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Brystana G. Kaufman

Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences
Population Health Sciences

Overview


Areas of Expertise: Health Economics, Health Policy, and Health Services Research

Dr. Kaufman is a health services researcher focused on improving the value of care for older adults with complex care needs, such as serious illness or developmental disability. She brings expertise in causal inference as well as Medicaid and Medicare value-based payment models to inform evidence-based program design. Her work prioritizes the evaluation of health disparities for underserved communities and seeks to inform whole-person models of care that integrate traditional clinical services with behavioral health, socioeconomic and social supports to address older adults’ diverse needs and reflect their preferences for care. She worked with the CMS Innovation Center as a 2022-2023 Health and Aging Policy fellow, and she is core faculty with the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy. 

Dr. Kaufman received her Master of Science in Public Health and PhD in Health Policy and Management from the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. 

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences · 2021 - Present Population Health Sciences, Basic Science Departments
Core Faculty Member, Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy · 2024 - Present Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, University Initiatives & Academic Support Units

In the News


Published November 2, 2020
When states mandate masks, fewer people catch COVID-19.
Published October 1, 2019
More Patients with Heart Disease Die at Home than in Hospital
Published September 7, 2016
Lack Of Medicaid Expansion Hurts Rural Hospitals More Than Urban Facilities

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Recent Publications


Multi-Level Factors Impacting Implementation of Outpatient Palliative Care: Perceptions of VA Providers.

Journal Article J Appl Gerontol · May 27, 2025 To develop strategies to better meet palliative needs for older adults, it is critical to understand what factors influence the implementation and sustainability of palliative care (PC) in the outpatient setting. This study explored provider perceptions ab ... Full text Link to item Cite

Incidence and prevalence of dementia among US Medicare beneficiaries, 2015-21: population based study.

Journal Article BMJ · May 20, 2025 OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and prevalence of dementia in a nationally representative cohort of US Medicare beneficiaries, stratified by important subgroups. DESIGN: Population based study. SETTING: Nationwide study between 2015 and 2021. PARTICI ... Full text Link to item Cite

Caregiver Communication and Preparedness During Transitions in Care: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Journal Article J Palliat Med · May 19, 2025 Background: Patients with severe and life-limiting illnesses transitioning out of the hospital often rely on family caregivers (FCGs) to manage communication with health care teams during hospitalizations and outpatient care. However, FCGs infrequently rec ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Improving the lives of persons living with dementia and their families through person-centered measurement of home time

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2021 - 2026

EXpanding Technology-Enabled, Nurse-Delivered Chronic Disease Care (EXTEND)

ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institute of Nursing Research · 2021 - 2025

Engaging Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to inform a Patient-centered "Home Time" Outcome

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute · 2024 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2018 Ph.D.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · 2015 M.P.H.
Bowling Green State University · 2003 B.A.