About the center

Oregon State University Center for Health Innovation

The OSU Center for Health Innovation is housed within the College of Public Health and Human Sciences. Founded in 2015, the center was created to address the health challenges of today and the future in innovative and collaborative ways.

We believe that by investing in our health organizations and workforce, we can find innovative solutions to our state’s most pressing health needs. We do this through strengthening connections between community, government and industry partners.

Transforming the current health care and public health system requires new strategic thinking. Through our work, we are committed to advancing OSU’s Vision 2030 goals of healthy people, a healthy economy, and a healthy environment.

Our Story

  • 2020: Center launches a COVID-19 call center, and an OCHI-led surge bench is integrated into the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID Response and Recovery Unit and provides more than 5,000 hours of support
  • 2020: Coast to Forest program launches to promote mental health and prevent substance use disorders in Oregon
  • 2021: Center supports statewide COVID-19 vaccination efforts among hard-to-reach populations and provided almost 200 hours of direct, non-clinical support to vaccination events and mobile clinics
  • 2021: Center launches “Foundations of Cross-Systems Care Coordination for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs and Their Families” in partnership with OHSU; begins development of 60-hour Health Care Interpreter training program intended to meet OHA requirements for certification
  • 2019: Center awarded grant to pilot healthy retail environments WINS data collection tool
  • 2018: Center co-hosts the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP) Pop-Up Institute
  • 2017: Center post-doctoral fellow, Megan Cahn, co-authors study on care navigators
  • 2016: The Center creates the Community Health Worker training course, which is accredited by Oregon Health Authority
  • 2016: The Center becomes a Community-Based Training Partner for the Northwest Center for Public Health Practice (NWCPHP)
  • 2015: OSU Center for Health Innovation founded
  • 2011: OSU becomes the first accredited school of public health in Oregon
  • 1868: OSU awarded land grant, becoming a “school for the people”