Omar Galarraga CV- Click Here!
Omar Galarraga: I am a tenured professor at Brown University (Providence, RI, USA) where I also currently serve as Director of the Center of Global Public Health. My research uses insights from health and behavioral economics with a special focus on HIV treatment and prevention, health systems, and applied health econometric analysis. I evaluate economic-based interventions using experimental and rigorous non-experimental methods; my contributions appear in over 150 publications in health economics, and health services research journals. I am committed to education and mentorship: I have taught and developed health economics curricula at the undergraduate, doctorate and postgraduate levels, helping to train the next generation of health economists.
As a long-standing IHEA member, I have actively participated as a presenter, discussant or session chair in all but one of the association’s conferences over the past two decades. I have served as Program Chair for the past three World Congress meetings (Bali, Cape Town and 2021 Virtual).
I am keen to serve as Board Director for the Northern America Region for IHEA. I bring a substantial and diverse body of work that reflects both the breadth and depth of challenges faced by the North American region. My research over the past two decades has focused on the evaluation of complex health financing systems —such as U.S. Medicaid— and the expansion of coverage and access for the prevention of HIV, non-communicable diseases, and more recently, in response to COVID-19. My approach integrates applied health and behavioral economics to deliver rigorous, policy-relevant insights on pressing issues such as chronic disease management, health equity, and system efficiency.
Beyond the regional focus, I maintain a strong and sustained engagement in global health economics, leading projects in Ghana, Ecuador, Kenya, Mexico, and South Africa. These efforts have centered on HIV prevention, conditional economic incentives, and improving access in low- and middle-income settings. As an Associate Editor of Health Economics, I actively contribute to shaping the field’s discourse, promoting diversity in research topics, methods, and geographic representation.
If elected, I would bring a balanced and inclusive perspective. My priorities will include:
(a) Elevating North American research: Showcasing the region’s methodological contributions and policy innovations within iHEA’s global agenda.
(b) Fostering global inclusion: Bridging North American expertise with LMIC-focused research and expanding mentorship opportunities that reflect iHEA’s international character.
(c) Strengthening the association: Drawing on my experience as a standing member of NIH review study sections and my academic networks to enhance the impact and accessibility of iHEA programs across all career stages.
My experience and vision position me to represent the diverse and evolving interests of the North American health economics community, while also championing the global values at the core of iHEA’s mission. I would be honored to contribute to the association’s leadership and continued growth.