Omar Galárraga, a health economist and health services researcher, is the Director of the Health Services Research doctoral program at Brown University, where he is a tenured Associate Professor of Health Services Policy and Practice at the School of Public Health. He serves in the steering committee for the Population Studies and Training Center (PSTC), and as an advisor to the university's Data Science Initiative.
His research uses insights from health and behavioral economics with a special focus on HIV treatment and prevention, health systems and implementation science. He evaluates economic-based interventions using randomized and non-randomized methods; his contributions have appeared in over 115 publications in health economics, public health and health services research journals. He currently serves as MPI on 3 NIH-funded R01 projects: (1) Harambee: Integrated Community-Based HIV/NCD Care & Microfinance Groups in Kenya [5R01MH118075] measures the effectiveness, mechanisms, and cost-effectiveness of an HIV differentiated care model integrating community-based care into existing microfinance groups; (2) Impact of Prescription Caps on Health Outcomes in People Infected with HIV [5R01MH122301] evaluates how prescription cap policies imposed on low-income Medicaid beneficiaries impact treatment adherence and can have adverse effects on health and allocation of public funds; (3) Empirical testing of a widely available insurance-based monetary incentive program for exercise: A randomized trial [1R01CA262894] is an RCT to test different financial incentive programs to promote physical activity among low-active adults.
He serves as a scientific reviewer for over 30 journals; and as deputy editor for the Journal of the International AIDS Society (JIAS). Dr. Galárraga also serves for the NIH Science of Implementation in Health and Healthcare (SIHH) study section, and the Office of AIDS Research Advisory Council (OARAC). He obtained his Ph.D. in Health Economics at the Johns Hopkins University.