Faculty and staff in the Section on Health Choice, Policy, and Evaluation, part of NYU Langone’s Department of Population Health, have expertise in public health, healthcare, and the social sciences.

Administration

Our administration leads a team of faculty and staff who investigate how public policy and neighborhood and other environmental factors impact people’s health and the choices they make.

Brian D. Elbel, PhD, MPH, Director

In his research, Dr. Elbel uses behavioral economics to investigate how people make decisions about their health, in particular the ways in which public policy and the environment affect obesity and related chronic disease. His studies have led to new revelations about closely watched policies, such as his team’s finding that calorie-labeling mandates in New York City restaurants did not, on a general population level, lead people to eat healthier. Dr. Elbel directs NYU Langone’s Comprehensive Program on Obesity and is assistant dean for strategic initiatives in the Office of Science and Research. Learn more about Dr. Elbel.

Courtney Abrams, MA, Program Director

Ms. Abrams oversees the administration of the Section on Health Choice, Policy, and Evaluation. She can be reached at courtney.abrams@nyulangone.org or 646-501-3365.

Tisheya Ward, Program Coordinator

Ms. Ward is the coordinator for the Section on Health Choice, Policy, and Evaluation. She can be reached at tisheya.ward@nyulangone.org or 646-501-3394.

Core Faculty

Our faculty come from disciplines including behavioral economics, medicine, psychology, epidemiology, geographic science, community health, and health evaluation.

Stephanie L. Albert, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health
Research interests: food environment; health disparities; obesity

Carolyn Berry, PhD
Associate Professor, Departments of Population Health and Medicine
Research interests: health disparities; patient-centered medical homes; policy analysis; program evaluation

Marie Bragg, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health
Research interests: food industry; food marketing; health disparities; nutrition policy; obesity

Dustin T. Duncan, ScD
Associate Professor, Department of Population Health
Research interests: health knowledge/attitudes; geospatial analysis; residence characteristics; sexual and gender minority health

James R. Knickman, PhD 
Clinical Professor, Department of Population Health
Research interests: health policy; healthcare delivery; healthcare reform

Margaret Paul, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health
Research interests: estimating the impact of public health spending on population health; patient-centered medical home model in small primary care practices

Pasquale E. Rummo, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Population Health
Research interests: choice behavior; food environment; obesity

Staff

Joshua Arshonsky
Research Data Associate

Brandon Brooks, MPH
Research Coordinator

Denton Callander, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow

Andrea Davila Saad, MPA
Associate Research Coordinator

Kayla Fennelly
Program Coordinator

Kamila Kiszko, MPH
Program Director, Health Evaluation and Analytics Lab

Emily Lemieux, MPH
Research Analyst

Samina Lutfeali, MPH
Associate Research Coordinator

Matthew MacFarlane, MPH
Senior Research Coordinator

Rachel Massar, MPH
Research Coordinator

Roberta Scheinmann, MPH
Senior Research Coordinator

Barbara Tagliaferro, MPH, MA
Research Coordinator

Paul Tainsh, MPA
Project Manager

Ava Williams
Administrative Coordinator

Erilia Wu, MPA
Assistant Research Scientist