More than 90 affiliates of the Hopkins Business of Health Initiative came together at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. last week for our annual fall retreat, kicking off the new academic year.
HBHI holds retreats twice yearly to foster connection and collaboration, reinforcing the initiative's commitment to building bridges across disciplines and institutions in service of advancing value, access, and trust in healthcare.
As HBHI approaches the conclusion of our first five years in action, this vibrant gathering serves not just as a community-building opportunity but as a pivotal moment for strategic reflection and forward-thinking collaboration. The program, split across two days, combined creative ideation sessions with research presentations and networking opportunities among colleagues united by shared purpose and research interests.
On the first afternoon, participants of the retreat engaged in a rapidfire Q&A session focused on the national health policy landscape with some of HBHI’s most knowledgeable policy experts: Melinda Buntin, Ge Bai, and Liz Fowler. Afterwards, a social hour and buffet dinner created time for colleagues to catch up informally and meet new faces.
The next morning featured dynamic breakout sessions where members provided feedback on HBHI's current initiatives and generated innovative ideas for the organization's next five years. Attendees then heard from ten HBHI faculty members and affiliates in HBHI’s signature” lightning talks” format, showcasing the breadth and depth of research expertise within the HBHI community.
Following lunch, the retreat shifted focus to collaborative brainstorming, with participants breaking into small groups to develop concepts for interdisciplinary, cross-school research projects aligned with HBHI's strategic pillars. This session generated numerous promising ideas for potential pilot programs and research collaborations.
The retreat concluded with another round of lightning talks from faculty members representing diverse research areas, from health economics and policy to clinical innovation and environmental sustainability. With renewed energy and vision for the year ahead, we thank our colleagues for this special time together.
Photos from the 2025 HBHI Fall Retreat
