Our Goal

Our goal is to establish a nationally recognized academic center that drives the development of evidence-informed health service and population health policies, prioritizes community engagement, and serves as a trusted resource for decision-makers, healthcare organizations, public health agencies, community groups, and policymakers. We are committed to building equitable, effective, and sustainable healthcare systems and improving population health outcomes through: 

  • Advancing Research-Driven Policy Innovation 

    • Developing, evaluating, and implementing research-driven policies at local, provincial, and national levels to enhance healthcare practices and population health initiatives through interdisciplinary research and collaboration. 

  • Building Capacity in Health Policy Leadership 

    • Training and supporting highly qualified professionals, equipping them with the skills required to address the complex challenges facing healthcare systems and population health. 

  • Strengthening Community Engagement 

    • Actively involving and engaging individuals and groups with lived experiences, amplifying their voices and insights, and promoting citizen and community involvement in policy development.  

  • Championing Health Equity  

    • Advocating for policies that address system inequities, prioritize marginalized and underserved populations, and promote fairness in health services and population health decisions. 

  • Enhancing Public Understanding

    • Facilitating informed dialogue on matters related to healthcare policy, population health challenges, and health system transformation. 

Through these efforts, we bridge research and action to improve healthcare systems, advance population health, and achieve better health outcomes for all. 

Within the O'Brien Institute for Public Health, the Centre for Health Policy leads the development and mobilization of health services and population health policies informed by evidence generated or gathered by Institute members and community partners. The Centre plays a key role in advancing the Institute’s priorities, as outlined in its Strategic Plan, and benefits from close integration with other Institute teams and focus areas:

  • Better Health Care – Policies aimed at improving the quality and sustainability of Canadian health care are supported by research from W21C’s Health Everywhere platform for digital health innovations, as well as Learning Health Systems research.
  • Healthier Populations – Policies that address the social determinants of health help ensure everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy life. These policies target challenges such as income insecurity, environmental health, mental health and addictions, and homelessness. The Institute’s Health Equity Hub supports research in these areas and promotes the use of evidence to inform decision-making.