Darshak Sanghavi Joins the Engelberg Center at Brookings

Washington, D.C. – Darshak Sanghavi, MD, recent chief of pediatric cardiology and associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, has joined the Engelberg Center’s Health Care Value and Innovation Initiative at Brookings as the Richard Merkin Fellow, Vice President and Director of Economic Studies Ted Gayer announced today.

An award-winning medical educator, clinician, and best-selling author, Dr. Sanghavi has worked in medical settings around the world and published dozens of scientific papers on topics ranging from the molecular biology of cell death to tuberculosis transmission in Peruvian slums. At Brookings, he will use novel approaches, including new media technologies to reach frontline clinicians, such as doctors and nurses, to accelerate clinically-based innovation in health care delivery.

“Darshak’s work on making sure clinicians have the tools and support they need to provide a critical foundation for effective health care reform is very important,” said Engelberg Center Director Alice Rivlin.

“In order to make true delivery reform possible, we have to have not only input, but leadership from, clinicians who are in the field – and we need to do a much better job of supporting their efforts,” said Director of the Health Care Value and Innovation Initiative Dr. Mark B. McClellan. “Darshak is uniquely qualified to help us achieve this goal.”

Dr. Sanghavi speaks widely on medical issues at national conferences, advises federal and state health departments, and is a former visiting media fellow of the Kaiser Family Foundation and a winner of the Wharton Business Plan Competition. In addition to his academic work, he has written widely on health topics for the New York Times, Boston Globe, Slate, and the Washington Post, and appeared regularly on NBC’s Today. His work leans strongly on combining clinical innovation with strong public engagement.