Elliott S. Fisher, MD, MPH
A leading healthcare researcher and advocate for improving health system performance, Elliott Fisher is a professor of Medicine, Community and Family Medicine and Health Policy at The Dartmouth Institute and the Geisel School of Medicine.
In his early work, Fisher explored the causes and consequences of the dramatic differences in healthcare spending and utilization across the country, research which led him to the conclusion that the United States was wasting a substantial portion of spending on avoidable and potentially harmful care. The landmark research was cited by Peter R. Orszag as President Barack Obama’s administration crafted the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Fisher was one of the originators of the concept of “accountable care organizations” (ACOs) and worked with colleagues to carry out the research that led to their inclusion in the Affordable Care Act. His current research is exploring how physician practices, hospitals and integrated delivery systems have adopted innovations in payment and delivery and their impact on patient care. He has published over 200 research articles and commentaries and is a member of the Institute of Medicine. His research and opinions have appeared in multiple national media outlets, including The New York Times and 60 Minutes.
Fisher is a strong supporter of locally organized, financed and operated community health collaboratives and is a co-founder of ReThink Health. As the flagship initiative of The Rippel Foundation, ReThink is dedicated to accelerating health system reform and was founded on the provocative theory that because both health and health care are locally produced, communities themselves can and should be key agents of reform.
He earned a BA from Harvard College, a MD from Harvard Medical School, and a MPH from the University of Washington.