About
Mark B McClellan, MD, PhD, is a Professor of the Practice at Duke University, serving as Director of the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy and Professor of the Practice in the Sanford School of Public Policy. He is an executive core faculty member at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy and associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society. His career spans both academic medicine and high-level government service, having previously served as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
- Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1993)
- M.D., Harvard Medical School (1992)
- M.P.A., Harvard University (1991)
- B.A., University of Texas, Austin (1985)
Dr. McClellan is a physician-economist whose work focuses on quality and value in health care, including payment and coverage reform, real-world evidence, policies supporting drug and device innovation, and initiatives to improve population health through integrated health care, public health, and social services. His research has been particularly influential during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he developed strategies for virus containment, healthcare system resilience, and accelerating therapeutic and vaccine development. His academic contributions span health economics, regulatory science, value-based care models, and healthcare system transformation.
His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on healthcare policy innovation, with particular emphasis on real-world evidence generation, AI applications in healthcare, regulatory science advancements, and value assessment frameworks. These works collectively show an evolving trajectory toward more integrated, data-driven healthcare systems that prioritize value and patient outcomes over traditional volume-based metrics.
- Member, National Academy of Medicine (2003)
Dr. McClellan maintains significant leadership roles across multiple sectors, serving on the boards of Johnson & Johnson, Cigna, Alignment Healthcare, and PrognomIQ; chairing the National Academy of Medicine's Leadership Consortium for a Value and Science-Driven Health System; and co-chairing the Guiding Committee for the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network. His advisory work with Blackstone Life Sciences, Arsenal Capital Partners, and MITRE demonstrates the practical application of his research across industry sectors. His academic leadership extends to directing the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, which received a $10 million gift from the Margolis Family Foundation in 2023 to advance health policy work globally.
He leads the Margolis Center for Health Policy, which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research, policy development, and implementation science focused on creating more effective, efficient, and equitable healthcare systems. The center brings together experts from medicine, economics, public policy, data science, and industry to address complex healthcare challenges through evidence-based solutions.
