Julia Abelson is a professor in the Department of Health Evidence and Impact and an associate member of the Department of Political Science. She was director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) from 2006-2011, a past recipient of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator award, and an Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Career Scientist award. She is also the director of McMaster’s Health Policy PhD program. Abelson obtained her MSc in Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health and her doctorate in social and policy sciences at the University of Bath, U.K. Her research interests include public engagement in health system governance, the analysis of the determinants of health policy decision-making, and the evaluation of innovations in the organization, funding and delivery of health services. Through her research, education and service activities, Abelson works closely with decision-makers in provincial, regional and local governments.

Research Interests: public engagement methods and evaluation; values in health policy analysis; politics of health policy

Julia Abelson is a professor in the Department of Health Evidence and Impact and an associate member of the Department of Political Science. She was director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) from 2006-2011, a past recipient of a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator award, and an Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Career Scientist award. She is also the director of McMaster’s Health Policy PhD program. Abelson obtained her MSc in Health Policy and Management from the Harvard School of Public Health and her doctorate in social and policy sciences at the University of Bath, U.K. Her research interests include public engagement in health system governance, the analysis of the determinants of health policy decision-making, and the evaluation of innovations in the organization, funding and delivery of health services. Through her research, education and service activities, Abelson works closely with decision-makers in provincial, regional and local governments.

Research Interests: public engagement methods and evaluation; values in health policy analysis; politics of health policy

Elizabeth Alvarez is an experienced family/public health physician and assistant professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University. After completing her medical degree and family medicine residency at the University of Toledo in Ohio, she earned a master’s degree in public health through the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health and a PhD in Health Policy at McMaster University. She also holds a certificate in medical cognitive behavioural therapy (CMCBT).

Her research uses policy analysis and qualitative and mixed methods for applied knowledge translation, spanning the role of context in evidence informed decision making, public health topics, sustainable health behaviour change across the lifespan and multidisciplinary care.

Research Interests: health promotion; behaviour change; chronic disease prevention and management; mental health; aging; health policy; health systems strengthening; public health; primary care; ecological approaches to health.

Elizabeth Alvarez is an experienced family/public health physician and assistant professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University. After completing her medical degree and family medicine residency at the University of Toledo in Ohio, she earned a master’s degree in public health through the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health and a PhD in Health Policy at McMaster University. She also holds a certificate in medical cognitive behavioural therapy (CMCBT).

Her research uses policy analysis and qualitative and mixed methods for applied knowledge translation, spanning the role of context in evidence informed decision making, public health topics, sustainable health behaviour change across the lifespan and multidisciplinary care.

Research Interests: health promotion; behaviour change; chronic disease prevention and management; mental health; aging; health policy; health systems strengthening; public health; primary care; ecological approaches to health.

Ellen Amster is the Jason A. Hannah chair in the History of Medicine at McMaster University and an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of History, specializing in global health and women’s health. She is also a member of CHEPA, a Fulbright scholar and a Chateaubriand scholar of the government of France. She holds a PhD and a master’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in political science from the University of Chicago. Before coming to McMaster she was an associate professor in history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has research and field expertise as an Islamicist and an Arabist, and has served as an Arabic-English-French translator for ORBIS, an international ocular surgery non-governmental organization (NGO) during its mission in Morocco. She uses qualitative and mixed-methods to study the social aspects of health policy; barriers to care; the cultural experience of illness; and social attitudes to birth, midwifery, sexuality, violence against women and infant health in Morocco.

Area of Expertise: Middle East studies and Islam; global history of biomedicine; maternal and infant health in Morocco; gender violence.

Ellen Amster is the Jason A. Hannah chair in the History of Medicine at McMaster University and an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and the Department of History, specializing in global health and women’s health. She is also a member of CHEPA, a Fulbright scholar and a Chateaubriand scholar of the government of France. She holds a PhD and a master’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in political science from the University of Chicago. Before coming to McMaster she was an associate professor in history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has research and field expertise as an Islamicist and an Arabist, and has served as an Arabic-English-French translator for ORBIS, an international ocular surgery non-governmental organization (NGO) during its mission in Morocco. She uses qualitative and mixed-methods to study the social aspects of health policy; barriers to care; the cultural experience of illness; and social attitudes to birth, midwifery, sexuality, violence against women and infant health in Morocco.

Area of Expertise: Middle East studies and Islam; global history of biomedicine; maternal and infant health in Morocco; gender violence.

Laura N. Anderson is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University and an adjunct scientist in the division of Child Health Evaluative Sciences at the SickKids Research Institute. She holds a master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario and a PhD in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Anderson’s primary area of research is population and public health with a focus on chronic disease prevention and modifiable determinants of health in early life. The methods used in her research include life-course epidemiology, survey design, population health interventions and analysis of big data. She is an investigator on multiple CIHR-funded projects related to obesity prevention. Dr. Anderson contributes to teaching and graduate student supervision in the Masters of Public Health (MPH) and Health Research Methods (HRM) programs at McMaster.

Research Interests: Population and public health; life course epidemiology; chronic disease prevention; obesity; nutrition; measurement; women’s and children’s health.

Laura N. Anderson is an assistant professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) at McMaster University and an adjunct scientist in the division of Child Health Evaluative Sciences at the SickKids Research Institute. She holds a master’s degree in epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Western Ontario and a PhD in Epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto. Anderson’s primary area of research is population and public health with a focus on chronic disease prevention and modifiable determinants of health in early life. The methods used in her research include life-course epidemiology, survey design, population health interventions and analysis of big data. She is an investigator on multiple CIHR-funded projects related to obesity prevention. Dr. Anderson contributes to teaching and graduate student supervision in the Masters of Public Health (MPH) and Health Research Methods (HRM) programs at McMaster.

Research Interests: Population and public health; life course epidemiology; chronic disease prevention; obesity; nutrition; measurement; women’s and children’s health.

Emma Apatu is the director of McMaster’s Master of Public Health Program, an associate professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) and a member of  the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). She holds a DrPH from East Tennessee State University and a MPH from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Before joining McMaster at the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year, she was an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of North Florida (UNF).

Research Interests: Public health training and education; public health research; health services; health equity; disaster sociology.

Emma Apatu is the director of McMaster’s Master of Public Health Program, an associate professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) and a member of  the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). She holds a DrPH from East Tennessee State University and a MPH from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Before joining McMaster at the beginning of the 2018-19 academic year, she was an associate professor in the Department of Public Health at the University of North Florida (UNF).

Research Interests: Public health training and education; public health research; health services; health equity; disaster sociology.

Stephen Birchwas one of CHEPA’s longest-serving members. After retiring from McMaster University, he moved to Queensland, Australia, to become the Taylor Chair and Centre Director of the University of Queensland Centre for the Business and Economics of Health. While at McMaster, he received the Faculty of Health Sciences Rose Levy Rosenstadt Award and a research scholarship award under Health Canada’s National Health Research and Development Program. He received his doctorate in economics at the University of York in the United Kingdom.  He has more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In the 2011 World Bank rankings of health economics researchers, he was ranked equal first in Canada and equal 35th in the world based on the volume and impact of his publications.

His main research interests are in methods for economic evaluation of health interventions, equity in health care resource allocation and needs-based approaches to health service and health workforce planning.

Research Interests: economic evaluation; resource allocation; population health; oral health economics.

Stephen Birchwas one of CHEPA’s longest-serving members. After retiring from McMaster University, he moved to Queensland, Australia, to become the Taylor Chair and Centre Director of the University of Queensland Centre for the Business and Economics of Health. While at McMaster, he received the Faculty of Health Sciences Rose Levy Rosenstadt Award and a research scholarship award under Health Canada’s National Health Research and Development Program. He received his doctorate in economics at the University of York in the United Kingdom.  He has more than 200 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In the 2011 World Bank rankings of health economics researchers, he was ranked equal first in Canada and equal 35th in the world based on the volume and impact of his publications.

His main research interests are in methods for economic evaluation of health interventions, equity in health care resource allocation and needs-based approaches to health service and health workforce planning.

Research Interests: economic evaluation; resource allocation; population health; oral health economics.

Katherine Boothe is an associate professor in McMaster University’s Department of Political Science and a member of CHEPA. She holds a PhD and MA from the University of British Columbia and a BA (Hons.) from the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on comparative public policy in advanced industrial democracies with a focus on health policy, particularly the development and reform of public pharmaceutical insurance programs.

Research Interests: Canadian and comparative politics; public policy in advanced industrial democracies; health and social policy; federalism.

Katherine Boothe is an associate professor in McMaster University’s Department of Political Science and a member of CHEPA. She holds a PhD and MA from the University of British Columbia and a BA (Hons.) from the University of Alberta. Her research focuses on comparative public policy in advanced industrial democracies with a focus on health policy, particularly the development and reform of public pharmaceutical insurance programs.

Research Interests: Canadian and comparative politics; public policy in advanced industrial democracies; health and social policy; federalism.

Research Interests: health dynamics; determinants of health and health inequalities; simulation based inference in microeconometric models; economic determinants of body weight; economic effects in adulthood of childhood abuse; intergenerational transmission of income and health inequality.

Research Interests: health dynamics; determinants of health and health inequalities; simulation based inference in microeconometric models; economic determinants of body weight; economic effects in adulthood of childhood abuse; intergenerational transmission of income and health inequality.

Andrew Costa is an associate professor and Schlegel Research chair in Clinical Epidemiology & Aging in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics at McMaster University. He also serves as the research lead at the DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo Regional Campus. He is an interRAI fellow, where he is engaged in the Network of Excellence in Acute Care (iNEAC) and leads the Emergency Department Working Group. He has received CIHR awards for his research in health services and policy and is a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA).

Academic Interests: Dr. Costa’s research program promotes evidence-based care and policy in seniors and geriatric care. His program of research makes use of health information and technology to develop better models of care and decision support systems in home and community care, emergency departments and acute care. His current work is focused on the development and evaluation of models of care for avoidable emergency department use and care of the elderly in emergency departments. He is an interRAI Fellow where he is engaged in the Network of Excellence in Acute Care. Dr. Costa’s work makes use of large health care data repositories, multi-site prospective cohort studies and pragmatic trial methods. He also has an active interest in the development and use of funding and performance systems in health care reform.

Research Interests: Big Data and geriatric models of care; avoidable emergency department and acute care use among frail older adults

Andrew Costa is an associate professor and Schlegel Research chair in Clinical Epidemiology & Aging in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics at McMaster University. He also serves as the research lead at the DeGroote School of Medicine, Waterloo Regional Campus. He is an interRAI fellow, where he is engaged in the Network of Excellence in Acute Care (iNEAC) and leads the Emergency Department Working Group. He has received CIHR awards for his research in health services and policy and is a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA).

Academic Interests: Dr. Costa’s research program promotes evidence-based care and policy in seniors and geriatric care. His program of research makes use of health information and technology to develop better models of care and decision support systems in home and community care, emergency departments and acute care. His current work is focused on the development and evaluation of models of care for avoidable emergency department use and care of the elderly in emergency departments. He is an interRAI Fellow where he is engaged in the Network of Excellence in Acute Care. Dr. Costa’s work makes use of large health care data repositories, multi-site prospective cohort studies and pragmatic trial methods. He also has an active interest in the development and use of funding and performance systems in health care reform.

Research Interests: Big Data and geriatric models of care; avoidable emergency department and acute care use among frail older adults

Katherine Cuff is a full professor in the Department of Economics at McMaster University, where she has held a Tier II Canadian Research Chair in Public Economic Theory. She was one of the inaugural recipients of the McMaster University Scholar title. She obtained her PhD from Queen’s University and her MA from York University. Her research in public economics includes work on optimal taxation, redistribution and fiscal federalism. She has also worked on issues in health care financing using economic experimental methods. Katherine is currently the managing editor of the Canadian Journal of Economics and has also served as both an editor of FinanzArchiv/Public Finance Analysis and an associate editor of Canadian Public Policy.

Research Interests: economic aspects of taxation and redistributive policies; health care financing; issues of federalism

Katherine Cuff is a full professor in the Department of Economics at McMaster University, where she has held a Tier II Canadian Research Chair in Public Economic Theory. She was one of the inaugural recipients of the McMaster University Scholar title. She obtained her PhD from Queen’s University and her MA from York University. Her research in public economics includes work on optimal taxation, redistribution and fiscal federalism. She has also worked on issues in health care financing using economic experimental methods. Katherine is currently the managing editor of the Canadian Journal of Economics and has also served as both an editor of FinanzArchiv/Public Finance Analysis and an associate editor of Canadian Public Policy.

Research Interests: economic aspects of taxation and redistributive policies; health care financing; issues of federalism

David Feeny is a professor emeritus in the Department of Economics at McMaster University and was one of the founding members of CHEPA. He held appointments at McMaster in the Departments of Economics (1976-1998) and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (1988-1998) before joining the University of Alberta as a professor of Economics, Public Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and as a fellow of the Institute of Health Economics. In 2006, he became a senior investigator and assistant program director at the Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Oregon. He returned to McMaster University in July, 2014.

Feeny received his PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. His research has included the development of multi-attribute health status classification systems and he was among the collaborators who developed the landmark Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2) system, used to evaluate outcomes resulting from treatments for childhood cancer. He received the 2010 President’s Award from International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL). Feeny was one of 17 scholars who served on the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine (Neumann et al. 2017).

Research Interests: health economics, health-related quality of life, experimental economics; HTA.

David Feeny is a professor emeritus in the Department of Economics at McMaster University and was one of the founding members of CHEPA. He held appointments at McMaster in the Departments of Economics (1976-1998) and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (1988-1998) before joining the University of Alberta as a professor of Economics, Public Health Sciences and Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and as a fellow of the Institute of Health Economics. In 2006, he became a senior investigator and assistant program director at the Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest in Portland, Oregon. He returned to McMaster University in July, 2014.

Feeny received his PhD in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1976. His research has included the development of multi-attribute health status classification systems and he was among the collaborators who developed the landmark Health Utilities Index Mark 2 (HUI2) system, used to evaluate outcomes resulting from treatments for childhood cancer. He received the 2010 President’s Award from International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL). Feeny was one of 17 scholars who served on the Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine (Neumann et al. 2017).

Research Interests: health economics, health-related quality of life, experimental economics; HTA.

Research Interests: economic evaluation (development and empirical applications); modeling of consumers’ and providers’ behaviours (e.g., the physician-patient encounter); health policy analysis.

Research Interests: economic evaluation (development and empirical applications); modeling of consumers’ and providers’ behaviours (e.g., the physician-patient encounter); health policy analysis.

Michel Grignon is a professor in the Department of Economics and the Department of Health, Aging and Society and the graduate chair of the Department of Health, Aging and Society. He is editor-in-chief of the journal Health Reform Observer – Observatoire des Réformes de Santé and is also associate scientist of Institut de Recherche et Documentation en Èconomie de la Santé in Paris, France. He was the director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) from July 2011 to April 2017.

He was born in France and obtained his master’s equivalent at the National School for Statistics and Economics and his PhD at Ecole de Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, both located in Paris. Grignon has extensive experience at an international level in research projects and activities in the areas of health economics, health-related policies, health insurance and aging. Working with colleagues at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, he is exploring how to assess health and provide healthcare among older people, comparing Canada’s aging population with countries like Japan, whose population is even older.

Research Interests: equity in health care utilization and financing; population aging; affordability and access to health and long-term care insurance and health care.

Michel Grignon is a professor in the Department of Economics and the Department of Health, Aging and Society and the graduate chair of the Department of Health, Aging and Society. He is editor-in-chief of the journal Health Reform Observer – Observatoire des Réformes de Santé and is also associate scientist of Institut de Recherche et Documentation en Èconomie de la Santé in Paris, France. He was the director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) from July 2011 to April 2017.

He was born in France and obtained his master’s equivalent at the National School for Statistics and Economics and his PhD at Ecole de Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, both located in Paris. Grignon has extensive experience at an international level in research projects and activities in the areas of health economics, health-related policies, health insurance and aging. Working with colleagues at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, he is exploring how to assess health and provide healthcare among older people, comparing Canada’s aging population with countries like Japan, whose population is even older.

Research Interests: equity in health care utilization and financing; population aging; affordability and access to health and long-term care insurance and health care.

Emmanuel Guindon is the inaugural Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA)/Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Chair in Health Equity, an associate professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) and an associate member of the Department of Economics at McMaster University. Prior to joining McMaster University, Emmanuel was on Faculty at Université de Montréal and a staff economist at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Emmanuel is the recipient of a Rising Star Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, and a Career Development Award in Prevention from the Canadian Cancer Society. Emmanuel holds a PhD in health research methodology from McMaster, an MA in economics from the University of Victoria and a BA in economics from McGill University.

Research Interests: health equity; economics of health behaviours; health services research; empirical health economics and policy.

Emmanuel Guindon is the inaugural Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA)/Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Chair in Health Equity, an associate professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) and an associate member of the Department of Economics at McMaster University. Prior to joining McMaster University, Emmanuel was on Faculty at Université de Montréal and a staff economist at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Emmanuel is the recipient of a Rising Star Award from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, an Early Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research, Innovation and Science, and a Career Development Award in Prevention from the Canadian Cancer Society. Emmanuel holds a PhD in health research methodology from McMaster, an MA in economics from the University of Victoria and a BA in economics from McGill University.

Research Interests: health equity; economics of health behaviours; health services research; empirical health economics and policy.

Research Interests: health care financing, particularly public and private roles in health care financing; equity in health care; resource allocation and funding in the health sector; normative economic analysis in the health sector; experimental methods in health economics.

Research Interests: health care financing, particularly public and private roles in health care financing; equity in health care; resource allocation and funding in the health sector; normative economic analysis in the health sector; experimental methods in health economics.

Brian Hutchison joined McMaster University in 1975, and was a professor emeritus in the Department of Family Medicine and of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) until his death in August, 2024. He became a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) in 1998, and served as its director from 2002 until his retirement in 2005.

Co-Chair of the Canadian Working Group for Primary Healthcare Improvement and Senior Advisor for Primary Care to Health Quality Ontario. He served as founding editor-in-chief of Healthcare Policy (2004-2009) and President of the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (2010-2011). He practiced comprehensive family medicine for five years in a fee-for-service group practice, followed by 25 years in a McMaster University academic family practice. Brian held a National Health Research Scholar award from Health Canada from 1994 to 1999. He was the 2004 recipient of the Health Services Research Advancement Award presented by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.

Brian received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Family Medicine Research from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 2008. His areas of research and policy interest include organization, funding and delivery of primary and community care, needs-based health care resource allocation and funding methods, provider payment methods, quality improvement and preventive care. His lifelong dedication to understanding and improving primary health care in Canada was also recognized in May, 2013, with the Emmett Hall Memorial Lectureship, one of Canada’s most prestigious honours. The lectureship is a lifetime achievement award conferred by health services and policy scholars in Canada.

Brian Hutchison joined McMaster University in 1975, and was a professor emeritus in the Department of Family Medicine and of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) until his death in August, 2024. He became a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA) in 1998, and served as its director from 2002 until his retirement in 2005.

Co-Chair of the Canadian Working Group for Primary Healthcare Improvement and Senior Advisor for Primary Care to Health Quality Ontario. He served as founding editor-in-chief of Healthcare Policy (2004-2009) and President of the Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (2010-2011). He practiced comprehensive family medicine for five years in a fee-for-service group practice, followed by 25 years in a McMaster University academic family practice. Brian held a National Health Research Scholar award from Health Canada from 1994 to 1999. He was the 2004 recipient of the Health Services Research Advancement Award presented by the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation.

Brian received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Family Medicine Research from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in 2008. His areas of research and policy interest include organization, funding and delivery of primary and community care, needs-based health care resource allocation and funding methods, provider payment methods, quality improvement and preventive care. His lifelong dedication to understanding and improving primary health care in Canada was also recognized in May, 2013, with the Emmett Hall Memorial Lectureship, one of Canada’s most prestigious honours. The lectureship is a lifetime achievement award conferred by health services and policy scholars in Canada.

Lydia Kapiriri is an associate professor in McMaster’s Department of Health, Aging and Society and a member of CHEPA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine and general surgery and a diploma in public health from Makerere University, Uganda; she has master’s degrees in public health from Royal Tropical Institute and in medicine, public health from Makerere University. She earned her PhD at the University of Bergen, Norway, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for International Health, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. Her research is focused mainly on health systems and global health research, including priority setting in health care at the different levels of decision making (macro, meso, and micro levels). She is also involved in research related to ethical issues in public health and global health, including international research ethics.

Research Interests: global health; HIV preventative behaviour; priority setting in health care.

Lydia Kapiriri is an associate professor in McMaster’s Department of Health, Aging and Society and a member of CHEPA. She holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine and general surgery and a diploma in public health from Makerere University, Uganda; she has master’s degrees in public health from Royal Tropical Institute and in medicine, public health from Makerere University. She earned her PhD at the University of Bergen, Norway, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for International Health, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto. Her research is focused mainly on health systems and global health research, including priority setting in health care at the different levels of decision making (macro, meso, and micro levels). She is also involved in research related to ethical issues in public health and global health, including international research ethics.

Research Interests: global health; HIV preventative behaviour; priority setting in health care.

Asif Khowaja is an assistant professor in health economics at Brock University in St. Catharines, with expertise in advanced health economics and simulation modelling. He was a recipient of a CIHR Vanier doctoral award (2015) and the Warren George Povey Award in Public Health (2016). Before joining Brock, he worked as a CIHR Health System Impact postdoctoral fellow at the British Columbia Patient Safety and Quality Council in Vancouver, BC. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation.

Research Interests: application of health economics modelling and mixed-methods research to inform policy decisions about resource allocation in healthcare.

Asif Khowaja is an assistant professor in health economics at Brock University in St. Catharines, with expertise in advanced health economics and simulation modelling. He was a recipient of a CIHR Vanier doctoral award (2015) and the Warren George Povey Award in Public Health (2016). Before joining Brock, he worked as a CIHR Health System Impact postdoctoral fellow at the British Columbia Patient Safety and Quality Council in Vancouver, BC. He holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation.

Research Interests: application of health economics modelling and mixed-methods research to inform policy decisions about resource allocation in healthcare.

Boris Kralj holds both a doctorate and master’s in economics from York University. He has more than 30 years of experience working in the government sector, non-profit sector, academia and consulting. He is a specialist in health economics and medical (physician) economics, in particular. He is a noted expert on physician compensation models and physician pay equity or “relativity”. For over two decades he was employed at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) where he provided leadership to the Economics, Research & Analytics functions and the Technology function, as well as serving as the Chief Information/Chief Analytics Officer. Kralj provided guidance and oversight to the economic research, policy and evaluation work associated primarily with the negotiation and implementation of physician fee-for-service (FFS) and non-FFS agreements and the physician fees/tariff setting processes.

Kralj served as a member of Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) from January 2010 to June 2014.  He has authored and published a broad variety of research reports. His publications relate to physician payment reform, gender pay gap in medicine, primary care, medical services utilization, physician human resources, workers’ compensation, physician billing, oncology practices, prescribing patterns and walk-in clinics.

Research Interests: health economics, and medical (physician) economics – physician compensation models and physician pay equity or “relativity.”

Boris Kralj holds both a doctorate and master’s in economics from York University. He has more than 30 years of experience working in the government sector, non-profit sector, academia and consulting. He is a specialist in health economics and medical (physician) economics, in particular. He is a noted expert on physician compensation models and physician pay equity or “relativity”. For over two decades he was employed at the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) where he provided leadership to the Economics, Research & Analytics functions and the Technology function, as well as serving as the Chief Information/Chief Analytics Officer. Kralj provided guidance and oversight to the economic research, policy and evaluation work associated primarily with the negotiation and implementation of physician fee-for-service (FFS) and non-FFS agreements and the physician fees/tariff setting processes.

Kralj served as a member of Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (OHTAC) from January 2010 to June 2014.  He has authored and published a broad variety of research reports. His publications relate to physician payment reform, gender pay gap in medicine, primary care, medical services utilization, physician human resources, workers’ compensation, physician billing, oncology practices, prescribing patterns and walk-in clinics.

Research Interests: health economics, and medical (physician) economics – physician compensation models and physician pay equity or “relativity.”

Research Interests: use of research evidence, citizen values and stakeholder insights in policy making; politics of health and social systems.

Research Interests: use of research evidence, citizen values and stakeholder insights in policy making; politics of health and social systems.

Dr. Mitch Levine is a professor in McMaster University’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) and is the assistant dean for the graduate school program in Health Research Methodology in the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is also a professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, and is a consultant physician at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. He is the director of the Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, Father Sean O’Sullivan Research Centre, at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. In February 2018, he was appointed chair of Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) by her Excellency, the Governor General in Council, having served as the vice-chair since 2011.

Research Interests: clinical epidemiology; pharmaco-economics.

Dr. Mitch Levine is a professor in McMaster University’s Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) and is the assistant dean for the graduate school program in Health Research Methodology in the Faculty of Health Sciences. He is also a professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, and is a consultant physician at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. He is the director of the Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, Father Sean O’Sullivan Research Centre, at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. In February 2018, he was appointed chair of Canada’s Patented Medicine Prices Review Board (PMPRB) by her Excellency, the Governor General in Council, having served as the vice-chair since 2011.

Research Interests: clinical epidemiology; pharmaco-economics.

Jonathan Lomas is co-founder of CHEPA and was the centre’s coordinator from 1991 until 1996. He then moved to Ottawa to become the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation — a nationally endowed organization founded in 1997 to support evidence-informed decision-making in the health sector, which he led until taking partial retirement in 2007. During his decade of leadership the foundation received international accolades and national awards, both for its work as a knowledge brokering agency and for its innovative workplace environment.

In 2006, he was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and also in that year he was the only Specially Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In 2009, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. As an Officer of the Order of Canada, Lomas has been called “the Godfather of knowledge translation” by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Lomas is now retired and living in Victoria B.C.

Jonathan Lomas is co-founder of CHEPA and was the centre’s coordinator from 1991 until 1996. He then moved to Ottawa to become the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation — a nationally endowed organization founded in 1997 to support evidence-informed decision-making in the health sector, which he led until taking partial retirement in 2007. During his decade of leadership the foundation received international accolades and national awards, both for its work as a knowledge brokering agency and for its innovative workplace environment.

In 2006, he was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences and also in that year he was the only Specially Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. In 2009, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada. As an Officer of the Order of Canada, Lomas has been called “the Godfather of knowledge translation” by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Lomas is now retired and living in Victoria B.C.

Christopher Longo has over 30 years’ experience in clinical research, economic evaluation and access strategies for pharmaceuticals. He has published clinical, economic and policy research in a number of therapeutic areas including: cancer, diabetes, sepsis and mental health disorders. He teaches courses in health economics and population health at McMaster University, as well as a 5-week module on health economics in public health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto (2009-2016). Longo’s research has examined the economics of cancer and diabetes, economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals, global pharmaceutical pricing strategies, the public/private mix in the financing of healthcare and the evaluation of factors influencing patients’ financial burden for health care services. Although still interested in these issues, and how they relate to the healthcare system and its end users, he has refocused his research agenda. His current research examines the costs and economic evaluation of interventions/programs throughout the cancer journey, with the intent of informing policy decision making.

Research Interests: costs, economic evaluation of cancer interventions/programs; healthcare management.

Christopher Longo has over 30 years’ experience in clinical research, economic evaluation and access strategies for pharmaceuticals. He has published clinical, economic and policy research in a number of therapeutic areas including: cancer, diabetes, sepsis and mental health disorders. He teaches courses in health economics and population health at McMaster University, as well as a 5-week module on health economics in public health at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto (2009-2016). Longo’s research has examined the economics of cancer and diabetes, economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals, global pharmaceutical pricing strategies, the public/private mix in the financing of healthcare and the evaluation of factors influencing patients’ financial burden for health care services. Although still interested in these issues, and how they relate to the healthcare system and its end users, he has refocused his research agenda. His current research examines the costs and economic evaluation of interventions/programs throughout the cancer journey, with the intent of informing policy decision making.

Research Interests: costs, economic evaluation of cancer interventions/programs; healthcare management.

Research Interests: supporting the use of research evidence in health and social-system policy making.

Research Interests: supporting the use of research evidence in health and social-system policy making.

Research Interests: health policy, mental health, co-design and co-production of services for structurally vulnerable populations.

Research Interests: health policy, mental health, co-design and co-production of services for structurally vulnerable populations.

Professor Randall specializes in health policy and strategic management. He has more than 20 years’ experience working with leaders in government, regulatory agencies and health care organizations. He has been the Chief Executive Officer for one of Ontario’s health regulatory colleges and has served as a member of a number of boards of directors. Professor Randall’s research interests include the impact of health care restructuring on health professionals, the privatization of health care services, business-government relations, and governance and strategic management in the not-for-profit sector.

Research Interests: health care system; not-for-profit governance and strategic management.

Professor Randall specializes in health policy and strategic management. He has more than 20 years’ experience working with leaders in government, regulatory agencies and health care organizations. He has been the Chief Executive Officer for one of Ontario’s health regulatory colleges and has served as a member of a number of boards of directors. Professor Randall’s research interests include the impact of health care restructuring on health professionals, the privatization of health care services, business-government relations, and governance and strategic management in the not-for-profit sector.

Research Interests: health care system; not-for-profit governance and strategic management.

Research Interests: humanitarian health care ethics; global health ethics; the teaching of ethics in health care education; patient advocacy; research ethics; bioethics; privacy and confidentiality.

Research Interests: humanitarian health care ethics; global health ethics; the teaching of ethics in health care education; patient advocacy; research ethics; bioethics; privacy and confidentiality.

Hsien Seow, PhD (Johns Hopkins), BSc (Yale), is the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and Health System Innovation at McMaster University and director of the ICES-McMaster site. Member of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC)’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and an international leader in improving policy, education, and practice so that seriously ill patients receive high-quality and timely palliative care. He is also co-host of the acclaimed podcast The Waiting Room Revolution.

Hsien Seow, PhD (Johns Hopkins), BSc (Yale), is the Canada Research Chair in Palliative Care and Health System Innovation at McMaster University and director of the ICES-McMaster site. Member of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC)’s College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists and an international leader in improving policy, education, and practice so that seriously ill patients receive high-quality and timely palliative care. He is also co-host of the acclaimed podcast The Waiting Room Revolution.

Greg Stoddart is one of the pioneers of the field of health economics in Canada. He co-founded the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis with Jonathan Lomas and served as its inaugural coordinator from 1988 to 1990. He has made numerous significant contributions to the field of health policy, including research that contributed to the formulation of the 1984 Canada Health Act. He was also one of the founders of the Population Health Program (1987-2002) of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, which gave rise to the modern field of “population health”. He joined McMaster University in 1976 and retired in 2008.

Research Interests: health economics, health policy, population health.

Greg Stoddart is one of the pioneers of the field of health economics in Canada. He co-founded the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis with Jonathan Lomas and served as its inaugural coordinator from 1988 to 1990. He has made numerous significant contributions to the field of health policy, including research that contributed to the formulation of the 1984 Canada Health Act. He was also one of the founders of the Population Health Program (1987-2002) of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, which gave rise to the modern field of “population health”. He joined McMaster University in 1976 and retired in 2008.

Research Interests: health economics, health policy, population health.

Research Interests: economic and empirical aspects of health human resources and industrial relations; quantitative program evaluation.

Research Interests: economic and empirical aspects of health human resources and industrial relations; quantitative program evaluation.

Research Interests: health technology assessment and management; methods for the economic evaluation of health technologies and programs.

Research Interests: health technology assessment and management; methods for the economic evaluation of health technologies and programs.

Meredith Vanstone is an associate professor in McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine, an adjunct scientist with McMaster’s Education Research, Innovation & Theory (MERIT) Program and a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). She holds a PhD in health and rehabilitation sciences (health professional education) from Western University.

Vanstone uses a variety of qualitative research methods to investigate the ethical implications of health professional education and practice. She examines how health professionals respond to explicit, implicit and structural policies that shape their professional lives. By focusing on policy and practice areas with an ethical or moral valence, her research aims to support ethical health professional practice through education and policy initiatives. Vanstone’s work is supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Greenwall Foundation. Vanstone supervises in the following graduate programs: Health Sciences Education (MSc), Health Research Methodology (Msc and PhD) and Health Policy (PhD).

Area of Expertise: qualitative methods; education policy; health policy; health professions education.

Meredith Vanstone is an associate professor in McMaster University’s Department of Family Medicine, an adjunct scientist with McMaster’s Education Research, Innovation & Theory (MERIT) Program and a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). She holds a PhD in health and rehabilitation sciences (health professional education) from Western University.

Vanstone uses a variety of qualitative research methods to investigate the ethical implications of health professional education and practice. She examines how health professionals respond to explicit, implicit and structural policies that shape their professional lives. By focusing on policy and practice areas with an ethical or moral valence, her research aims to support ethical health professional practice through education and policy initiatives. Vanstone’s work is supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the Greenwall Foundation. Vanstone supervises in the following graduate programs: Health Sciences Education (MSc), Health Research Methodology (Msc and PhD) and Health Policy (PhD).

Area of Expertise: qualitative methods; education policy; health policy; health professions education.

Research Interests: knowledge translation; citizen engagement methods and evaluation; politics of health systems.

Research Interests: knowledge translation; citizen engagement methods and evaluation; politics of health systems.

Feng Xie is a professor of health economics in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) and a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). His research interests include health technology assessment, economic evaluations using models and trial data, patient-reported outcome and preference measures, and health utility measures. Xie is deputy editor-in-chief of the BMC Journal: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes and an associated editor of Medical Decision Making. He received a Career Scientist Award from Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award.

Xie has been involved in numerous HTA and economic evaluations in assessing new health technologies to support national and provincial reimbursement decision-making. He is also interested in measuring patient-reported outcomes in the context of clinical trials and economic evaluations. He holds a PhD in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research from the National University of Singapore, an MSc in pharmacy administration from Fudan University and a BSc in pharmacy from Shanghai Medical University.

Research Interests: HTA, economic evaluation; pharmacoeconomics; outcome measures.

Feng Xie is a professor of health economics in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact (HEI) and a member of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis (CHEPA). His research interests include health technology assessment, economic evaluations using models and trial data, patient-reported outcome and preference measures, and health utility measures. Xie is deputy editor-in-chief of the BMC Journal: Health and Quality of Life Outcomes and an associated editor of Medical Decision Making. He received a Career Scientist Award from Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Investigator Award.

Xie has been involved in numerous HTA and economic evaluations in assessing new health technologies to support national and provincial reimbursement decision-making. He is also interested in measuring patient-reported outcomes in the context of clinical trials and economic evaluations. He holds a PhD in pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research from the National University of Singapore, an MSc in pharmacy administration from Fudan University and a BSc in pharmacy from Shanghai Medical University.

Research Interests: HTA, economic evaluation; pharmacoeconomics; outcome measures.

Jonathan Zhang is an empirical economist with interests in health economics, public finance and applied microeconomics. His research centres around evaluating the impacts of health policy, the role of supply and demand-side factors in influencing substance abuse and mental health and the determinants of healthcare utilization. He was on leave for the 2020-21 academic year as a postdoctoral scholar at Princeton University. He obtained his PhD in economics from Stanford University in 2020 and his BSc in statistics and economics from the University of British Columbia.

Research Interests: empirical economist with interests in health economics, public finance and applied microeconomics.

Jonathan Zhang is an empirical economist with interests in health economics, public finance and applied microeconomics. His research centres around evaluating the impacts of health policy, the role of supply and demand-side factors in influencing substance abuse and mental health and the determinants of healthcare utilization. He was on leave for the 2020-21 academic year as a postdoctoral scholar at Princeton University. He obtained his PhD in economics from Stanford University in 2020 and his BSc in statistics and economics from the University of British Columbia.

Research Interests: empirical economist with interests in health economics, public finance and applied microeconomics.