About Us
Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics is a national leader in advancing health policy through transformative research.
Join Us for an Upcoming Event
About Penn LDI
As the University of Pennsylvania’s hub for research on population health, the health care system, and health policy, we support and amplify transformative research among experts from all of Penn’s schools, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
From the Executive Director
Welcome to Penn LDI. We are the University of Pennsylvania’s hub for research on health care delivery, health policy, and population health. From our founding in 1967 when Medicare and Medicaid began, through the passage of and challenges to the Affordable Care Act, our researchers have asked and answered the most important questions aimed at creating a more equitable, robust, and sustainable health care system.
We bring together researchers from across the University with a common mission: to achieve effective and efficient health care for all people through collaborative, interdisciplinary research and education. Over 50 years ago, LDI was the first institute of its kind and, for decades, was the only interdisciplinary group dedicated to health economics. Today, it remains the leader in the field with a deep commitment to scientific rigor, policy-relevant research, and training the next generation of researchers.
While we were the first institute to bridge the once disparate fields of business and medicine, we do not rest on our laurels; our priorities continue to focus on the most pressing health system challenges of the day, whether it be whether it be AI in health care or substance use disorder, or more longstanding issues such as health equity, care of older adults, access and coverage, health care payment and financing, and population health.
On behalf of Penn LDI, welcome to our virtual home. I invite you to get to know us through our comprehensive directory of our more than 550 affiliated researchers, as well as LDI leadership and staff. You’ll also find our latest news, blog posts, and briefs about the cutting-edge research we do, the evidence-based policy we promote, and the seminars and conferences we hold throughout the year. And, in everything that we do, we work together to drive impact and create a stronger health care system that is part of a more equitable world.
I hope you find our work accessible, informative, and inspirational.
Rachel M. Werner, MD, PhD
Executive Director, Penn LDI
Robert D. Eilers Memorial – William Maul Measey Professor in Health Care Management and Economics
Professor of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
P.S. Stay connected with us via LinkedIn, Bluesky, X, and our newsletters.
Penn LDI’s Impact
Penn LDI’s success stems from creating multidisciplinary solutions to our nation’s most pressing health care problems. We’ve gathered 20 inspiring stories to showcase the transformative power of our institute and illustrate how a great unmet need can be overcome through data-driven research and the efforts of experts across fields.
Fast Facts
1967Year Penn LDI was Founded
550+Affiliated Researchers
11,300Journal Articles Published (2020–2024)
$160M+Awarded in External Grant Funding
$400K+Awarded in Research Grants from LDI
6,600+Event Attendees
Partners
We partner with national, regional, and Penn-affiliated organizations, health systems, nonprofits, government, and the private sector.
Governance and Committees
See an overview of Penn LDI’s governing and advisory members.
LDI Staff
Meet our team and find contact information.
Fellows Directory
Our 500+ Fellows are national experts and thought leaders who bridge all of Penn’s schools, the University of Pennsylvania Health System, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
History
With a gift from Leonard and Sophie Davis, the University of Pennsylvania established the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics in 1967.
Contact Us
Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics
University of Pennsylvania
Colonial Penn Center
3641 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-898-5611
Fax: 215-898-0229
PennLDI-info@wharton.upenn.edu