Sarah Friedman

Sarah Friedman is an Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno, specializing in quantitative health services research focused on health care policy impacts for underserved populations including Medicaid recipients, individuals with substance use disorders, and veterans. She serves as evaluation officer for Project ECHO Nevada, leading telementoring program evaluations to expand health care access.

Her educational background:

• Ph.D. in Health Policy and Management, University of California, Los Angeles, 2017
• MSPH in Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 2009
• B.A. in Economics and Mathematics, Bryn Mawr College, 2005

Dr. Friedman's research centers on analyzing large administrative datasets (Medicaid claims, cancer registries, VA records) to investigate opioid prescribing patterns, medication access for opioid use disorder, mental health services, and cancer care for homeless populations. Her work bridges rigorous data analysis with real-world policy challenges to advance health equity and system effectiveness, particularly through telementoring initiatives like Project ECHO Nevada.

Recent publications (2023-2025) reveal strong focus on opioid use disorder treatment accessibility, Medicaid policy evaluation, and veterans' health disparities. Key themes include state opioid policy impacts, telementoring program effectiveness for buprenorphine access expansion, racial/ethnic disparities in emergency department prescribing, and geographic gaps in women veterans' gynecological care.

No scientific awards were mentioned in the provided text.

She teaches graduate courses including PBH 341: Health Policy, CHS 719: Advanced Research Methods, CHS 741: Health Policy Analysis, and CHS 757: Health Economics. Her Project ECHO Nevada role involves rigorous evaluation of telementoring programs designed to build clinical capacity across Nevada's health system.

Professional affiliations include the College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) and Academy Health, with research collaborations spanning Nevada Medicaid, Veterans Health Administration, and state public health agencies.