Dhruv Khurana, Ph.D.

I am a health economist whose research combines rigorous analysis with practical applications for health systems, public agencies, and community partners. My most significant innovation, the Whole PERSON Health Score, empowers care teams to identify and address patients’ comprehensive health needs. This tool was recognized by the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst: Innovations in Care Delivery as an Editors’ Pick of 2022 and was featured in Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Science‑in‑Action brief.

I have managed over $22 million in grants and contracts in partnership with Riverside County, the California Department of Health and Human Services, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. My key projects have assessed the impact of California’s Naloxone Distribution Program, Recovery Incentives (contingency management), and 1115 waivers, and I currently lead the first‑in‑nation evaluation of Riverside County’s Integrated Service Delivery System.

I design and teach health economics curricula for UCLA’s executive EMPH and MHA programs, and over the past 15 years I have taught Principles of Economics and related courses, beginning my higher‑education teaching career as one of the youngest lecturers in the California State University system. I also mentor healthcare leaders and early‑career scholars through professional‑society programs, including the American Society of Health Economists (ASHEcon) and the American Economic Association (AEA).

I have served as an executive member of the Economic Justice Committee for the National Council of Jewish Women’s Los Angeles Chapter, reflecting my commitment to equity‑focused policy and community engagement. I was named a 2020 ASHE “Diversity Scholar” and am a three‑time California State University “Most Valued Professor.” I hold a Ph.D. in Health Economics and Econometrics, an M.A. in Behavioral and Neuroeconomics, and an M.S. in Finance.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhruvkhurana/