Brief History

The Environmental Health Information Partnership (EnHIP) partnership began as a pilot project in 1991 called the Toxicology Information Outreach Panel (TIOP). During the late 1980s, and early 1990s, a number of published articles and books highlighted the adverse effects of environmental hazards on minority and socioeconomically deprived communities.

A clear need existed for toxicology and environmental health information to be more readily accessible to health professionals serving these communities. Recognizing this need, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) launched TIOP to strengthen the capacity of HBCUs to train medical and other health professionals in the use of toxicology, environmental, occupational, and hazardous waste information resources.

The value and success of the project later led to the NLM’s longstanding outreach program. The name was subsequently changed to the Environmental Health Information Outreach Program (EnHIOP) to represent the diversity of the participating institutions. Most recently in 2009, the name was changed to Environmental Health Information Partnership (EnHIP) to reflect a true partnership with NLM. The partnership encompasses a broader focus on the multiple dimensions of environmental health, the environmental health sciences, and health disparities.

Return to top