The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice

 

History of The Dartmouth Institute

The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) was founded in 1988 by Dr. John E. Wennberg as the Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences (CECS). Among its 30 years of accomplishments, it has established a new discipline and educational focus in the Evaluative Clinical Sciences, introduced and advanced the concept of shared decision-making for patients, demonstrated unwarranted variation in the practice and outcomes of medical treatment, and shown that more health care is not necessarily better care. Healthy skepticism about new treatments and medical “breakthroughs,” an understanding of the risks and benefits of many common therapies and surgeries, and unique educational programs have produced more informed agents of change among physicians, health professionals, the media, and the public. Some of the major milestones in TDI's history: Dr. John E. Wennberg & Dr. James N. Weinstein

Pictured left, Dr. John E. Wennberg, Director Emeritus, TDI
Pictured right, Dr. James N. Weinstein, Current Director, TDI

Read more about Dr. Wennberg and the origins of TDI
First article on Small Area Variation published by John E. Wennberg in Science Magazine   Northern New England Cardiovascular Disease Study Group formed   First patient choice aids produced in collaboration with Center for Shared Decision-Making   MS and PhD degree programs in the Evaluative Clinical Sciences established  
  John E. Wennberg comes to Dartmouth   Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences established at Dartmouth   Outcomes Group formed   Paul Batalden forms Health Care Improvement Leadership Development section
               
1973 1980 1987 1988 1990 1991 1993 1994
1996 1997 1999 2000 2003 2004 2007 2008
               
  • First Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care published
  • Clinical Microsystems program started
   First in nation Center for Shared Decision-Making opens at DHMC  
  • Northern New England Cystic Fibrosis Consortium formed under Gerald T. O'Connor
  • MPH program begins
  
  • John E. Wennberg steps down as Director of CECS
  • James N. Weinstein succeeds John Wennberg as Director
  • CECS is reorganized as The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice
  • Six centers are established within TDI
  
 
  • Spine Center opens at DHMC under James N. Weinstein
  • PhD program graduates its first class
   Health Decision Research section established   Unique Leadership Preventive Medicine Residency program started  
  • The Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care: Tracking the Care of Patients with Chronic Illness marks 20th in series
  • John E. Wennberg receives the Institute of Medicine's highest honor, the Lienhard Award, for "his impact on the evolution of health care delivery in the United States."