Emily Lawton joined the HMP Department in Fall 2023 as an Assistant Professor, and shares about her current research projects and teaching experience here at Iowa.

Can you describe your research interests and any current projects you are working on?

My research interests span health services, health policy, and health economics research. I conduct both qualitative and quantitative research. This includes research using a wide variety of data including Medicare and other claims data. My research evaluates health care policies and practices, with emphasis on health care delivery and quality, patient safety, hospital readmissions, health care disparities, and financial incentives.

 My current research projects include:

(1) several studies pertaining to health care provider participation and performance in accountable care organization (ACO) models as well as

(2) several studies investigating the intended and unintended effects of health care payment policies (e.g., the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program) on key patient, provider, and payer outcomes as well as vulnerable populations that may be distinctly affected.

I also aim to use the knowledge gained from such research to inform policy and practice—to bring about improvements in health care quality, spending, disparities, and patient safety.

Are there any opportunities or connections here at Iowa that you are excited about or that might be inspiring your work in a particular direction?

I greatly enjoy collaborating with other researchers in my department and through the RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis. This includes collaborations on some of the research studies mentioned above. 

What do you enjoy teaching, and what do you hope students will take with them in their work in the public health sector?

I love teaching about the US health care system. Through this course, I aim to provide both breadth and depth for understanding intricacies of the US health care system, including complex details and results that may seem unexpected or counter-intuitive. Through this course, I hope that students take with them: how subtle policy design components can create incentives that shape the way key stakeholders respond—sometimes in unforeseen ways—and in turn, this has significant real-world consequences for vital provider, payer, and patient outcomes.

 Any other things you’d like to share to help those around CPH, our students, and alumni get to know you?

I’m passionate about conducting rigorous research to address pressing health challenges, collaborating with multidisciplinary scholars and stakeholders, as well as preparing students with critical knowledge and skills to have an impact throughout their careers. I also love learning about others’ research or experiences, so don’t hesitate to email me to say hello! Also, if we share similar research interests, I’d love to discuss this further as well as see if there are opportunities for collaboration!