We are excited to invite UNC-CH community members to the launch of the Social Innovation in Health Initiative – UNC Hub (SIHI-UNC) on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 from 11 am – 1 pm. The in-person event will take place in 332 Rosenau Hall at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. Lunch will be provided for those who RSVP.

SIHI-UNC is a new hub within of the global Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) network. Our hub will be guided by the principles of equity, participation, and health innovation for the public good. Our hub aims to: connect social innovation in health researchers and practitioners across UNC-CH and North Carolina, offer trainings in participatory methods (such as crowdsourcing, co-design, designathons, and rapid prototyping), and evaluate the impact of social innovations in health. 

The launch event will include:

• A brief introduction to the global SIHI network and the new SIHI-UNC Hub led by Drs. Liz Chen, Weiming Tang, and Joe Tucker
• An interactive panel discussion with UNC community members who have engaged with SIHI projects
• An overview of opportunities for UNC faculty, staff, and students to engage with SIHI-UNC moving forward
• Time for networking

Whether you are working on innovative health/public health interventions, interested in participatory methods, or simply curious about social innovation, we would be delighted to have you join us and help shape the vision for SIHI-UNC.