WHAT: The NH Citizens Health Initiative, a program of the Institute for Health Policy and Practice at the University of New Hampshire, will celebrate its 10th anniversary this month. Governor Maggie Hassan will speak at the event.

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Governor Hassan will attend from noon-12:45 p.m.

WHERE: The Southeast Regional Education Services Center in Bedford

BACKGROUND: Under the direction of Governor John Lynch, the initiative was formed in 2005 through the efforts of the Pillars Project, which was supported by UNH and Endowment for Health. At the event experts in the field of health and health policy will lead a discussion on New Hampshire's health future. Governor Maggie Hassan will attend to recognize all those who have contributed to the initiative's successful efforts over the past 10 years.

"The NH Citizens Health Initiative has benefited from the leadership and support of so many organizations and individuals in New Hampshire," says Yvonne Goldsberry, Endowment for Health President and NH Citizens Health Initiative Leadership Advisory Board Chair. "We look forward to continuing to foster dialog and support efforts throughout New Hampshire to assure a healthy population and create an effective system of health care."

The mission and goal of the NH Citizens Health Initiative is to improve the systems that finance and provide health care, by bringing together leaders throughout New Hampshire and supporting innovative efforts to improve health in line with the Triple Aim of "better health, better care, and lower costs" for all of the people of New Hampshire. These efforts have included, and continue to include, the leadership and guidance of business leaders, community agencies, medical providers and citizen members. The initiative has fostered the development of, and led many health improvement projects throughout the state, including the Pound of Prevention report, the NH Medical Home Project, the ePrescribing Initative, MapNH Health, and the NH Accountable Care Project.