Health Economics

Health Economics combines current economic theory, recent research, and health policy issues into an accessible overview of the field. Recent research illustrates core economic concepts, which are then used to focus on key policy areas, such as the structure and effects of Medicare reform, insurance plan design, and emerging medical technologies.

Charles E. Phelps went to the University of Rochester in 1984 as professor and director of the Public Policy Analysis Program, a graduate program offered by the Department of Political Science, in conjunction with the Department of Economics. In 1989 he became chair of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine in the School of Medicine and Dentistry. He became Provost in July 1, 1994, and served until July 31, 2007. As Provost, he was responsible for overseeing the academic activity of the University, including teaching, research, and supporting services (e.g., libraries, information technology, and technology transfer) in each of the University's six schools. He currently holds the titles of University Professor and Provost Emeritus.

Phelps has achieved national and international recognition for his scholarly research. In 1991 he was elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and to the National Bureau for Economic Research. He served for six years on the Report Review Committee of the National Academies.

Phelps is currently a Fellow at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University (academic year 2008–2009).

Provost Emeritus Phelps participated from 1997 to 2007 in the Association of American Universities’ Committee on Digital Technology and Intellectual Property Rights, and was an active participant in the AAU's work in areas involving related topics. He testified before Congress in June 1998 on issues pertaining to the implementation of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaty and has spoken on related matters in conferences on these issues sponsored by, among others, the Department of Commerce. In July 2005, he testified on Patent Reform for the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property.

Provost Emeritus Phelps earned his bachelor’s degree from Pomona College in Claremont, California. He then earned both an MBA in hospital administration and PhD in economics from the University of Chicago. Before beginning his career at the University of Rochester, Phelps worked at the RAND Corporation from 1971 to 1984.

Phelps served from 1998–2006 on the Board of Trustees for the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) in Washington, DC, the last two years as Chair. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago, and on the Board of Directors of VirtualScopics, Inc., a diagnostic-imaging technology company located in Rochester, New York. He also serves as an advisor to CVT, a pharmaceutical company in Palo Alto, California.