Steffie Woolhandler

Steffie Woolhandler 2018

Steffie Woolhandler is an American physician, academic, and health policy expert. She is a prominent advocate for single-payer healthcare and has extensively researched and published on issues related to healthcare reform in the United States.

Early Life and Education

Woolhandler was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. She completed her undergraduate education at Stanford University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She then attended Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where she received her MD degree. Woolhandler furthered her education by obtaining a Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Berkeley.

Career

Woolhandler began her career in medicine as a primary care physician. She has held academic positions at several prestigious institutions, including Harvard Medical School, where she is a professor of medicine. Woolhandler is also a co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), an organization that advocates for a single-payer healthcare system in the United States.

Research and Advocacy

Woolhandler's research has focused on the inefficiencies and inequities of the American healthcare system. She has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals on topics such as healthcare access, medical billing, and the financial burden of medical expenses on patients. Her work often highlights the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes among different socioeconomic groups.

Publications

Woolhandler has co-authored several influential papers and books on healthcare policy. Some of her notable works include:

• "Costs of Health Care Administration in the United States and Canada" - A comparative study of administrative costs in the two countries.
• "Medical Bankruptcy in the United States" - An analysis of the impact of medical expenses on personal bankruptcy rates.

Awards and Honors

Throughout her career, Woolhandler has received numerous awards for her contributions to medicine and health policy. These include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Award in Health Policy Research and the American Public Health Association's David P. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health.

Personal Life

Woolhandler is married to David Himmelstein, who is also a physician and health policy expert. The couple frequently collaborates on research and advocacy projects.

See Also

• Single-payer healthcare
• Physicians for a National Health Program
• Healthcare reform in the United States
• Medical bankruptcy