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Health Economics, Systems and Policy

At the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health, our Department of Health Economics, Systems & Policy (HESP) prepares the next generation of public health leaders to tackle some of society’s most urgent challenges. From analyzing how policies shape access to care, to modeling the economics of health systems, our students and faculty are united by a common goal: to create healthier, more equitable communities.

HESP is dedicated to improving healthcare delivery and policy through innovative research in health economics, organization of the healthcare and public health systems, implementation and improvement science, and health policy.

Here, you won’t just study policy—you’ll shape it. You’ll graduate with the skills, connections, and experiences that make you competitive in research, government, nonprofits, and global health leadership.

Academic Programs

  • Master of Public Health (MPH) – Concentration in Health Economics Systems, and Policy
  • PhD – Concentration in Health Economics, Systems, and Policy
  • Graduate Certificates – Health Care and Public Health Quality Improvement

Why Choose HESP?

What makes HESP different from other public health disciplines?

  • Unique Blend of Disciplines – We integrate economics, systems thinking, implementation science, and public policy to positively impact health.
  • Applied Research – Students work alongside faculty on projects for local, state, national, and international agencies, community partners, and health systems.
  • Strong Partnerships – Our collaborations with health systems, public health departments, nonprofits, and global organizations ensure that our work has reach and relevance across Texas and beyond.
  • Student Support – From mentorship to career support, we provide guidance at every step of your journey.

Research That Shapes Policy and Systems

HESP faculty and students are engaged in cutting-edge research, including:

  • Health economics and cost-effectiveness of interventions.
  • Implementing healthcare innovations and improving quality of care
  • Comparative studies of health systems and policies
  • Policy evaluation and evidence translation.
  • Understanding the impact of non-medical drivers of health
  • Forecasting public health outcomes under different policy scenarios.

Students are not bystanders—they are active participants, co-authoring papers, presenting at conferences, and influencing policy discussions.

Examples of Special Initiatives Led by HESP Faculty Members

Advancing Implementation and Improvement Science (AIIS) Program:

The AIIS Program seeks to further enhance collaborations among UT Southwestern, affiliated health systems, community partners, and policy organizations in the pursuit of common missions to enhance the health and healthcare of the people of North Texas and beyond. The goal is to develop a system to identify potentially successful projects using implementation and improvement science – which uses rigorous, data-driven research to expand programs and improve a community’s health. In addition to members conducting implementation and improvement science studies, AIIS offers methodologic consultation, assistance in developing collaborations, and training in implementation & improvement sciences. Program faculty develop and evaluates team-based approaches to deliver evidence-based care and public health services, learning health and public health systems, and population-wide innovations.

Economic Valuation Unit

Utilizing HESP’s core of stellar economists, economic evaluation identifies, measures, and values the inputs and outcomes of two alternative activities, followed by a comparative analysis of their costs and consequences. The Economic Valuation Unit collaborates with research teams, health systems, and policy groups to conduct practical economic valuation projects, including cost effectiveness analysis and calculating the cost of interventions and their implementation.

Veterans’ Health Partnerships

Faculty across OSPH and UT Southwestern collaborate with the North Texas Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system to continuously enhance the care and services earned by Veterans. In HESP, we are continuing to develop enhanced health services research and evaluation of initiatives aimed at better understanding how to meet the health needs of Veterans. In addition to research, HESP and the OSPH collaborate with the UT Southwestern Medical School, North Texas VA Health Care System and Partland Health to enhance the population health perspective in the training of physicians and other health professionals.

Faculty Profiles

https://osph.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/health-economics-systems-and-policy/faculty.html 

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