News Release

W. David Helms honored for translation of health services research into policy that improves care

Recipient of the AcademyHealth Chair Award has worked for research-driven policymaking for more than 3 decades

Grant and Award Announcement

AcademyHealth

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 7, 2011)—AcademyHealth today presented David Helms with its prestigious Chair Award, which recognizes a leader who has significantly contributed to moving health services research into policy and practice.

For more than three decades David Helms has been working to improve coverage and quality and reduce costs through leadership of knowledge-based, policy focused organizations at the forefront of our nation's health policy discussion.

The founder and leader of the Alpha Center, a non-partisan, non-profit health policy center that provided expert technical assistance, objective analysis and research, and comprehensive education and facilitation services, Dr. Helms' career has been built around the nexus of research and policymaking.

Under his leadership, the Alpha Center provided public and private sector policymakers with policy and technical assistance on a broad range of health care delivery and financing issues. In particular, the Alpha Center served as one the National Centers for Health Planning established by the Department of Health and Human Services under the National Health Planning and Resources Development Act.

In 1999, Dr. Helms assumed leadership of the AHSR, the only national membership organization formed exclusively to promote the field of health services research and to strengthen the relationship between users and producers of research. In 2000, AHSR and Alpha Center merged to become what is now AcademyHealth, the professional society representing the field of health services research and a leading provider of health policy analysis and technical assistance. He became director of the LMI Center for Health Reform in January 2011.

Dr. Helms is recognized as one of our nation's most experienced and skillful facilitators of high-level policy discussions, having overseen the development of hundreds of facilitation assignments, strategic consulting, and technical assistance engagements throughout his career.

His deft leadership and gift for convening disparate groups around a singular purpose have elevated the practice and application of health services research nationwide and earned him a place among an elite class of Chair Award recipients including Democratic Senator Edward Kennedy, Health Affairs founder John Iglehart, Republican Senator Bill Frist, M.D., and former AHRQ director John M. Eisenberg, M.D., M.B.A.

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AcademyHealth represents a broad community of people with an interest in and commitment to using health services research to improve health care. We promote interaction across the health research and policy arenas by bringing together a broad spectrum of players to share their perspectives, learn from each other, and strengthen their working relationships. Learn more at www.academyhealth.org.


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