Welcome!

The Institute for Community Health (ICH) is a unique collaboration among three Massachusetts health care systems to improve the health of Cambridge, Somerville, and surrounding towns. The Institute was founded in 2000 by Cambridge Health Alliance, Mt Auburn Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital of Partners HealthCare.

The goals of ICH are to advance community health research; promote community health education and training; develop community action programs and policy; and forge linkages among health care systems, community partners, and academic institutions with shared community health objectives.

ICH’s work is based primarily in the cities of Cambridge, Somerville, and surrounding communities which have ethnically, economically, and culturally diverse populations. These cities have a strong tradition of collaboration among their city agencies, community organizations, and academic institutions.

Underlying all Institute work is a commitment to understanding and respecting diverse populations, safeguarding privacy, and building lasting relationships among partners.