ADVANCING HEALTHCARE for ALL
Sanford drives solutions for health equity, digital innovation, and system reform.
Health Policy
Research
Sanford faculty are addressing some of today’s most urgent health policy challenges—mental health, healthcare access, digital health, and public health preparedness. Their work is grounded in evidence and focused on impact, with a growing emphasis on how technologies such as AI and digital platforms can improve outcomes, particularly in underserved communities.
Sanford’s role is strengthened by deep partnerships across Duke—including the Schools of Medicine and Nursing, the Duke Global Health Institute, and the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy. Within this world-class health ecosystem, Sanford brings the policy insight that drives equitable, data-informed solutions.
New Research: Americans Willing to Pay Nearly $100 Billion to Reduce Gun Violence
Research by Philip J. Cook and Marc Jeuland reveals a public willingness to pay almost $100 billion to achieve a 20% reduction in gun violence.
Health Policy
Teaching
Sanford students engage deeply with pressing health challenges—through courses, policy labs, and partnerships across Duke’s health ecosystem. Their experience is shaped by interdisciplinary opportunities, including the Health Policy Certificate for undergraduates and the MPP health policy concentration.
Through collaborations with the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, the School of Nursing, and the Duke Global Health Institute, students explore topics such as health equity, health systems reform, and global health governance—preparing them to lead in a dynamic healthcare landscape.
Jonathan Zhang: Driving Innovative Solutions in Public Policy and Health Economics
Fusing both quantitative methods and policy analysis, Jonathan Zhang tackles real-world challenges with precision and insight. He champions innovative solutions in public policy and health economics.
Health Policy
Engagement
Sanford connects policy scholarship with the real-world dynamics of healthcare. Faculty and students partner with public agencies, community health organizations, and the private sector to address urgent issues—ranging from digital health regulation to Medicaid expansion.
Sanford is deeply engaged in North Carolina’s Research Triangle, one of the nation’s leading life sciences hubs. Through connections with biotech, health systems, and the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, Sanford students and faculty help shape state and national health policy.
Student Voices: Using Human-Centered Design to Improve the Durham Farmers' Market
Kanishka Desai, MPP’26, is working with the local community to promote healthy eating through food policy expertise she learned at Sanford.