The Academy is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, a leader in health economics who made important contributions to understanding health care financing and health reform.

In 2014, the Academy was pleased to present Dr. Uwe Reinhardt with the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Health Policy. The following was read by immediate past-president Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford at the Academy’s Anniversary Discourse and Awards. A video of the evening, including Dr. Reinhardt’s acceptance remarks, can be accessed here.

“I am honored to present the Academy Medal for Distinguished Contributions in Health Policy to one of the nation’s leading authorities on health care economics, Dr. Uwe Reinhardt, who has made important contributions to the public’s understanding of health care financing and the implications of policy decisions about health care reform.

Dr. Reinhardt is the James Madison Professor of Political Economy and Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University. The bulk of his research has been focused on health economics and policy, both in the U.S. and abroad.

He is a member of the Institute of Medicine and past president of the Association of Health Services Researchers (now Academy Health) and of the International Health Economics Association. He has served on a number of government commissions, including the Physician Payment Review Commission (now part of Medicare Payment Advisory Commission or Medpac). He also is a Commissioner of the Kaiser Family Foundation Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured. He has been a trustee of Duke University and also of the Duke University Health System, and has served or still serves as director of several health-related corporations.

His academic honors include the Governor’s Gold Medal of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, several honorary doctorates, the Federal Merit Cross bestowed by Germany’s President and the William B. Graham Prize for Health Services research, also known as the Baxter Prize. He was awarded the Dr. Sc. (Hon) by Drexel University in 2011 and the National Institute of Health Care Management Outstanding Leadership Health Care Award in 2013.”

Jo Ivey Boufford, MD
Academy President, 2007-2017