Education
PhD, Columbia University, 2008
MPhil, Columbia University, 2008
MPP, George Washington University, 2004
Overview
Lauren Hersch Nicholas is a health economist whose research focuses on the role of public policy in improving health and healthcare quality for the elderly. Her current research combines survey, administrative, and clinical data to study the interaction between healthcare utilization and economic outcomes. Dr. Nicholas's work uses clinical and econometric approaches to answer questions in medical and health economics, particularly for surgery and end-of-life care. She has received several awards for her research including the National Academy of Social Insurance John Heinz Dissertation Award, the AcademyHealth Article-of-the-Year Award, and the HCUP Most Outstanding Article Award.
Press Coverage
New York Times, "Helping Patients and Doctors Talk about Death" http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/26/opinion/sunday/helping-patients-and-doctors-talk-about-death.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0
New York Times "Rethinking Centers of Excellence (and Other Well-Laid Plans)" http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/04/rethinking-centers-of-excellence-and-other-well-laid-plans/
NPR Blog "Avoiding the Nursing Home Ups the Odds of Unwanted Medical Care" http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/04/08/300283337/avoiding-the-nursing-home-ups-the-risk-of-unwanted-medical-care
WebMD Health, "Advance Directives Shape End-of-Life Experiences" http://www.webmd.com/palliative-care/news/20111004/advance-directives-shape-end-of-life-experiences
Wall Street Journal, "Medicare Faulted on Surgery Evaluation" http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303496104575560522424599924
Honors and Awards
Delta Omega Honor Society, 2015
Johns Hopkins University Catalyst Award, 2015
HCUP Outstanding Article of the Year Award, 2014
AcademyHealth Article of the Year Award, 2012
Best Overall Abstract Award, Academic Surgical Congress, 2011
National Academy of Social Insurance John Heinz Dissertation Award, 2009