Overview
I am a physician and behavioral scientist at Duke University. My research and writing explores the quirks in human nature that influence our lives — the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect our health, our happiness and the way our society functions. (What fun would it be to tackle just the easy problems?)
I am currently exploring controversial issues about the role of values and preferences in health care decision making, from decisions at the bedside to policy decisions. I use the tools of decision psychology and behavioral economics to explore topics like informed consent, shared decision making and health care spending. My books include Pricing Life (MIT Press 2000) and Free Market Madness (Harvard Business Press, 2009). My newest book, Critical Decisions (HarperCollins), came out in September of 2012, and explores the challenges of shared decision making between doctors and patients.
I am currently exploring controversial issues about the role of values and preferences in health care decision making, from decisions at the bedside to policy decisions. I use the tools of decision psychology and behavioral economics to explore topics like informed consent, shared decision making and health care spending. My books include Pricing Life (MIT Press 2000) and Free Market Madness (Harvard Business Press, 2009). My newest book, Critical Decisions (HarperCollins), came out in September of 2012, and explores the challenges of shared decision making between doctors and patients.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Madge and Dennis T. McLawhorn University Distinguished Professor
·
2012 - Present
Fuqua School of Business
Professor of Business Administration
·
2010 - Present
Fuqua School of Business
Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy
·
2010 - Present
Sanford School of Public Policy
Professor of Medicine
·
2010 - Present
Medicine, General Internal Medicine,
Medicine
Professor in Population Health Sciences
·
2020 - Present
Population Health Sciences,
Basic Science Departments
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute
·
2013 - Present
Duke Cancer Institute,
Institutes and Centers
Faculty Associate in the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, & History of Medicine
·
2017 - Present
Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities & History of Medicine,
Institutes and Centers
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
·
2017 - Present
Duke Science & Society,
University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy
·
2024 - Present
Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy,
University Institutes and Centers
In the News
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Recent Publications
Understanding the Causes of Nonadherence to Chronic Medications Among Patients With Cancer and Multimorbidity: A Qualitative Study.
Journal Article J Gen Intern Med · December 9, 2025 BACKGROUND: When patients with multimorbidity (≥ 2 chronic diseases) are diagnosed with cancer, their adherence to non-cancer medications declines. Nonadherence in this patient population has been linked to an increased risk of disease progression, hospita ... Full text Link to item CiteEngaging Peer Mentors for Opportunity, Well-Being, and Equity Realization-A Leadership Intervention for Women in Academic Medicine.
Journal Article J Womens Health (Larchmt) · December 2025 Background: The underrepresentation of women in senior positions persists in academic medicine. Data-driven strategies are needed to catalyze advancement. Methods: We designed a novel, National Institutes of Health-funded intervention-Engaging Peer Mentors ... Full text Link to item CitePatients' Perceptions of Their Physicians' Interpersonal Manner and Technical Competence: A Qualitative Study of Online Written Reviews.
Journal Article Medical care research and review : MCRR · December 2025 Patients increasingly use online rating and review websites to share their clinical experiences, yet few studies have taxonomized how patients perceive their physicians. We developed a theoretical framework identifying the factors comprising patients' perc ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
2/3 CTSA K12 Program at Duke University
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2025 - 2030Improving medication adherence and disease control for patients with multimorbidity: the role of price transparency tools
ResearchMentor · Awarded by National Institute on Aging · 2023 - 2027Racial disparities in shared decision making for patients with acute respiratory failure
ResearchAdvisor · Awarded by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2022 - 2027View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities ·
1988
M.D.
Carleton College ·
1984
B.A.