Leah Vriesman, Ph.D., MHA, MBA

Assistant Professor Department of Health Services UCLA School of Public Health Box 951772 Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772 Phone: (310) 206-2602 Fax: (310) 825-3317 E-mail: vriesman@ucla.edu

Biographical Information

Leah Vriesman is Assistant Professor of the Program in Health Policy and Management in the Department of Health Services. She teaches Healthcare Marketing, Health Systems Organization and Financing, and the 2nd year capstone course, Integrative Field Seminar. Dr. Vriesman is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado-Denver, teaching Pharmaceutical Marketing Management.

As a 2010-2011 U.S. Fulbright grant recipient and German Scholar Exchange award winner, Dr. Vriesman is  in Neu-Ulm, Bavaria, Germany during the academic year.  She is at the University of Applied Sciences in the Health Management program teaching Hospital and Healthcare Strategy, Marketing, and International Health System Comparisons while also conducting original research on personal health records, medical travel, and e-Health using internet connectivity.  She's bringing these same topics as a lecturer at Mzumbe University in Tanzania the beginning of September.

Dr. Vriesman is also President and Founder of Excel Research, LLC, a healthcare management and policy consulting firm. Specializing in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Excel Research primarily conducts outcomes research, economic analysis, and market trend projections. Prior to founding Excel Research, Dr. Vriesman was Senior Director of North American Business Development within the Medical Technology Practice at The Lewin Group, an international health policy and research corporation, and subsidiary of Quintiles Transnational.

She is UCLA's Co-Principle Investigator on the National Center for Healthcare Leadership's research studying the relationship between graduate health management curriculums with educational outstanding new leaders in the field. Her other particular areas of career interest are comparative merger & acquisition theory between the public and private sectors and pharm-biotech market strategies.

Dr. Vriesman received her PhD in Health Services Research from UCLA and her MHA and MBA in Strategy from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis.

Recent Presentations

June 2010         “Health Reform Impact: UCLA Health System” UCLA Health System Financial Services, Los Angeles, CA

June 2010         “Leading a Team” Cedars-Sinai Medical Network, Palos Verdes, CA

October 2009    “May Cause Dizziness: US Health Insurance Reform” Westwood Village Rotary Club, UCLA Faculty Center, Los Angeles, CA

April 2009         “May Cause Dizziness: 5 Prescriptions for Curing the Healthcare Industry” Keynote: Luther College, Decorah, IA

August ‘07-09    “Historical Development and Contextual Models of Healthcare.” UCSD Extension Program, San Diego.

Publications, Papers and Reports

Vriesman, L. 2001. VHA Facility Integration: Changes in Operational Effectiveness and Perceived Quality, 1993-1997. Doctoral Dissertation.  Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms, Inc.

Vriesman, L. and Mazonson, P. 1998. Improving pharmaceutical utilization for Medicare enrollees proves difficult. TIPS on Managed Care 3(4), 15-20.

VanDeusan Lukas, C., Mittman, B., Vriesman, L., et al. 1998. Characteristics and structures of VHA integrated facilities. Abstract presented to the Dept of Veterans Affairs’ Sixteenth Annual HSR&D Service Meeting. Washington, D.C.

Yano, E., Mittman, B., Vriesman, L., et al. 1998. “Effects of VHA facility integrations: Preliminary results.” Abstract presented to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Sixteenth Annual HSR&D Service Meeting.  Washington, D.C.

Mittman, B., VanDeusan Lukas, C., Hernandez, A., MacDonald, J., Vriesman, L., et al. 1998. Planning and implementing facility integrations in VHA: Alternative approaches. Abstract presented to the Dept of VA Sixteenth Annual HSR&D Service Meeting. Washington, D.C.

Zach, A., Kominski, G., … Vriesman, L., et al. 1997. Report on heart attack 1991-1993, Volume 1: User’s guide. Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD). Sacramento, CA.