Daniel Polsky

Daniel Polsky is the Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Health Economics and Policy at Johns Hopkins University, with joint appointments in the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Carey Business School. He is the founding Director of the Hopkins Business of Health Initiative (HBHI), a cross-university effort to integrate business principles with health sciences to improve health system performance. His work spans health economics, policy, and access to care, particularly for vulnerable populations.

• PhD in Economics, University of Pennsylvania (1996)
• Master of Public Policy, University of Michigan (1989)

Dr. Polsky's research focuses on health care cost, quality, and delivery, with special emphasis on Medicare and Medicaid, narrow provider networks, and access to care in low-resource settings. His work bridges economics and policy, often analyzing how payment models and market structures affect provider behavior and patient outcomes. He has a strong interest in aging populations and the economic challenges of Alzheimer's disease care, co-directing the Hopkins Economics of Alzheimer's Disease and Services Center.

His recent publications examine the impact of private equity on physician practices, Medicaid reimbursement and behavioral health, pandemic policy modeling, and Medicare Advantage network design. These works reflect a consistent theme: understanding how financial incentives and organizational structures shape health care access and quality. His research combines rigorous economic analysis with real-world policy relevance.

• Member, National Academy of Medicine
• Senior Economist, President’s Council of Economic Advisers
• Member, Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Health Advisers
• Co-author, Economic Evaluation in Clinical Trials (Oxford University Press)
• Associate Editor, Health Economics

Dr. Polsky is actively involved in mentoring students and faculty, leading major interdisciplinary research initiatives, and contributing to national health policy through consensus studies at the National Academies. He previously served as Executive Director of the Leonard Davis Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, leading a $110 million research portfolio. At Johns Hopkins, he continues to build collaborative platforms that unite business, public health, medicine, and nursing to tackle systemic health challenges.

He also leads the Hopkins Business of Health Initiative, which fosters innovation by bringing together diverse stakeholders to evaluate and scale effective health solutions. The initiative emphasizes evidence-based approaches to ensure that new ideas in health care delivery provide real value and equity.