ANN ARBOR—President Barack Obama’s approach to health care reform has been hotly debated. Several University of Michigan experts from various disciplines are available to speak to media about aspects of health care reform and insurance. They include:

Dr. Caroline S. Blaum, associate chief of geriatric medicine and associate professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and research professor at the Institute of Gerontology. She has extensively researched Medicare costs and has expertise in transitional care and services for frail and vulnerable senior citizens. Contact: (734) 764-2220 or cblaum@umich.edu.

Richard C. Boothman, chief risk officer for the U-M Health System. He has implemented a proactive and principled approach to health system claims that has drawn national attention for successfully reducing claims and costs. He also has been active in health care reform research and testified before U.S. Senate committees. Contact: (734) 764-2220 or boothman@umich.edu.

Thomas Buchmueller, the Waldo O. Hildebrand Professor of Risk Management and Insurance and professor of business economics and public policy at the Ross School of Business. He is a health economist whose research focuses on the economics of health insurance and related public policy issues. He has examined the relationship between employer-sponsored insurance and labor market outcomes, interactions between the public sector and private insurance markets, and consumer demand for health insurance. Contact: (734) 764-5933 or tbuch@umich.edu.

Dr. Matthew Davis, associate professor of pediatrics and communicable diseases and internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and professor at the Ford School of Public Policy. He has done extensive research on health policy issues, but also is a practicing primary care physician for children and adults. He can talk about access to care, especially for children and adolescents. Contact: (734) 764-2220 or mattdav@umich.edu.

Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., is co-director of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design and professor in the departments of Internal Medicine and Health Management and Policy. Dr. Fendrick can discuss cost effective ways to reform health care. He currently serves on the Medicare Coverage Advisory Committee, has been active in health care reform research, testified before U.S. Congressional committees, and is co-editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Managed Care.

Brant Fries, professor of health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health and research professor at the Institute of Gerontology, can discuss aspects of long-term care, including delivery, reimbursement and financing, and policy decisions. Contact: (734) 936-2107 or bfries@umich.edu.

John Griffith, the Andrew Pattullo Collegiate Professor in health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health and director of the Griffith Leadership Center, studies hospitals and other organizations delivering health care and cost effectiveness. Contact: (734) 936-1304 or jrg@umich.edu.

Robert Hayward, M.D., is a professor of Internal Medicine and co-director of the Veteran’s Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System for Outcomes Research. His clinical interests include hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. He can talk about how health care quality measurement and improvements should be included in health care reform.

Peter Jacobson, professor of health law and policy at the U-M School of Public Health and director of the Center for Law, Ethics, and Health, has focused on the legal and regulatory aspects of medical care delivery and public health services. He can discuss various facets of health care reform, public health preparedness and public health ethics. Contact: (734) 936-0928 or pdj@umich.edu.

George Kaplan, Thomas Francis Collegiate Emeritus Professor of Public Health, can talk about the social justice issues of providing health care to citizens. Kaplan is the founder of the Center for Social Epidemiology & Population Health (CSEPH) and also a professor of epidemiology, he can be reached at (734) 223-5091 Pacific Time.

Dr. Robert P. Kelch, is Special Advisor to the President at the University of Michigan and has served in many leadership roles in the University of Michigan’s health system. His most recent appointment was as executive vice president for medical affairs. He can speak about health care reform’s effects on hospital systems, especially from a financial perspective.

Paula Lantz, the S.J. Axelrod Collegiate Professor and chair of health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health, can discuss public health policy, prevention and health disparities. Lantz also holds an appointment at the Institute for Social Research. Contact: (734) 763-9902 or plantz@umich.edu.

Richard Lichtenstein, associate professor of health management and policy at the U-M School of Public Health, can discuss overall issues confronting the U.S. health care system, health disparities, and health-care access for low-income populations. He is also the chair of two voluntary employee beneficiary associations that provide health benefits to retirees. Contact: (734) 936-1316 or lichto@umich.edu.

Dr. Gilbert S. Omenn, is a professor of internal medicine, human genetics and public health at the U-M Medical School and was executive vice president for medical affairs and chief executive officer of the U-M Health System from 1997-2002. He can discuss what he calls the complex combination of affordable, high-quality and universal health care, as well as the unsustainable path of current and projected healthcare spending. Contact: (734) 764-2220 or gomenn@umich.edu.

Dr. Maria Silveira, an assistant professor of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School, can share views about end-of-life consultations that could be part of health care reform initiatives. Silveira has studied how the quality of end-of-life care can be improved for patients with life-limiting conditions. Her theoretical work focuses on the ethics of pain management. Contact: (734) 764-2220 or mariajs@umich.edu.

Dean Smith, professor of health management and policy and senior associate dean for administration at the School of Public Health, He can discuss costs of pharmaceuticals, financial management practices and techniques, and health plan operations. He also directs MHealthy, the U-M’s Pharmacy Benefit Oversight Committee and the Center for Value-Based Insurance Design. Contact: (734) 647-6233 or deans@umich.edu.

Marianne Udow-Phillips, director of the Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation. She is nationally recognized as a health care reform expert, has served as director of the Michigan Department of Human Services and worked for 20 years in leadership roles at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Contact: (734) 998-7555 or mudow@umich.edu.