Leading Health Economics Experts

Dr. Hitanshu Pandit is an applied microeconomist and quantitative researcher specializing in labor, urban, and health economics. He is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Northeastern University and uses big data, administrative records, and causal inference methods to study how policy changes affect workers, firms, and communities. His research covers minimum wage policy, youth employment, Medicaid and behavioral health, congestion pricing, and place-based policy, and he is also studying how AI is reshaping white-collar work and global hiring. His work is designed to produce rigorous, practical insights for policy, business, and public debate.

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.

*Board-Certified Family Medicine Physician (ABFM) with 14+ years clinical experience (based in Chicago, IL) *Named Castle Connolly Top Doctor (2024, 2025) *Medical Media Commentator seen on/in ABC 7, Fox 32, CBS 2, WGN 9, The Chicago Tribune , Chicago Sun Times, and Everyday Health; including a nationwide 25 interview satellite media tour (TV & radio, November 2025) *Premedical Student Mentor, Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program Dr. Rene is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (FAAFP) with 14+ years of clinical experience. She provides comprehensive primary care for Medicare-eligible patients at Oak Street Health's Avalon Park location in Chicago, specializing in chronic disease management, preventive care, healthcare equity, and access for underserved communities. After overcoming 50 medical school rejections, Dr. Rene graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine and completed residency training at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago. She developed the L.Y.M.I.T.S. Method—a framework for transforming limitations into your greatest strengths. She mentors aspiring physicians through the Urban Bridges Medical Mentoring Program. Dr. Rene has appeared as a medical expert on ABC 7, Fox 32, CBS 2, and WGN 9 Chicago and recently completed a 25-interview national satellite media tour. She is available for expert commentary on resilience in healthcare, medical education equity, resilience and overcoming failure, healthcare access for underserved populations, and diversity in medicine.

Joshua Mirrer, MD is a Board-Certified Reconstructive Plastic and Hand Surgeon practicing in the American Southwest, where he treats high-volume trauma, complex hand injuries, chronic wounds, and reconstructive conditions across multiple hospital systems. He serves as Hand and Microsurgery Fellowship Program Director, where he trains surgeons at the intersection of technical excellence, clinical judgment, and real-world healthcare constraints. Dr. Mirrer’s clinical work places him on the front lines of the U.S. healthcare system—caring for patients affected by delayed access, insurance denials, chronic disease, environmental exposure, and socioeconomic instability. This experience has shaped his broader focus on healthcare as a system, not just a series of medical encounters. He frequently examines how policy decisions, reimbursement structures, regulatory lag, and financial incentives influence patient outcomes, costs, and physician practice. In addition to his surgical practice, Dr. Mirrer writes and speaks on healthcare reform, prevention versus disease management, medical training, insurance inefficiencies, and the downstream health effects of environmental and economic policy. His work integrates clinical medicine with public health, behavioral economics, and systems thinking, aiming to translate complex issues into practical insights for clinicians, policymakers, and the public. He is not affiliated with industry or political organizations and approaches these topics as a practicing physician and educator offering firsthand perspective from within one of the most stressed segments of the healthcare system. This includes but is not limited to shortfalls of The Affordable Care Act, limitations of the current administration’s actions on healthcare, lack of preventive medicine, costs of care, and the intersection of environment, finance, morality, freedom, and healthcare.

James Economides, MD, FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon in the Washington, DC / Northern Virginia area with a practice focused on advanced facial rejuvenation, breast surgery, and body contouring. He is particularly known for deep-plane facelift and neck lift techniques, mommy makeovers, breast augmentation and revision surgery, and abdominoplasty for post-pregnancy and weight-loss patients. Dr. Economides combines high-volume, real-world clinical experience with an academic mindset—regularly teaching, lecturing, and mentoring trainees—giving him a balanced perspective on both cutting-edge techniques and long-term outcomes. He has been recognized repeatedly as a “Top Doctor” by multiple regional publications, and his practice attracts patients from across the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. In addition to surgery, Dr. Economides has a strong interest in medical aesthetics, non-surgical facial rejuvenation (Botox, fillers, biostimulatory injectables), and the responsible use of artificial intelligence in plastic surgery—from patient education and photography to ethics in before-and-after imaging. As a private practice owner, he also speaks to topics like running a modern aesthetic practice, patient experience, social media, and small-business leadership in healthcare. He is frequently sought out for clear, practical explanations of complex procedures, trends, and controversies in cosmetic surgery. His quotes are concise, patient-centered, and media-friendly, making him a reliable expert source for consumer outlets, health reporters, and business publications covering aesthetics, entrepreneurship, and innovation in medicine.

Economist and Applied Economics Master's recipient at Boston College, specializing in Causal Inference, Machine Learning, and Data Engineering. Expertise in R and data visualization, as well as strong proficiency in Python and SQL. Quoted in various high profile media sources on labor market trends and how it impacts the U.S. economy, including The New York Times, Newsweek and Business Insider. Recipient of Stepstone's 10-under-30 award.

I serve as Group Vice President of HealthStaffingGroup, a healthcare workforce division focused on helping hospitals and healthcare organizations navigate complex staffing and leadership challenges. My work centers on workforce strategy, leadership hiring, retention, and long-term staffing stability in high-demand healthcare environments. With experience supporting healthcare systems across the country, I regularly work with executives, administrators, and clinical leaders to address issues such as nursing shortages, physician recruitment, workforce burnout, and succession planning. I’m particularly interested in how leadership decisions, operational design, and workforce planning directly influence patient outcomes and organizational resilience. Over the years, I’ve seen that staffing challenges are rarely isolated hiring problems; they are strategic issues tied to leadership development, workload design, and long-term workforce sustainability. I often speak on healthcare leadership trends, retention strategies, and the evolving talent landscape within hospitals, clinics, and specialty care environments. My perspective combines frontline workforce realities with executive-level strategy, offering insight into how healthcare organizations can build stable, high-performing teams in an increasingly complex care environment.

Dr. Enad is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine, trauma, and joint replacement. He has authored multiple publications and is regularly cited in the media for his clinical knowledge. He also has clinical interest in exercise physiology and obesity medicine.

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

As Co-Founder and CEO of Payorology, I help medical practices optimize their payor contract negotiations by leveraging price transparency data. Our work uncovers significant revenue opportunities by analyzing the current contracted rates of local peer practices, providing healthcare providers with actionable insights for successful negotiations. Previously, I served as EVP of Partnerships at Chegg, Inc., where I led business development and sales initiatives across multiple business lines, and held leadership roles at Yahoo! and LivingSocial. My experience spans interactive media, sales, and marketing, with a track record of driving growth and innovation. Outside of work, I served on the Board of Directors for The Advertising Council, Inc., contributing to impactful public service campaigns. I hold bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture from the University of Florida. With a passion for supporting healthcare providers and a strong foundation in sales and marketing, I lead Payorology in delivering value-driven solutions that empower medical practices to thrive.

Founder of IngredientMD, a supplement intelligence platform powdered by most clinical data available. What's important, we communicate in language humans will understand instead. It all starts from individual ingredients instead of product name, claims, and anything else. Product is what's inside instead of what perception is being made. In our analysis of 500+ supplement products, we found 42% had at least one key ingredient below clinically studied doses. I focus on bringing evidence-based analysis to consumer supplement decisions.

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.

Registered Dietitian | Cofounder & Chief Health Officer at Vedic Nutrition LLC I am dedicated to redefining the landscape of modern wellness. My mission is to empower individuals to achieve sustainable health through personalized, mindful nutrition strategies that honor both the body and the mind. 🌿 Specializing in: Integrative nutrition & mindful wellness. ⭐ Accessibility: We provide comprehensive telehealth visits covered by insurance to ensure expert care is available to everyone.

Dr. Geny Augustine is a physician at Solace who knows firsthand how challenging the U.S. healthcare system can be for patients. Having worked with diverse patient populations throughout her career, she's seen how the system's complex nature can create unnecessary barriers to getting good care—which is exactly what drew her to Solace's mission of putting patients first. Dr. Augustine completed her medical education in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, and previously worked as a Family Medicine physician for Banner Health in Glendale, Arizona. She's passionate about improving patient care, leading quality improvement projects like her work on hypertension management in urban environments, which earned honorable mention for the SLUHN Quality Improvement Award in 2020. Fluent in English with intermediate Spanish skills, she brings both clinical expertise and cultural understanding to her patient relationships. When she's not advocating for patients, Dr. Augustine enjoys fitness, culinary arts, fine arts, travel, and volunteer work—pursuits that reflect her belief in whole-person wellness and giving back to her community.

Dr. Chantal Lunderville, MD is a UCSF-trained family medicine physician and nationally recognized expert in medical wellness, aesthetics, compliance, and practice growth. She serves as the Medical Wellness Editor for Lipgloss and Aftershave, a leading spa industry publication with a reach of more than 250,000 readers and followers. She has been mentioned in Forbes, and she has been a featured speaker for global brands including L’Oréal and Epicutis. As the medical director for 20+ aesthetic and wellness practices across California, Dr. Lunderville specializes in helping doctors, nurses, and entrepreneurs build safe, compliant, and scalable practices. She and her team have developed proprietary software that enables medspas to track compliance, medical director oversight, and regulatory requirements- now being made available to the public to elevate industry standards. She has also hosted large-scale women's wellness events and professional trainings with sponsors such as goop Kitchen, AQ Solutions, UnderSkin, South Coast Psychiatry, and Reproductive Partners. A former medical spa owner turned national consultant, Dr. Lunderville empowers women in aesthetics to build legacy-driven, ethical businesses. She is also a leader in longevity and preventive wellness, blending evidence-based lifestyle wellness with advanced regenerative treatments. She is also an aesthetic and womens health trainer focusing on new practitioners. Dr. Lunderville is available for expert commentary on aesthetics, medical wellness, compliance, women’s entrepreneurship, and the future of longevity medicine.

I write analysis on geoeconomics and the dollar at Hegemoney.com I am the Chief Economist at Column, a nationally chartered bank and technology company in San Francisco. For thirteen years I served as a senior economist at the Departments of Treasury, State, and the CIA. I am also a former FX strategist and derivatives trader. I have years of experience in sanctions, international currencies, financial infrastructure (SWIFT, international payment systems), tech, and macro conditions around the dollar.

I want to make healthcare better for patients and for the people who take care of them.

I am a self-funded and alternate funded health plan expert with almost a decade of experience helping employers and brokers create innovative solutions that reduce healthcare costs. I also have over seven years of experience as a national keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, podcast host, media personality, and author. I am regularly featured at events across the country providing expert perspective for helping employers create strategies to improve healthcare outcomes and improve employee retention. I leverage my vast resource base and personal knowledge of innovative strategies such as direct primary care, reference-based pricing, and new pharmacy solutions to drive change and reduce costs. I am passionate about making a positive impact on the lives and businesses of my clients and partners.

Terrence Hight, Jr., is the Founder and CEO of Hight Health, the world leader in providing access to care for underserved populations. Terrence has worked entrepreneurially and professionally in the healthcare industry for over a dozen years; leading projects for organizations such as Optum360, Dignity Health System, Northwell Health, and WellStar Health System. As CEO of Hight Health, Terrence oversees large-scale access to care community health events. Hight Health events have provided awareness and education to over 10,000 and the in-person events have provided health access to over 1,000 across Metro-Atlanta. Terrence was also a faculty member in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Georgia State University. In 2023, Terrence received a Georgia State University 40 Under 40 Alumni award. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University and an Executive MBA from Kennesaw State University.