Addressing Indiana's Most Critical Health Challenges

Through our partnership with the IU School of Medicine, we're advancing research, innovation and new discoveries that improve outcomes for patients across Indiana, from life-saving organ transplants to groundbreaking maternal-fetal procedures that give babies a healthier start in life.

Through targeted investments, innovative programs and community partnerships, IU Health is helping improve health outcomes and expand access to care across Indiana.

46%

Increase in breast cancer screenings (2023-2025)

11%

Increase in colorectal cancer screenings

1,000+

Hoosiers screened through the mobile lung screening program

16,000+

Healthcare providers trained in maternal and newborn emergency care

800+

Families supported through Nurse-Family Partnership

45

Counties served by the mobile lung screening unit

As a nonprofit health system, IU Health is committed to making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.

That means providing care that is accessible, affordable, innovative and world-class. It also means working beyond hospital walls and alongside government, community and healthcare partners to address the health challenges that have the greatest impact on Hoosiers.

Through our partnership with the IU School of Medicine, we're advancing research, innovation and new discoveries that improve outcomes for patients across Indiana, from life-saving organ transplants to groundbreaking maternal-fetal procedures that give babies a healthier start in life.

Through targeted investments, innovative programs and community partnerships, IU Health is helping improve health outcomes and expand access to care across Indiana.

Working together to improve the health of Indiana

As a nonprofit health system, IU Health is committed to making Indiana one of the healthiest states in the nation.

That means providing care that is accessible, affordable, innovative and world-class. It also means working beyond hospital walls and alongside government, community and healthcare partners to address the health challenges that have the greatest impact on Hoosiers.

Through our partnership with the IU School of Medicine, we're advancing research, innovation and new discoveries that improve outcomes for patients across Indiana, from life-saving organ transplants to groundbreaking maternal-fetal procedures that give babies a healthier start in life.

Through targeted investments, innovative programs and community partnerships, IU Health is helping improve health outcomes and expand access to care across Indiana.

Improving Cancer Prevention and Early Detection

Too many Hoosiers miss preventive cancer screenings that could save their lives, and Indiana has one of the nation's highest cancer mortality rates.

To address this challenge, IU Health launched its Cancer Screenings Program in 2024 and expanded the work through Project Prevention in 2026.

Key initiatives include:

Expanding lung cancer screening services and weekend availability
Identifying gaps in preventive screenings for breast, colon, cervical, lung and skin cancer
Using data to focus outreach in communities with the greatest need and lowest screening rates
Bringing preventive care closer to patients across Indiana

The results are already making a difference. Between 2023 and 2025, breast cancer screenings increased 46 percent and colorectal cancer screenings increased 11 percent, helping more Hoosiers access lifesaving preventive care.

We address the state's most critical health needs not only by bringing care to the people who need it, but also by developing the treatments that will improve and save lives for generations to come.

Featured Story: Mobile Lung Screening Program

IU Health's mobile lung screening unit has traveled to 45 Indiana counties, bringing early detection services directly to rural and underserved communities. More than 1,000 Hoosiers have received screenings through the program, reducing barriers such as transportation, distance and time away from work.

Advancing the Future of Cancer Care: IU Health launches Theranostics Center of Excellence

In 2026, IU Health launched the Theranostics Center of Excellence, a comprehensive program that combines advanced medical imaging, precision diagnostics and image-targeted therapies to deliver highly personalized treatment for patients with cancer.

Theranostics, which combines "therapy" and "diagnostics," uses advanced imaging to identify the extent of disease and its location, and then deliver targeted treatment directly to the disease. The approach enables physicians to personalize treatment decisions based on an individual patient's condition rather than relying on traditional cancer therapies.

Advancing Maternal and Infant Health

Every family deserves the opportunity for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy start for their child.

Improving maternal and infant health requires more than excellent hospital care. It requires strong partnerships, community-based support and coordinated efforts among healthcare providers, public health organizations and local leaders.

IU Health supports maternal and infant health through initiatives such as:

Equipping caregivers to save lives: Riley Children's Health's Perinatal Simulation Team has trained more than 16,000 healthcare providers in 46 Indiana counties, bringing hands-on maternal and newborn emergency training directly to the hospitals, clinics and communities that care for Hoosier families.
The Nurse-Family Partnership program
Community Impact Investment Fund grants focused on maternal and infant health
Community-based doula programs
Cradle Indy and the Maternal & Infant Health Scorecard

These efforts are helping expand access to care, connect families with support services and improve outcomes for mothers and babies throughout Indiana.

Featured Story

More Than 800 Families Supported

Through IU Health's Nurse-Family Partnership program, supported by the state of Indiana, more than 800 Indiana families have received support from trusted nurses during pregnancy and early childhood, resulting in outcomes that exceed many comparable programs across Indiana and the nation.

Read Full Story (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Reducing the Impact of Heart Disease and Hypertension

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and is a significant contributor to poor health outcomes throughout Indiana.

Many Hoosiers, particularly those in medically underserved communities, face barriers to preventive care and hypertension management.

IU Health partners directly with communities to bring prevention, screening and support services closer to where people live.

Through programs such as community-based blood pressure screenings, the iHEART initiative, and the work of the Indy Health District, IU Health is helping identify risks earlier, connect people with care and improve cardiovascular health outcomes in underserved communities. Through the iHEART initiative, more than 7,500 people with the greatest need received cardiovascular screenings from 2023 – 2025.

Featured Story

Barbershop health screenings help reduce blood pressure in Indianapolis communities

Indiana University Indianapolis is supporting an IU Health program that connects people to healthcare screenings and follow-up care through trusted neighborhood spaces.

Read Full Story (news.iu.edu)

Addressing Indiana's most critical health challenges requires more than delivering care today. It also requires investing in the research and discoveries that will improve care tomorrow.

Global Institute on Innovation Districts

IU Health helps drive discovery and innovation in the life sciences, which leads to better health for Hoosiers. According to recent research from the Global Institute on Innovation Districts, IU Health team members co-authored or contributed to more than 10,000 “discoveries” between 2015 and 2024. This tally ranked third highest among Central Indiana research institutions and companies.

Many of these IU Health discoveries have direct real-world applications. The research showed that 4.5% of these IU Health discoveries were commercially translated, meaning they were achieved in collaboration with private industry partners. These findings show that in addition to the leading role it plays in advancing Hoosier health, IU Health is also a key contributor to Indiana’s world-class life sciences industry.

Building Healthier Communities through Partnership

The health challenges facing Indiana cannot be solved by healthcare providers alone.

Whether expanding cancer screenings, improving maternal and infant health, addressing chronic disease or increasing access to preventive care, meaningful progress requires collaboration among healthcare organizations, government leaders, nonprofits, businesses and community partners.

These efforts reflect a simple truth: improving health requires collaboration across healthcare, government, education, business and community organizations.

Building a Healthier Indiana Together

Improving health takes more than excellent medical care.

It takes investment. Innovation. Partnership.

By addressing Indiana's most critical health challenges and working alongside communities across Indiana, IU Health is helping create healthier communities and a healthier future for Hoosiers.

That’s what nonprofit healthcare means to us.

Driving Discovery and Innovation

Addressing Indiana's most critical health challenges requires more than delivering care today. It also requires investing in the research and discoveries that will improve care tomorrow.

Global Institute on Innovation Districts

IU Health helps drive discovery and innovation in the life sciences, which leads to better health for Hoosiers. According to recent research from the Global Institute on Innovation Districts, IU Health team members co-authored or contributed to more than 10,000 “discoveries” between 2015 and 2024. This tally ranked third highest among Central Indiana research institutions and companies.

Many of these IU Health discoveries have direct real-world applications. The research showed that 4.5% of these IU Health discoveries were commercially translated, meaning they were achieved in collaboration with private industry partners. These findings show that in addition to the leading role it plays in advancing Hoosier health, IU Health is also a key contributor to Indiana’s world-class life sciences industry.

Building Healthier Communities through Partnership

The health challenges facing Indiana cannot be solved by healthcare providers alone.

Whether expanding cancer screenings, improving maternal and infant health, addressing chronic disease or increasing access to preventive care, meaningful progress requires collaboration among healthcare organizations, government leaders, nonprofits, businesses and community partners.

These efforts reflect a simple truth: improving health requires collaboration across healthcare, government, education, business and community organizations.

Building a Healthier Indiana Together

Improving health takes more than excellent medical care.

It takes investment. Innovation. Partnership.

By addressing Indiana's most critical health challenges and working alongside communities across Indiana, IU Health is helping create healthier communities and a healthier future for Hoosiers.

That’s what nonprofit healthcare means to us.