bills and laws dealing with health; curating coverage of key national news regarding healthcare, public health and science; and assessing implications for Seventh-day Adventist health systems.

Message from the Director: Wonha Kim

Hello! As the director of the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, I am delighted to share who we are, what we do and why we exist with News of the Week readers. The institute’s visionis to provide education, leadership and research regarding policies aimed at preventing disease, promoting wellness and restoring human wholeness.

To address policy issues facing vulnerable populations while building on the strengths of Loma Linda University Health, we have carefully chosen our strategic priority areas to be 1) mental health, 2) oral health and 3) hunger as a health issue.

The institute has been fulfilling its vision through a variety of activities including quarterly Spotlight on Health Policy events on campus, relevant policy briefs and issue briefs, the weekly Healthcare News At A Glance newsletter, the Health Policy Connection blog, the Faculty Scholars Program, collaborative projects and major conferences.

Founded in 2013 by Gerald Winslow, PhD, the institute team includes Helen Jung, DrPH, as senior health policy analyst, and Priya Vedula, MPH, as health policy analyst. The institute also brings together professionals with diverse expertise, including our Advisory Council, to generate innovative ideas regarding non-partisan policy solutions for whole, equitable health.

We are committed to developing proactive solutions to the health challenges facing our region, our nation and our world. By educating diverse stakeholders, including health professionals, policymakers and the public, we provide leadership on health policy for the 21st century.

—Wonha Kim, MD, MPH, is director of the Institute for Health Policy and Leadership and an assistant professor at Loma Linda University in the schools of Medicine and Public Health.