John Zaven Ayanian, MD, MPP
Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
2800 Plymouth Rd
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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About
Dr. John Ayanian is the inaugural Director of the Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation which includes 830 faculty members from 17 schools and colleges at the University of Michigan, where he is the Alice Hamilton Distinguished University Professor of Medicine and Healthcare Policy, Professor of Health Management and Policy in the School of Public Health, Professor of Public Policy in the Ford School of Public Policy, and a practicing general internist at Michigan Medicine. He leads a faculty team evaluating the Healthy Michigan Plan, which has expanded Medicaid coverage to 700,000 adults in Michigan. He has served as an Associate Editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and as founding Editor in Chief of JAMA Health Forum.
Dr. Ayanian is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Association of American Physicians, and Alpha Omega Alpha, and a Master of the American College of Physicians. He has received the John Eisenberg National Award for Career Achievement in Research from the Society of General Internal Medicine and the Distinguished Investigator Award from AcademyHealth. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Duke University, medical degree from Harvard Medical School, and master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. He completed residency and fellowship training in primary care internal medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and a post-doctoral fellowship in health services research at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Links
IHPI Director webpage linkedin twitter
Qualifications
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FellowshipBrigham and Women's Hospital, Medicine, Boston, United States
1990 - 1992
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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FellowshipHarvard University, Health Policy & Management, Cambridge, United States
1990 - 1992
Postdoctoral Fellowship
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Internal Medicine ResidencyBrigham and Women's Hospital, Medicine, Boston, United States
1987 - 1990
Residency
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MD, MedicineHarvard Medical School, Boston, United States
1982 - 1987
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MPP, Health PolicyHarvard University, Cambridge, United States
1985 - 1987
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AB, History & Political ScienceDuke University, Durham, United States
1978 - 1982
Center Memberships
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Center MemberAI and Digital Health Innovation
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Center MemberInstitute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation
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Center MemberCenter for Global Health Equity
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Center MemberCaswell Diabetes Institute
Research Overview
Access to care
Quality of care
Health equity & health care disparities
Social determinants of health care, including race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic factors, and insurance coverage
Recent Publications
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Schulson LB, Hatfield L, Chen A, Anderson TS, Souza J, Ayanian JZ, Landon BE. JAMA Network Open, 2026 Sep 1; 9 (9): e2632953Journal ArticleHealth Care Utilization and Equity in Medicare Advantage Compared With Traditional Medicare
DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.32953 PMID: 42714907 -
Amba V, Tipirneni R, Ayanian JZ, Agarwal S. JAMA Network Open, 2026 Sep 1; 9 (9): e2633883Journal ArticleVolatile Employment and Health Insurance Gaps Among Low- and Middle-Income Workers
DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.33883 PMID: 42742946 -
McGinty EE, Zhang Y, Wang F, Ayanian JZ, Schpero WL. JAMA Health Forum, 2026 Aug 7; 7 (8):Journal ArticleClosing the Health Policy Implementation Gap With Artificial Intelligence
DOI:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2026.2515 PMID: 42566202 -
Becker NV, Parent R, Iwashyna T, Ayanian JZ. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2026 Jun 9;Proceeding / Abstract / PosterChanges in healthcare utilization up to 12 months after COVID-19 infection
DOI:10.1007/s11606-026-10730-x -
Becker NV, Levy H, Hirth RA, Clark SJ, Tipirneni R, Ayanian JZ. JAMA Network Open, 2026 Mar 10; 9 (4): e269328 - e269328.Journal ArticleFinancial outcomes among Medicaid enrollees
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Roberts ET, Ruggiero D, Patel S, Ayanian JZ, Beathard E, Kirch M, Kullgren JT, Switzer G, Tipirneni R. Health Affairs Project Hope, 2026 Mar 1; 45 (3): 307 - 312.Journal ArticleDisenrollment Rate For Dual-Eligible Beneficiaries During Medicaid Unwinding, 2023-24
DOI:10.1377/hlthaff.2025.01209 PMID: 41771004 -
Scott JW, Becker NV, Hemmila MR, Kunnath N, Ayanian JZ, Fendrick AM, Ryan AM, Dimick JB. Health Affairs Project Hope, 2026 Feb 1; 45 (2): 154 - 163.Journal ArticleChanges In Medical Debt And Bankruptcy After Acute Traumatic Injuries, 2019-21
DOI:10.1377/hlthaff.2025.00847 PMID: 41628389 -
Tipirneni R, Stefanescu A, Hames AG, Ruggerio DA, Ayanian JZ, Roberts ET. 2024 Nov 8;Journal ArticleRacial and Ethnic Disparities in Preventive and Chronic Disease Care in Medicare Advantage vs. Traditional Medicare
Featured News & Stories
What’s changing in Medicaid and what can you do?
John Z. Ayanian, MD, MPP, wins national public health policy award
Study reveals the work and health insurance roller coaster millions of Americans ride
Michigan’s Medicaid expansion improved both health and finances
Medicaid expansion helped enrollees’ long term financial health, study finds