معرفی
Caroline S Carlin serves as a Research Investigator in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. With expertise spanning health economics, econometrics, and health care policy, Dr. Carlin focuses on understanding how the environment of health care delivery and financing impacts cost and quality of care, particularly for patients with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Dr. Carlin earned her PhD in Health Policy Research and Management from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities in 2006. Her educational background is complemented by professional experience as a health care actuary (earning Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries) and Director of Benefits for Target Corporation.
- PhD, Health Policy Research and Management, University of Minnesota Twin Cities (2006)
Dr. Carlin's research interests center on health economics and policy, with specific focus on Medicare and Medicare Advantage programs, primary care organization, diabetes management, and the impact of health care financing structures on patient outcomes. Her work often utilizes large health plan administrative data and sophisticated econometric methods to address critical questions in health services research. She has made significant contributions to understanding provider consolidation effects, narrow network design, and optimal care models for patients with chronic conditions. Her fingerprint analysis reveals strong concentrations in Medicare, Primary Health Care, Diabetes, and Quality of Care.
Analysis of Dr. Carlin's recent publications shows a clear progression toward examining health disparities and innovative care delivery models. Her work increasingly addresses vulnerable populations, with recent studies examining care for dual-eligible beneficiaries with dementia and culturally tailored interventions for the Hmong community. Much of her research employs causal inference methods to evaluate the impact of health care policies and delivery system changes, with significant focus on diabetes care improvement through the UNITED Study initiative.
Dr. Carlin has received notable recognition including:
- Fellowship in the Society of Actuaries
Dr. Carlin has been Principal or Co-Investigator on numerous research grants totaling millions of dollars, primarily from NIH and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Her current projects include 'Resource Use and Quality of Care in Medicare Advantage' (NIH-funded, 2022-2026) and 'Understanding Infrastructure Transformation Effects on Diabetes (The UNITED Study)' (NIH-funded, 2021-2022). Her grant portfolio demonstrates sustained funding for research examining health care delivery models, particularly for patients with diabetes and Medicare beneficiaries.
Dr. Carlin is actively involved in research teams focused on diabetes care improvement and Medicare policy analysis. Her current work with the UNITED Study team examines how primary care practice components affect diabetes outcomes in patient-centered medical homes, collaborating with researchers across multiple departments and institutions.
