Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research

The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research seeks to improve the health of individuals, families, and populations by understanding the problems, issues, and alternatives in the design and delivery of health care services. This is accomplished through an interdisciplinary program of research, consultation, technical assistance, and training that focuses on timely and policy-relevant questions concerning the accessibility, adequacy, organization, cost, effectiveness, and equity of health care services and the dissemination of this information to policymakers and the general public.

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This year the Sheps Center is seeking donations for GiveUNC to support the Distinguished Lecture on Health Services Research and Health Policy. Your contributions will help continue this important lecture series, which honors the legacy of Dr. DeFriese and promotes discussions on health services research and policy. Every donation makes a difference in sustaining this valuable educational event.

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Gordon H. DeFriese Lectureship 

The Gordon H. DeFriese Distinguished Lecture on Health Services Research and Health Policy is a cornerstone event hosted by the Sheps Center. This lecture series honors the legacy of former Sheps Center director, Dr. Gordon H. DeFriese, a visionary leader in health services research, and brings together leading experts to discuss critical issues in health policy and research. The lecture not only provides a platform for sharing groundbreaking research but also fosters collaboration and innovation among health professionals, researchers, and policymakers. 

Donations to the Gordon H. DeFriese Lecture fund are vital for sustaining this important event. Contributions help cover the costs of hosting distinguished speakers, organizing the event, and ensuring it remains free and accessible to the public. By supporting this lecture, donors play a crucial role in advancing health services research and promoting informed health policy decisions that can improve the well-being of individuals and communities in our state. 

History of the Lecture 

The Gordon H. DeFriese Distinguished Lecture on Health Services and Policy Research was established by colleagues and friends of Gordon DeFriese to honor his leadership as Director of the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his many research, teaching, and public service contributions to the people of North Carolina and the nation. The lecture was announced on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary celebration of the renaming of the Center for its first director, Cecil G. Sheps, in 1993. 

Gordon DeFriese has been a friend, colleague, and mentor to many individuals during his professional life. He assumed the directorship of the Sheps Center in 1973, just as the Center’s original five-year federal grant was about to end. At the time, the Center had two exceptional assets: a small, dedicated group of young faculty; and Gordon, who provided much of the vision, hard work, and know-how to ensure a future for the fledgling research program. As a measure of their success, when Dr. DeFriese stepped down as Director in October 2000, the Sheps Center was widely regarded as one of the premiere university-based health services research and training programs in the United States, a reputation that continues. In recognition of Dr. DeFriese’s contribution to the University, the UNC-CH Office of the Provost awarded the Center funding to support the DeFriese lectureship as an annual event.