Brandyn F. Churchill

Brandyn F. Churchill serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Administration & Policy at American University's School of Public Affairs. He is also a Faculty Research Fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), with research supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Churchill's research program focuses on the intersection of health economics and public policy, particularly examining how information, cost, and social comparisons influence healthcare decision-making. His work investigates how government recommendations affect health behaviors, with specific attention to cancer screening guidelines, opioid restrictions, and indoor tanning prohibitions. He also explores how public policies and social comparisons shape self-image and weight-related behaviors among adolescents and the general population.

His recent publications demonstrate consistent research output through 2025, with working papers addressing critical issues in health policy. These studies employ rigorous econometric methods including difference-in-differences and instrumental variables approaches to establish causal relationships between policy interventions and health behaviors.

• Faculty Research Fellow, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Dr. Churchill's research program receives support from the National Institutes of Health, indicating the significance and potential impact of his work in health policy. His affiliation with NBER provides him with a platform to contribute to economic research with policy implications. His work bridges academic research and practical policy applications, particularly in healthcare regulation and behavioral interventions.

His research laboratory focuses on health policy evaluation using large-scale datasets and natural experiments. Current projects examine the effects of government recommendations on health behaviors, supply-side restrictions in pharmaceutical markets, and the role of social comparisons in shaping body image and related health behaviors.