Mission of HIP

The Health Improvement Program, more popularly referred to as HIP, began in 1983 at the Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC). The Center was a pioneer in developing effective methods of health education and health promotion, including those for community-wide application. The Center's founder John W. Farquhar, MD noted that these methods could be applied to help the employees of Stanford University improve their health, and with the aid of Stanford's Benefits office, HIP was created. Since then, HIP has provided and expanded these services, primarily to Stanford employees and their families, but also to retirees, and, to a lesser extent, to surrounding communities.

Mission Statement:
The Health Improvement Program (HIP) models the science of healthy living by using translational research to promote wellness. Our primary work involves Stanford University faculty and staff, but our programs are shared and utilized around the world.

HIP aims to create a culture of wellness and increase employee productivity by empowering individuals to be self-managers of their health while also encouraging them to support the wellness efforts of others. HIP provides health education classes and group fitness classes, and advocates policies that support environments conducive to healthy lifestyle behaviors

HIP Goals:

  1. Serve as an organizational role model in the field of health promotion.
  2. With a strong foundation in science, use best practices to develop and deliver our program offerings
  3. Promote self-efficacy as the key to achieving health goals.
  4. Support a holistic view of wellness.
  5. Believe that program participants can serve as effective “agents of change.”
  6. Respect the diversity of the individuals whom we serve.
  7. Encourage participants to accept their current levels of wellness and lifestyle behaviors as they work along a continuum of readiness towards optimal health.
  8. Approach health from a non-judgmental viewpoint.
  9. Advocate a gradual approach to support sustainable behavior change.
  10. Be a collaborative organization.
  11. Remove barriers to wellness.
  12. Empower individuals to make educated choices concerning their lifestyle behaviors and their use of the medical system.
  13. Demonstrate the impact of health promotion programs.
  14. Support the missions of the Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC), Stanford Department of Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, and Stanford University.