Ross D. Shachter

Ross D. Shachter is an Associate Professor of Management Science and Engineering at Stanford University, affiliated with the Stanford Health Policy initiative. He has been on the faculty since 1982, following his PhD in Operations Research from UC Berkeley. His research focuses on decision analysis methodologies, particularly influence diagrams and belief networks, applied to medical decision-making and public health policy.

His work includes modeling uncertain processes in healthcare contexts, such as AIDS policy evaluation and bladder cancer follow-up strategies. During a leave at Duke University’s Center for Health Policy, he developed diagram-based approaches for medical technology assessment. Collaborations with clinicians and policymakers highlight his interdisciplinary approach.

Key contributions span cost-effectiveness analyses of vaccines (e.g., Helicobacter pylori), diagnostic algorithms for pulmonary embolism, and optimization of healthcare decision processes. His research emphasizes quantitative methods to improve health outcomes and policy design.