Faculty and Staff

Dr. Acharya, a global health economist by training, primarily uses field experiments and quasi-experimental designs to evaluate programs, policies, and interventions in vulnerable populations.

Chris has diverse industry-based experience in Children’s Hospital administration, insurance, hospital association work and hospital-based health systems.

Joe was a partner for 20 years with Price Waterhouse specializing in healthcare and served as President & CEO of New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, a Beth Israel Lahey affiliated hospital. He focuses on the financial courses in our program.

Ashlee provides primary support to the faculty and students in the PhD program, as well as backup support to the online and residential MHA programs. 

Aileen teaches in the undergraduate HPA program, following an extensive career in healthcare delivery, operations, administration, and leadership roles in acute care, integrated health systems, managed care, and not-for-profit healthcare delivery.

Charleen's research interests include health and public health law, focusing on how laws influence access to care; how hospitals and other organizations respond to laws and other recommendations.

Managing communications and marketing needs for the College of Health and Human Development, specifically the departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Health Policy and Administration. 

Ron has broad, industry-based health care experience, having served in numerous roles over his nearly 25-year health care professional career- including being the chief operating officer for a major tertiary care health care system for more than a decade.

Carol teaches in the MHA program, following an extensive career as a healthcare executive in multiple healthcare settings and management roles in provider and payor environments.

John's research interests focus on the functioning of health insurance markets and the way in which health shocks impact labor-market outcomes and the use of medical care. 

Matt is a healthcare executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in integrated health systems, physician practice management, and value-based care.

Colette focuses on recruitment and admissions, advising and career development, alumni, and stakeholder engagement, and enhancing the program’s visibility through marketing and outreach with the goal of driving student success and program growth for the MHA Programs.

Dennis Scanlon is Distinguished Professor of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development, Director of the Center for Health Care and Policy Research, and the NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative at The Pennsylvania State University.

Yunfeng's research focuses on how consumers (patients) react to important changes in health care markets, such as information, insurance, technological advancement, and government policies.

Douglas is a board-certified family physician with experience in the private practice of full-spectrum family medicine, clinical teaching of medical students and resident physicians, and varied physician executive positions over the past 30 years.

Crista provides administrative support to faculty, students and staff for both the online and residential Master of Health Administration (MHA) programs. She also provides back up support for the PhD program.

Dr. Vanness is an economist who uses Bayesian and simulation-based methods to evaluate intervention costs and outcomes. His research on cost-effectiveness analysis has been widely cited in policy guiding medical care pricing, coverage, and access in the U.S.

Fran Yeager manages programs and events for the Department of Health Policy and Administration (HPA).