A quarter century advancing healthcare quality.
Founded in 1997 by Dr. Donald Lighter, IHQRE blends academic rigor with practical experience to help healthcare organizations measurably improve.
Our history
The Institute for Healthcare Quality Research and Education was founded in 1997 by Dr. Donald Lighter — a physician, educator, and quality improvement pioneer. From the start, IHQRE has bridged the gap between academic research and the real-world challenges facing providers, payers, and patients.
Over more than 25 years, we have trained hundreds of clinicians and operational leaders, supported organizations applying for Baldrige recognition, and helped health systems build sustainable improvement capability.
Advance the quality of healthcare through education, research, and practical improvement.
We exist to make evidence-based improvement methods accessible to every healthcare organization that wants to deliver better care.
Education and impact, side by side.
We don't just teach methodology — we partner with teams to apply it. Our engagements produce both certified improvement leaders and measurable patient outcomes.
Dr. Donald Lighter
Dr. Lighter founded IHQRE in 1997 to bring rigorous quality improvement methods into everyday healthcare practice. A physician, author, and educator, he has spent decades teaching clinicians and executives how to apply Lean Six Sigma, Baldrige criteria, and evidence-based management to improve patient outcomes at scale.
His books and curriculum are used in graduate health administration programs and by health systems worldwide, shaping a generation of improvement leaders committed to safer, more effective, more humane care.