Center for Health Care Management and Policy
About Us
As the healthcare industry continues to evolve rapidly, the Center for Health Care Management and Policy (CHCMP) serves as a vital resource for current and aspiring healthcare leaders. Founded in 1988 by Professor Paul Feldstein, CHCMP was established to promote research and dialogue on critical health policy issues at all levels of government and across sectors. Our annual Health Care Forecast Conference, launched in 1992, has become a premier platform for collaboration among government officials, business leaders, and academics. Today, CHCMP advances the intersection of business innovation and healthcare delivery through research, partnerships, and education, empowering a diverse new generation of leaders to drive technology-enabled change, build equitable and effective systems, and improve health outcomes with evidence-based solutions.
Health Care Forecast Conference
Eary Bird Registration available! Strategic healthcare forecast of economic and political developments, federal and CA health policy changes, Medicaid and MediCal policy shifts’ impact on California and more! View 2025 conference video.
Health Care Speaker Series
Held periodically throughout the year, the series showcases engaging speakers who address timely issues in healthcare and public policy.
Leadership Development Institute
Through the Leadership Development Institute, we offer a Certificate in Leadership for Health Care Management, equipping participants with the skills to navigate and lead effectively in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.
Faculty Director
Hope J. Schau, PhD, MBA, MA
Professor of Marketing
Gilly Chair and Faculty Director of the Center for Health Care Management and Policy
Professor Hope Schau joins the Merage School from the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management. She holds a PhD, MA, and MBA from UC Irvine and has held faculty positions at Temple University. Her research explores innovation, consumer behavior, and brand development, with publications in top journals like Journal of Consumer Research and Journal of Marketing. A recognized leader in her field, she has received multiple awards, led a $1M grant on financial decision-making, and serves in editorial roles and leadership positions in major consumer research organizations.
We are fortunate to have a resource like the Center for Health Care Management and Policy to help us manage and prepare for the rapid change that’s occurring in the health care industry, both locally and nationally.
Mark Schafer, MD
Former Chief Medical Officer
MemorialCare Medical Foundation
Advisory Board
The Board of Advisors supports the Center in advancing its mission to engage the regional health care community and establish a leadership role in shaping health care policy.
Charter Board Members
President & CEO, Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Jay J. Cohen, MD, MBA
Former Senior Vice President
Optum
Former President, U.S. Government
Cigna Healthcare
Chief Executive Officer
MemorialCare Medical Foundation
Healthcare Industry Board Member, Strategic Advisor, Author
Blackstone; NXGN; ALHC; TriNetX; Hoag Clinic
Former Chief Medical Officer
MemorialCare Medical Foundation
David L. Steffy, MHA
Private Investor
Board of Advisors
President and Chair of the Board
BeWell OC
Chief Medical Officer
Premera Blue Cross
Terry Belmont, MPH
Former Chief Executive Officer
UCI Health
Robert Beltran, MD, MBA
Senior Physician Executive
Verda Healthcare
VP and GM, Core and Small Group Business
Blue Shield of California
President & CEO
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
Alethea Caldwell, MBA
President
Caldwell and Associates
MBA, Vice President & General Manager, Head of U.S. Aesthetics
Galderma
SVP THV Global Health Economics & Reimbursement
Edwards Lifesciences
Jay J. Cohen, MD, MBA
Former Senior Vice President
Optum
Chief Medical Director Emeritus
Precept Group
SVP National Healthcare Industry Practice
Aon
Former President, U.S. Government
Cigna Healthcare
President and CEO
North Star Advisors
Steven A. N. Goldstein, MA, MD, PhD, FAAP
Vice Chancellor, Health Affairs
UCI Health
Former Chief Executive Officer
Longeveron Inc.
Chief Government Relations Officer
Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
Former, VP Large Group Account Management
Kaiser Permanente
President, Medicaid West Region
Elevance Health
Chief Information Officer
Clever Care Health Plan
Chief Executive Officer
MemorialCare Medical Foundation
Chief Operating Officer
CalOptima Health
Jonathan Kowalski, Pharm.D. MS
EVP, Head HE & HTA United States
Lumanity
Chief Executive Officer
UCI Health
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Longeveron Inc.
Chief Executive Officer
Orange County Region, MemorialCare
Healthcare Industry Board Member, Strategic Advisor, Author
Blackstone; NXGN; ALHC; TriNetX; Hoag Clinic
Gerald A. McCall
Former COO and SVP
Kaiser Permanente, Southern California Region
Chief Executive Officer
Hoag Orthopedic Institute
Former, Senior Vice President, Innovation & Digital Strategy
City of Hope
SVP and Area Manager
Kaiser Permanente Hospitals & Health Plan OC
Mark Schafer, MD
Former Chief Medical Officer
MemorialCare Medical Foundation
Michael J. Stamos, MD, FACS, FASCRS
Dean, School of Medicine
University of California, Irvine
David L. Steffy, MHA
Private Investor
David L. Tsoong, MD
Principal
Pinnacle Senior Care
Principal
Pinnacle Senior Care
Larry Wellikson, MD, MHM
Partner
TCA Venture Group
Greg Wright, MBA
CEO Southern California Medicare
United Healthcare
Affiliated Faculty
Emeritus Professor
Robert Gumbiner Chair in Health Care Management
The Paul Merage School of Business
Donald Bren Professor
Executive Co-Director, Health Policy Research Institute
School of Medicine
Professor of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care
School of Medicine
Distinguished Professor, Anesthesiology
Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine & Primary Care, Medicine
Director, UC Irvine Center on Stress & Health
Director of Value Based Care, UCI Health Policy Research Institute
School of Medicine
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Healthcare Measurement and Evaluation
Executive Co-Director, Health Policy Research Institute
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care
Associate Chief, Division of General Internal Medicine
School of Medicine
Professor Emerita, Operations and Decisions Technologies
The Paul Merage School of Business
Distinguished Professor of Medicine
School of Medicine
Chancellor’s Professor of Economics
Director, Center for Economics & Public Policy
Department of Economics
Cornelia (Connie) Pechmann, MS, MBA, PhD
Professor of Marketing
The Paul Merage School of Business
Associate Professor of Teaching, Organization and Management
The Paul Merage School of Business
Professor and Gilly Family Chair, Marketing
Faculty Director, Center for Health Care Management and Policy
The Paul Merage School of Business
Student Opportunities
Health Care Leadership Immersion
Our MBA for Executives – Healthcare Leadership Track equips you with a strong foundation in general management while offering specialized insight into the healthcare sector. You’ll gain the skills to navigate and lead within the evolving healthcare landscape by applying business principles to real-world industry challenges.
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Joint MD/MBA Program
In partnership with UC Irvine’s School of Medicine, the Merage School offers one of the nation’s longest-running MD/MBA programs. In five years, students earn both degrees and gain the skills to lead in clinical and administrative roles. Graduates consistently match with top residency programs nationwide.
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Master of Science in Biotechnology Management (MSBTM)
Offered through UC Irvine’s Biological Sciences, Business, and Engineering schools, the MSBTM program blends science and business to prepare students for leadership in the biotech industry.
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Merage Healthcare Association (MHA)
MHA brings together Merage graduate students interested in healthcare leadership, offering access to site visits, panels, and networking with alumni and industry professionals across Southern California.
Learn MoreResearch
The Center brings together world-class faculty and leading scholars to deliver innovative healthcare education and conduct impactful research on the evolving U.S. healthcare system. Its work builds on the Merage School’s strengths in healthcare-focused programs and leverages UC Irvine’s broad expertise across medicine, nursing, public health, and pharmaceutical sciences. Located in Orange County, the Center benefits from close ties to a region known for innovation in healthcare delivery. Key issues addressed include:
Health care payment and delivery reform
The role of advertising in shaping pharmaceutical markets
Market dynamics and consumer behavior in health insurance
Access to care
As a faculty member of the Merage School as well as an alum, I have participated in many events and find the programs hosted by the Center to be excellent educational opportunities as well as a great forum to network with other fellow healthcare executives. I enjoy hearing from the industry experts both nationally as well as regionally and would highly recommend connecting with the Center.
Romilla Batra, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Premera Blue Cross
Recent News
Stay informed with the latest updates, achievements and breakthroughs from our faculty, students and alumni.
