Leading Health Economics Experts

Felix Koenig is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. His research primarily explores the drivers of economic inequality, with a focus on the role of technological change in the labor market. Dr. Koenig’s research studies the determinants of wages and working conditions. Recent work studies the dynamics of winner-take-all labor markets, where a few superstar workers capture most of the income, and illustrates the impact of modern technologies on the emergence of these markets. Dr. Koenig also investigates employment flows, focusing on the job market prospects for individuals affected by unemployment or disability and identifying barriers these groups face when seeking employment. His recent work extends to the non-wage aspects of work and the hiring and wage-setting practices of employers, highlighting how non-monetary factors influence job satisfaction and employment decisions. Dr. Koenig utilizes large-scale administrative tax data, historical US Census data, and household surveys. He employs modern empirical methods to study economic behavior and draw insights into labor market dynamics. Dr. Koenig holds a Ph.D. and MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford. Before his academic career, he worked for the German Bundesbank. Currently, he is a Research Affiliate at the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) and the Center for Economic Performance (CEP).

Lowell Taylor is the H. John Heinz III University Professor of Economics at the Heinz College, where he has been on the faculty since 1990. He is also a Senior Fellow at NORC at the University of Chicago, where he serves as Principal Investigator of the 1997 National Longitudinal Study of Youth (NLSY97).  He previously served as a senior economist with President Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisors.  In 2011, 2012, and 2017 he was Visiting Professor at the Economics Department, University of California Berkeley. Taylor’s research interests are in labor economics and economic demography.  Recent research includes studies examining public education and intergenerational mobility; racial differences in mortality; affirmative action in Indian higher education; the impact of the Great Migration on the mortality of African Americans; the impact of firm entry regulation on job creation in Portugal; inefficiency in U.S. health insurance markets; and the relative efficacy of healthcare provided by the Veterans Health Administration. He co-authored the first paper on gay and lesbian demography to appear in Demography. He is the recipient of the 11th Annual Health Care Research Award from the National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) for “Physician Incentives in Health Maintenance Organizations” (Journal of Political Economy, 2004), and the 20th Annual Arrow Award from the International Health Economics Association for “Unhealthy Insurance Markets: Search Frictions and the Cost and Quality of Health Insurance” (American Economic Review, 2011). Taylor is a three-time winner of the top teaching award at the Heinz College. HONORS University Professorship, Carnegie Mellon University, awarded 2018. 20th Annual Arrow Award from the International Health Economic Association, awarded to the best paper in health economics, 2012. For “Unhealthy Insurance Markets: Search Frictions and the Cost and Quality of Health Insurance” (American Economic Review). 11th Annual Health Care Research Award from the National Institute for Health Care Management, for excellence in original and creative health care research, 2004. For “Physician Incentives in Health Maintenance Organization” (Journal of Political Economy). Martcia Wade Award For Teaching Excellence, 1994, 2004, and 2007. Heinz College, Carnegie Mellon University.

Economist at U.S. Bank helping to understand both conventional and non-traditional economic indicators. Started my U.S. Bank career at branch #102 as a teller working to help pay for college. After college I had roles in the retail industry analyzing sales trends, supply chains, and pricing. After grad school I returned to U.S. Bank where my roles have included pricing strategy and forecasting prior to my current position. Attended Purdue University where I received a Master of Science degree in economics and have a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the University of Minnesota. Born and raised in Alexandria, Minnesota and maintain that “Main Street” view in an industry full of Wall Street opinions.

I am a learner, always eager to learn new things and expand my horizons. I also love to share my learnings even if 1 out of 100 people learn from me, its worth the effort.

Chris Telmer is an Associate Professor of Financial Economics at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business. His research interests include the effect of government subsidies on the financing of renewable energy assets, consumption behavior, exchange rate behavior, the effects of labor-market risk on financial markets, and intergenerational mobility. Prior to joining the Tepper School in 1993, he studied at The University of Western Ontario (BA Hons., 1986) and Queen's University at Kingston (PhD, 1992). He has been a visiting scholar in the Federal Reserve System and at universities in Canada, Chile, Japan, Spain and Sweden. He has served as an educational consultant in Japan, The Russian Federation, Spain, Ukraine and on Wall Street. In 1995 he was awarded the Undergraduate Teaching Award, and in 2001 he was awarded the George Leland Bach Award for MBA Teaching, both at the Tepper School of Business. He grew up in the Toronto area and remains an avid supporter of the Maple Leafs.

Burton Hollifield is the PNC Professor of Financial Economics at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Hollifield has taught courses in Investments, Corporation Finance, Portfolio Management, and Fixed Income at the Graduate and Undergraduate programs at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of British Columbia. He has won the George Leland Bach teaching award in the MBA program and the Undergraduate Teaching Award at Carnegie Mellon University. Professor Hollifield has served on the editorial boards of several academic journals including the Journal of Finance, Review of Economic Studies, Review of Finance, Journal of Financial Intermediation, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, and Management Science, and is a board member for the Carnegie Rochester NYU Conference on Public Policy, and is  the opast President Elect at Western Financial Association. Professor Hollifield's research interests include portfolio theory, market microstructure, bond microstructure, and dynamic asset pricing theory.

Laurence Ales is Professor of Economics at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business. Professor Ales is currently the Senior Associate Dean for Education at the Tepper School overseeing all the educational portfolio of the school. He joined CMU in 2008. He received a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Minnesota in 2008 and a B.S. in Physics from the University of Rome Tor Vergata. His research focuses on the design of tax policy and on the labor implication of technological change. Recent work has analyzed how to tax the labor income of highly paid CEOs and how taxes should be designed taking into account location of work and marital status. Looking at the impact of technology Professor Ales has  studied how different types of technologies generate different patterns of task automation. His research has been published in journals such as Econometrica, the American Economic Review, and the Journal of Economic Theory.  At the Tepper School, Professor Ales currently teaches courses for the MBA program and for Executive Education.

Dr. Stephen E. Spear is a Professor of Economics at the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University, where he has been a faculty member since 1982. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has made significant contributions to economic theory, particularly in the areas of rational expectations, overlapping generations models, and dynamic economic models. His extensive publication record includes influential articles in top-tier journals such as Econometrica, the Journal of Political Economy, the Review of Economic Studies, and the Journal of Economic Theory. He serves as an Associate Editor for Macroeconomic Dynamics and is a Fellow of the Society for Economic Measurement and the Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory.

Dr. Akshaya Srikanth Bhagavathula is an Associate Professor of Epidemiology at North Dakota State University, internationally recognized for his pioneering work at the intersection of digital epidemiology, pharmacovigilance, and artificial intelligence. His research harnesses advanced statistical modeling and AI to track and predict health behaviors, medication safety, and disease patterns in real time—bridging traditional epidemiology with next-generation digital health analytics. Dr. Bhagavathula has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Annals of Epidemiology, JAMA Network Open, and Lancet Digital Health. His work has been widely cited and featured in major media outlets such as The New York Times, where he discussed the real-world safety of GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro). Recognized among the Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% of Scientists (2019–2024) and elected as a Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, Dr. Bhagavathula is known for translating complex data into actionable insights that shape public health policy and clinical practice. His ongoing projects include NIH- and NSF-aligned initiatives on AI-powered overdose forecasting, digital twins for public health, and real-world drug safety surveillance using explainable machine learning. With a decade of experience spanning more than two dozen countries and collaborations with organizations such as WHO, USAID, and UNICEF, Dr. Bhagavathula brings a global, data-driven, and human-centered approach to solving modern health crises.

Dr. Jagdish Khubchandani is a Professor of Public Health at New Mexico State University (NMSU), known for his extensive research and expertise in global health and social epidemiology

Karen Clay is the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy. She holds courtesy appointments at the Tepper School of Business and in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy, is a Senior Fellow at the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation at Carnegie Mellon, is an affiliated faculty member at the University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, and is a research associate at the NBER. Professor Clay's research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and the Sloan Foundation. Her work has been published in the Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, and American Economic Review, Papers and Proceedings. Before coming to Carnegie Mellon, Karen Clay was an assistant professor at the University of Toronto.

Danetha Doe is an economist, investor, and founder of Money & Mimosas. Since 2014, Money & Mimosas has helped visionary founders raise over $180 million in capital. She is an international speaker with the Biden-Harris U.S. Department of State, collaborating with embassies and consulates worldwide to advance economic prosperity and inclusion.Danetha is also the creator of Money.Sex.Power., an exploration of wealth, desire, and influence—challenging conventional narratives and redefining economic power through a lens of luxury, sensuality, and bold ambition. To learn more, visit: danethadoe.com

Dr. Branstetter has been a faculty member at CMU's Heinz College since 2006 and was appointed the James M. Walton Professor of Economics and Public Policy in 2024. Dr. Branstetter also serves as one of the faculty leaders of the Future of Work Initiative at the Block Center for Technology and Society, which explores the intersection of technology, society, work, and inequality. He also serves as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, contributing his expertise to the wider economic research community. Lee's expertise extends beyond the classroom. From fall 2011 through summer 2012, he served on the staff of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, where he acted as the senior economist for international trade and investment, advising the President and his top advisers on matters of U.S. economic policy. Lee’s research interests focus on the economics of innovation and the economic and social impact of new technologies. His recent work reflects a deep commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, working alongside Carnegie Mellon's renowned computer scientists, learning scientists, and information systems experts. A prolific scholar, Lee’s work has been published in numerous leading journals, including the Quarterly Journal of Economics, the American Economic Review, Management Science, the Strategic Management Journal, the RAND Journal of Economics, the Economic Journal, and the Journal of International Economics. Prior to working at Carnegie Mellon University, Lee held the Daniel J. Stanton Associate Professorship of Business at Columbia Business School, where he directed the International Business Program. His academic journey also includes significant contributions at the University of California, Davis, as the Director of the East Asian Studies Program, and at Dartmouth College. Dr. Branstetter earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University.

Martin Gaynor is the Emeritus University Professor of Economics and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University and former Director of the Bureau of Economics at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Professor Gaynor's research focuses on competition and incentives in health care, and on antitrust policy. He is one of the founders of the Health Care Cost Institute, an independent non-partisan nonprofit dedicated to advancing knowledge about U.S. health care spending, and served as the first Chair of its governing board. He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and of the National Academy of Social Insurance, a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and an International Research Fellow at the University of Bristol. Prior to coming to Carnegie Mellon Dr. Gaynor held faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins and a number of other universities. He has been an invited visitor at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Northwestern University, and the Toulouse School of Economics. His research focuses on competition and antitrust policy, particularly in health care markets. He has written extensively on this topic, testified before Congress, and advised the governments of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and South Africa on competition issues in health care. Gaynor is on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Health Advisory Board and co-chaired the state’s workgroup on shoppable care. He has won a number of awards for his research, including the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy Best Paper Award, the Victor R. Fuchs Research Award, the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation Health Care Research Award, the Kenneth J. Arrow Award, the Jerry S. Cohen Award for Antitrust Scholarship (finalist), and a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Award in Health Policy Research. Dr. Gaynor received his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego in 1977 and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in 1983. HONORS AND AWARDS Kenneth J. Arrow Award for Best Published Paper in Health Economics, 2017. Member (elected), National Academy of Medicine, 2016. Best Paper Award, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2016. Member (elected), National Academy of Social Insurance, 2015. Finalist, Jerry S. Cohen Award for Antitrust Scholarship, 2014. Victor R. Fuchs Research Award, 2007. National Institute for Health Care Management Research Award, 2005. Top 1000 Economists in the World, 1990-2000. https://ideas.repec.org/coupe.html Top 5% of Authors, Research Papers in Economics (RePEc). https://ideas.repec.org/top/top.person.all.html Top 100 Health Economics Authors, 1969-2010. (Wagstaff, A. and A.J. Culyer, Journal of Health Economics, 2012, 31, 2, 406–439.) Top 50 Health Economics Authors, 1991-2000. (Chang, C. and R. Rubin, Health Economics, 2003, 12:5 403–414.) Kenneth J. Arrow Award for Best Published Paper in Health Economics, 1996. Investigator Award in Health Policy Research, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 1995-1997. First Independent Research Support and Transition (FIRST) Award, National Institute of Mental Health, 1990-1993. Dissertation Grant, National Center for Health Services Research, 1981.

Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Garin's work leverages novel administrative datasets and quasi-experimental methodologies to study topics spanning the field of labor economics, guided by insights from economic theory. His research aims to improve our understanding of how firm behavior and labor market structure drive broader trends in economic inequality and mobility and to draw lessons for policy. He is particularly interested in the future of work, and how policy might best adapt to promote opportunity in 21st century labor markets.Before coming to Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Garin was an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a postdoctoral fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and his A.B. from Brown University. He is a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research as well as a Research Associate of the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). His dissertation was awarded the first-place prize for the W.E. Upjohn Institute's 2018 Dissertation Award, which recognizes "the best PhD dissertation on employment-related issues."

I'm a Career Consultant who specializes in Negotiation and Pay Equity. I bring years of experience working for employers at a staff firm, applicant tracking company, and professional trade association to my work with candidates and employees. I spearheaded two pay equity laws; 1) salary history bans and inclusion of pay in job postings. Over the years I have contributed and been interviewed by NPR, BBC, CNN, Boston Globe, Yahoo Finance, Hollywood Reporter, and more. Additionally, my speaking engagements and workshops have included Harvard, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Women in Construction, Boston Consulting Group, Boston Chamber of Commerce, and more. I've earned an MBA from Bentley University and a BA in Economics from College of the Holy Cross.

I am an MD-PhD physician-scientist with a passion for translating complex clinical and scientific data into clear, accurate content. My training and experience span clinical practice and translational research, with expertise across oncology, immunology, gastroenterology, inflammation & metabolism, and rare diseases. With over 10 years of experience, I have supported key deliverables including more than 30 peer-reviewed publications, manuscripts, slide decks, literature reviews, and scientific narratives. I enjoy working in collaborative, deadline-driven environments and am particularly interested in medical writing, medical information, and publication development, where scientific accuracy and effective storytelling intersect.

Akshaya Jha is an Assistant Professor of Economics and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy Jha’s research interests lie at the intersection of energy and environmental economics and industrial organization. His research uses a combination of economic modeling and causal inference techniques to quantify the economic and environmental costs and benefits of a wide range of policies impacting wholesale electricity supply. In recent work, he has examined the introduction of financial trading to California’s wholesale electricity market, the phase-out of nuclear power in Germany, the dramatic growth of rooftop solar capacity in Western Australia, and the determinants of electricity blackouts in India. He received a BS in Economics and Statistics from Carnegie Mellon University, and a PhD in Economics from Stanford University.

Dr. James Lyons, M.D., is an internationally trained physician that was born in Germany. He is the son of a teacher and army veteran and was raised in Texas, but traveled extensively during his medical training. From medical rotations in French Hospital Systems, to his training in Miami at Ryder Trauma medical center and psychiatric training at TGK Prison, his depth of knowledge for those in acute crises is vast. In addition to his doctorate in medicine, Dr. Lyons also holds a Masters of Medical Sciences and coordinated research trials for schizophrenia pharmaceutical treatments in Dallas, TX. He completed his residency in Rural Michigan as a Family Medicine Physician, where he made home visits, and was rigorously trained in all aspects of medical care from delivering and caring for newborns, to end of life care. In his final year of training, he was named chief resident of this program. After 3 additional years practicing in rural east texas as a hospitalist in the acute setting, he, his wife, and their 4 children now reside back in Texas where he was raised, where his parents are retired, and where his sister works as a registered nurse in hospital leadership. Dr. Lyons continues to practice medicine in the acute setting as a hospitalist and emergency room physician in the greater Austin area. Aside from direct patient care, Dr. Lyons provides medical expertise and consulting while also being actively involved in performance improvement, infection control, and medical executive committees in the hospitals where he practices.

PhD in behavioral science (London School of Economics). Passionate about understanding decisions and behavior, specifically in the context of health and healthcare.