Topic: Miller College of Business
June 18, 2010
The economics of health care will become a key research and educational priority for Ball State University with the addition to the faculty of nationally recognized economist Kerry Anne McGeary.
McGeary has been named to the Phyllis A. Miller Professorship in Health Economics within Ball State's Miller College of Business (MOCB), effective in early August. She currently teaches economics at Drexel University in Philadelphia and was honored in 2008 with the Georgesqu-Roegen Prize for Best Paper from the Southern Economic Association.
McGeary will join Ball State's Department of Economics and lead a team of faculty in developing and implementing a research agenda focused on various economic issues related to the functioning of the American health care system.
She also will take an active role in developing a curriculum in health care studies at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Regional health care providers and local business communities should benefit from her assistance with their various programs, as well.
McGeary points out that health care, which accounts for 17.6 percent of the America's gross domestic product, will have a greater impact than ever on the national economy and public policy as a result of recent federal legislation.
"This is a very dynamic and essential time for the area of health," she said. "Ball State's traditional strengths in health and wellness offer the Miller College of Business a strategic advantage in recruiting both students and faculty.
"Miller College provides many benefits, including the strong infrastructure devoted to research through the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER)," added McGeary. "Given the health care focus of the regional and state business communities, it is essential to determine the areas of potential collaboration between Ball State faculty and students and health-related organizations we serve."
Miller College Dean Rajib Sanyal said McGeary's appointment will better position the college to be a key player in the development of health care studies at Ball State.
"For the last decade, Dr. McGeary has been a prolific researcher in the field of health economics," he said. "At the same time, she has a reputation for being an excellent teacher in the classroom. Her experience in on-line teaching and in the MBA program will be invaluable to us as we enhance our capabilities in those areas."
McGeary began her academic career at the University of Miami in 1999 and then joined Drexel in 2002. She earned her bachelor's degree from Lehigh University and her master's degree and doctorate from Penn State.
By Marc Ransford, Senior Communications Strategist