Bio: David Melzer, a 1998-99 Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy, is a clinical senior research associate in the Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge. His research interests span policy issues in mental health, population aging and new technology. Current funded research includes national projects on mentally disordered offenders, a needs assessment review of services for dementia and policy analyses of the Medical Research Council's study of Cognitive Function and Aging. His publications cover a wide range of policy issues from studies of aftercare for people with schizophrenia to the effects of patent law on the development and evaluation of health care interventions. In his previous post at the National Health Service, he was responsible for advising Cambridge Health Authority on the commissioning of mental health and other services. He qualified in Medicine in 1981, received his M.Sc. in Public Health in 1987, became a member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 1989, and was elected a Fellow of the Faculty in 1998. He is also a member of the scientific advisory board of the Journal of Evidence-Based Health Policy and Management.
Placement: Johns Hopkins University
Mentors: Gerard Anderson, Ph.D.
Project: Epidemiological Studies in Health Policy and Aging
Description: Melzer's project explored policy-related issues related to aging and disability, particularly the need for and drivers of long-term care. Projected trends in long-term care utilization were examined, as well as differences based on socioeconomic status. He undertook a literature review and analysis of longitudinal datasets.