The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts showed off its growing expertise in health economics and policy at the recent Health Systems: The Next Generation 2023 conference organized by the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems.  

Several Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts researchers participated in the annual conference, which this year focused on the power of interdisciplinary collaboration. 

Lindsey Bullinger, assistant professor in the School of Public Policy; David Edwards, executive director of the Center for Urban Research; and Professor Michael Best of the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs served on the organizing committee. 

Among the IAC presenters were: 

• Edwards, who presented on “Closing Racial Equity Gaps by Improving the Health of Urban Neighborhoods” 

• Mayra Pineda-Torres, assistant professor in the School of Economics, who spoke about “The Economics of Reproductive Healthcare Access” 

• Shatakshee Dhongde, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor in the School of Economics and Ph.D. student Roshani Bulkunde presented on multidimensional economic hardship in the U.S. during the Covid-19 pandemic as part of an interdisciplinary poster session. 

Ivan Allen College’s School of Economics and the School of Public Policy have both recently expanded capacity in health economics and policy — investing in new faculty and establishing the Health Economics and Policy Innovation Collaborative to promote interdisciplinary research in the subject. 

“Healthcare is an issue that affects everyone, and we’re excited to help lead the way in finding ways to encourage policies that improve access and health outcomes, bring down costs, and advance health equity,” said Aaron Levine, associate dean for research and outreach, who also attended the conference. 

For more information on HEPIC, visit the collaborative’s website.