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Peter A Ubel, Madge and Dennis T. McLawhorn University Distinguished Professor  

Office Location: 100 Fuqua Dr, Box 90120, Room W309, Durham, NC 27708-0120
Email Address: peter.ubel@duke.edu
Web Page: http://www.peterubel.com/

Areas of Expertise

  • Health Policy, Economics

Education:
M.D., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 1988
B.A., Carleton College, 1984

Teaching (Fall 2026):

  • Pubpol 165.01, Intro to us health care systm Synopsis
    Sanford 05, W 03:05 PM-05:35 PM

Recent Publications   (More Publications)

  1. Grouls, A; Ubel, PA; Nguyen, M; Pathapati, N; Doerstling, S; Sloan, CE. "Online Crowdfunding Campaigns for People Living With ALS Demonstrate Financial Burden and Unmet Needs.." Muscle Nerve 74.5 (November, 2026): 1415-1420. [doi]  [abs]
  2. Bailey-Burke, CL; Brizel, DM; Ubel, PA; Reed, SD; Kheterpal, MK. "Economic evaluation of added neoadjuvant cemiplimab to upfront wide local excision for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.." JID Innov 6.5 (September, 2026): 100501. [doi]  [abs]
  3. Moore, B; McCoy, MS; Nelson, RH; Stahl, R; Taylor, LA; Ubel, PA; Blumenthal-Barby, J. "What Can We Ask of Hospitals? Conceptual Foundations for an Ethics of Healthcare Organizations.." The American journal of bioethics : AJOB 26.9 (September, 2026): 20-34. [doi]  [abs]
  4. Sloan, CE; Levinson, D; Senatus, W; Ubel, PA; Davis, JK; Macke, L; Sweeney, R; Sinaiko, AD; Goss, FR; King, HA; Wang, V. "The Promises and Pitfalls of Real-time Benefit Tools: A Qualitative Study of Primary Care Providers.." J Gen Intern Med (August, 2026). [doi]  [abs]
  5. Madanay, F; Campagna, A; Tu, K; Davis, JK; Doerstling, SS; Chen, F; Ubel, PA. "Patients' Perceptions of Their Physicians' Interpersonal Manner and Technical Competence: A Qualitative Study of Online Written Reviews.." Medical care research and review : MCRR 83.3 (June, 2026): 195-206. [doi]  [abs]

Curriculum Vitae

Highlight:
I am a physician and behavioral scientist at Duke University. My research and writing explores the quirks in human nature that influence our lives — the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect our health, our happiness and the way our society functions. (What fun would it be to tackle just the easy problems?)

I am currently exploring controversial issues about the role of values and preferences in health care decision making, from decisions at the bedside to policy decisions. I use the tools of decision psychology and behavioral economics to explore topics like informed consent, shared decision making and health care spending. My books include Pricing Life (MIT Press 2000) and Free Market Madness (Harvard Business Press, 2009). My newest book, Critical Decisions (HarperCollins), came out in September of 2012, and explores the challenges of shared decision making between doctors and patients.

Bio/Profile

Dr. Peter Ubel is a physician and behavioral scientist whose research and writing explores the quirks in human nature that influence people's lives — the mixture of rational and irrational forces that affect health, happiness and the way society functions.

Ubel joined the Fuqua School of Business as a Jack O. Blackburn Professor of Marketing in 2010 and holds a position in the Sanford School of Public Policy as a Professor in Public Policy, as well, specializing in health policy and economics. He previously was a Professor of Medicine and Psychology at the University of Michigan, where he taught from 2000 to 2010, and later went on to direct the Center for Behavioral and Decision Sciences in Medicine. 

His research explores controversial issues about the role of values and preferences in health care decision making, from decisions at the bedside to policy decisions. He uses the tools of decision psychology and behavioral economics to explore topics like informed consent, shared decision making and health care rationing. 

In his spare time, he enjoys classical piano, sports, chili peppers, and wrestling with his two young boys, and recently, playing chess.

Peter A Ubel

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