Description/Overview: This symposium will describe the 30-year journey to EBP excellence at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC). This program’s demonstrated excellence and innovation began in the 1980s with the institution’s 1st EBP project focused on improving pain management, predating The Joint Commission’s regulatory standard. The program’s early visionary leaders formalized an academic and practice collaboration to support EBP innovation while addressing patient needs. The 1990s brought development and application of what has become the world-renowned Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care which continues to guide EBP globally. The Model has been widely adopted and adapted based on its practical steps for teams working through the complex EBP process. An early understanding of infrastructure and science for implementation began in the 1990s alongside the creation of the National EBP Conference. Now in its 22nd year, the conference continues to provide a venue to learn about leading-edge EBP topics from national leaders, nurse-led practice changes, and to actively engage in networking. The 21st century involved expansion of programs emphasizing mentorship of clinicians to increase skills benefiting patients in our organization and far afield. Since 2010, new tools and resources have been developed to support expanded EBP roles for nurses. Local, regional, and international requests to use these tools and resources occur weekly. This journey has led to integration of the Iowa Model and ultimately a pervasive EBP culture that supports questioning practice, working within shared governance structures, offering EBP education/consultation to all staff, utilizing resources/expertise to find the answer, using evidence-based implementation strategies, communicating practice changes at the unit/system level, building EBP into the strategic plan, and demonstrating a meaningful impact to patients, families, staff, and the organization. While the journey to EBP excellence is challenging, critical lessons from the journey will be shared.