Washington University provides an exciting academic environment for the Center. As one of the world’s premier universities, it has a top-ranked school of medicine and great strengths in arts and sciences, business, law and social work. These academic units include many distinguished faculty who are actively pursuing studies in relation to health policy and are enthusiastic about the collaborative opportunities and new initiatives sponsored by the Center. The School of Medicine is closely affiliated with outstanding teaching hospitals (Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital) and with one of the world’s largest health systems (BJC HealthCare), which provides care for a substantial fraction of the greater St. Louis population. The affiliated teaching hospitals are among the community’s main providers of care for the poor and are the region’s largest providers of emergency and trauma services; hence, the Center for Health Policy's research encompasses a large and diverse patient population. The medical school, other university components and BJC HealthCare are leaders in efforts to enhance the St. Louis community. Active programs of neighborhood redevelopment afford unique opportunities for design and implementation of studies that could guide future health policy.