LOU GARRISON, PH.D., HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS INTERIM DIRECTOR for the Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Research Policy Program (PORPP). With a background in economics, Garrison has said he plans to continue to build on the success PORPP has accrued over fifteen years, including the selection of a new director. “Lou’s ten years as Associate Director of PORPP make him the ideal person to lead the Program until a permanent Director is appointed,” said Sean Sullivan.
Garrison is Professor in PORPP in the Department of Pharmacy and Adjunct Professor in the Departments of Global Health and Health Services, where he joined the faculty in 2004. In 2013, he completed a sabbatical as Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Office of Health Economics in London. In the 12 years before joining UW, he worked as an economist in the pharmaceutical industry where he oversaw the development of the economic and pricing strategies, and research plans for all Roche compounds. Garrison’s research interests include national and international health policy issues related to pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine, regulatory benefit-risk analysis, insurance, pricing, reimbursement, and risk-sharing agreements, as well as the economic evaluation of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, devices, surgical procedures, and vaccines, particularly as related to organ transplantation, renal disease, influenza, measles, obesity, and cancer.
“I’ve been fortunate, particularly given how prestigious the program is, to be a part of PORPP for a number of years,” said Garrison. “I want to build on the foundation built by Sean and Andy [Stergachis] and support the transition to an even stronger future. Pharmacists play a valuable role in the health care sector, and their impact will be further enhanced by a sound understanding of the economic issues that affect the appropriate use of medicines.”