Wendy Max

Wendy Max is a Professor at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), nationally and internationally recognized as an expert on the economics of tobacco. Her research spans over 25 years, focusing on smoking-attributable costs, econometric modeling, and policy evaluation. She has developed state-of-the-art models to analyze lifetime costs, Medicaid/Medicare expenditures, and regional impacts across California's counties and states globally.

• Education
  • B.A. in History and Economics, Stanford University (1976)
  • M.S. in Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder (1981)
  • Ph.D. in Economics, University of Colorado, Boulder (1983)

Her research interests include tobacco economics, healthcare cost analysis, econometric modeling, and public health policy. Recent studies examine secondhand smoke exposure costs in China, economic impacts of tobacco policies in vulnerable populations, and novel tobacco product cost modeling. She has testified before the California legislature, served as an expert witness in tobacco litigation, and presented at global conferences.

Wendy’s publications analyze trends in e-cigarette use, respiratory health impacts, and socioeconomic disparities in tobacco-related expenditures. Her work often integrates longitudinal data and policy evaluation frameworks, contributing to tobacco control strategies and healthcare cost reduction.

• Scientific Awards
  • Hal Luft Mentoring Award (2012)
  • Helen Nahm Research Award (2010)
  • Honorary Visiting Professorship at Beijing Normal University (2001-2006)

As a mentor, she has guided postdoctoral fellows including Dr. John, Dr. Yao, Dr. Lindsay, and Dr. Chambers. Her NIH/NCI funded project (2013-2018) focused on improved models for tobacco product regulation. She collaborates internationally in India and China, addressing global health economics challenges.