The health policy program showcases the strengths of The Murphy Institute by harnessing the expertise of the Health Policy Working Group, with the goal of producing interdisciplinary research that addresses critical healthcare policy issues. The working group has established a network of professionals from Tulane’s uptown and downtown campuses who collaborate on research projects and strengthen individual work by offering feedback from a diverse pool of disciplinary expertise.

Mary Olson is an Associate Professor of Economics at Tulane and leader of the Health Policy Working Group. Professor Olson’s teaching and research interests include health economics, the political economy of health policy, regulation, and the study of bureaucracy. She is an expert on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation. Her current research interests include studying the regulatory and firm-specific determinants of drug safety.

Christopher Ambrose is the postdoctoral fellow in health policy.  Chris completed his undergraduate education at Gonzaga University and received his Ph.D. in economics from Washington State University in 2021.  His research focuses on health and drug policy.  He is currently studying the effects of recreational marijuana laws on substance use outcomes.