Sisira Sarma, PhD

Professor of Health Economics

Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry

The University of Western Ontario

London, Ontario N6A 5C1

Tel: (519) 661-2111 x 87583

Fax: (519) 661-3766

E-mail: ssarma2@uwo.ca

URL: http://publish.uwo.ca/~ssarma2/

 

Incoming Students: I am interested in supervising BMSc Honours students and graduate students at the MSc and PhD levels on topics related to the economics of primary health care, health services utilization, health outcomes, health inequality/equity, health care costs, and economic evaluation in personalized medicine. Thesis projects will have the opportunity to use large scale surveys, health care administrative databases as well as linked survey and administrative databases and apply novel Statistical methods from Epidemiology, Economics and Biostatistics disciplines. Interested applicants with strong quantitative skills are encouraged to e-mail me at ssarma2@uwo.ca to discuss potential projects.

 

 

Teaching

Fall 2024:

Introduction to Health Economics (4600A)

Introduction to Health Economics (9572Q)

 

Winter 2025:

Health Economic Evaluation (4615B/9530B)

 

 

 

Education

Ph.D. (Economics)

M.Phil. (Economics)

M.A. (Economics)

B.A. (Economics Honours)

 

 

Research Interests

Health Economics

Health Econometrics

Health Policy

Health Services Research

Cost-effectiveness

 

Graduate Students Supervised (initial placement):

Qi Zhang, 2008 (Co-supervisor), M.A. in Economics, University of Ottawa. (PhD Student).

Project: The impact of insurance on dental and physician visits in Ontario.

 

Rukia Owusu, 2008 (Co-supervisor), M.A. in Economics, University of Ottawa. (PhD Student).

Project: Immigrants’ access to physician and healthcare services.

 

Rick Chan, August 2010 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Nursing Student).

Thesis: The impact of health information technology on family physician’s practice patterns: A cross-sectional study using data from the 2007 National Physician Survey.

 

Kalaivaani Sundararajan, January 2012 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Analyst, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario).

Thesis: The relationship between diet quality and obesity in Canadian adults: Evidence from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey.

 

Simon Hollands, May 2012 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Analyst, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto).

Thesis: The association between the fast-food environment and obesity in Canada: A cross-sectional analysis.

 

Emmanuel Ewara, November 2012 (Supervisor; Co-supervisor: Gregory Zaric), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Health Economics Analyst, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario).

Thesis: The cost-effectiveness of Cetuximab or Pantiumumab with FOLFOX or FOLFIRI Chemotherapy regimens compared to Bevacizumab with FOLFOX or FOlFIRI for patients with KRAS wild type metastatic colorectal cancer.

 

Michael Lebenbaum, January 2013 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Epidemiologist, Public Health Ontario, Toronto)

Thesis: Obesity and health care utilization tends in Canada during the Period 1996/97 to 2009/10.

 

Samantha Larose, March 2014 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Quality and Evaluation Specialist, Alberta Health Services, Calgary, Alberta).

Thesis: The impact of obesity on employment participation and earnings among working-age women in Canada: Evidence from the NPHS longitudinal data.

 

Nathalie Metzer, August 2014 (Supervisor; Co-Supervisor: Karen M. Campbell), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (UWO-RDC Analyst, London, Ontario).

Thesis: Maternal employment during infancy and toddlerhood: Mechanisms for associations with childhood overweight/obesity in Canada.

 

Ciara Pendrith, December 2014 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario. (Biostatistician, Women’s College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, Toronto, Ontario).

Thesis: Cost-effectiveness of incentives for cervical cancer screening in Ontario’s primary healthcare delivery models.

 

Jagraj Pandher, October 2015 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Medical Student, Keele University, UK).

Thesis: The Association between neighbourhood-level food environment and chronic diseases in Canada: A cross-sectional analysis.

 

Ashna Jinah, March 2016 (Supervisor), MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Research Assistant, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario).

Thesis: The association between neighbourhood walkability and adult obesity prevalence in urban Canada.

 

Kathleen Nelligan, December 2018 (Co-supervisor with Dr. Chris Doherty, Department of Surgery). MSc in Surgery, University of Western Ontario.

Thesis: Choice of implant filler in breast reconstruction: A study of the cost-effectiveness of saline and silicone implants.

 

Thaksha Thavam, May 2019 (Supervisor). MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Clinical Research Project Coordinator at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Toronto, Ontario).

Thesis: The impact of the diabetes management incentive on diabetes-related services, hospitalizations and mortality risk in Ontario.

 

Yue Niu, October 2019 (Supervisor, Co-supervisor: G.Y. Zou). MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Statistical Analyst, Health Economics and Market Access Division, Amais Consulting, Toronto, Ontario; ICES Analyst, Toronto, Ontario, Senior Analyst, Ontario Health).

Thesis: Construction of Prediction Models for The Health Utility Index Mark 3 in Ontario and Its Application.

 

Thy Hoang Vu, February 2020 (Supervisor, Co-supervisor: Kelly Anderson). MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Clinical Research Analyst, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Ottawa, Ontario).

Thesis: Analysis of Billings data to evaluate patterns of mental health services in primary care and emergency departments by blended fee-for-service and blended capitation models in Ontario, Canada.

 

Aneeka Hafeez, August 2020 (Supervisor, Co-supervisor: Ute Schwartz). MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Analyst, ICES Western, London, Ontario; Analyst, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Ottawa, Ontario).

Thesis: Cost-effectiveness of pharmacogenomics (PGx) based warfarin, standard warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban for atrial fibrillation patients in Ontario, Canada.

 

Victoria Gaudin, August 2020 (Principal Supervisor). MSc in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario (Statistics Canada, Research Data Centre (RDC) Analyst, London, Ontario).

Thesis: The impact of school nutrition policy on diet quality of children and youth: Quasi-experimental evidence from Canada.

 

Michael Situ, April 2021 (Principal Supervisor). MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Decision Support Analyst, Queensway Carleton Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario; Research Officer, Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Ottawa, Ontario).

Thesis: Analysis of health care costs over a one-year period following anticoagulant therapy among Ontario patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation.

 

Mary Bamimore, December 2020 (Supervisor, Co-Supervisor: Amit Garg). PhD thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Teaching Professor, Fanshawe College, London, ON).

Thesis: Investigating quality of care for diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease in Ontario’s Family Health Group and Family Health Organization models.

 

Michael Hong, April 2022 (Principal Supervisor). PhD thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Senior Analyst, Canadian Institute for Health Information, Toronto, ON).

Theis: Does the way we pay primary care providers influence emergency department use during after-hours?

 

Ali Unsal, December 2021 (Principal Supervisor; Co-Supervisors: Gregory Zaric and Aze Wilson). MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Economic Modeler, Institute of Health Economics, Edmonton, Alberta).

Thesis: Cost-effectiveness of genotype-based azathioprine dosing compared to standard azathioprine dosing for the management of ulcerative colitis.

 

Dhatri Shukla, December 2022 (Principal Supervisor; Co-Supervisor: Leigh Sowerby). MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Analyst, Surgical Program, Humber River Hospital, Ontario).

Thesis: Rapid Rhino vs. Merocel: A retrospective analysis of patients with anterior epistaxis visiting emergency rooms in London, Ontario.

 

Sahiba Sahini, December 2023 (Co-Supervisor with Dr. G.Y. Zou and Dr. Vipul Jairath). MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics.

Thesis: Multi-arm randomized control trials in Inflammatory bowel disease: A literature review and an illustration of methods for analysis.

 

Ethan Rajaratnam, July 2024 (Co-Supervisor with Dr. Nibene Somé). MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics (MD Student, University of Toronto, Ontario).

Thesis: Interprofessional team-based primary care practice and healthcare utilization of people diagnosed with mental health and substance use disorders.

 

Jing Jing (Principal Supervisor; Co-Supervisors: Dr. Greta Bauer and Dr. M.K. Campbell). Thesis Research in Progress (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics; expected completion: April 2025).

 

Tanmay Vasa (Principal Supervisor; Co-Supervisor: Dr. Ute Schwartz). Thesis Research in Progress (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics; expected completion: April 2025).

 

Tianyue (Anny) Zhong (Principal Supervisor). Thesis Research in Progress (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics; expected completion: August 2025).

 

Deepmala Bhat (Primary Supervisor). Thesis Research in Progress (PhD thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics; expected completion: April 2027).

 

 

 

Graduate Student Thesis Committee:

Malek Bassam Hannouf (Committee Member). Economic evaluation of potential applications of gene expression profiling in clinical oncology (PhD thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics completed: May 2014).

 

Chong Sung Kim (Committee Member). Survival Analysis of Cancer of unknown primary (CUP) and non-CUP patients in Ontario (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics completed: December 2015).

 

Dorian Murariu (Committee Member). Testing the interpersonal theory of suicide in community-residing older adults (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics completed: March 2016).

 

Calvin Yip (Committee Member). The Association between social cohesion and physical activity in communities across Canada: A Multilevel Analysis (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics completed: June 2016).

 

Sebastian Przech (Committee Member). Financial costs incurred by living kidney donors: finding from a Canadian multi-centre prospective cohort study (MSc thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics completed: August 2017).

 

Steven Habbous (Committee Member). Research to improve living kidney donor evaluation process (PhD thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics completed: December 2018).

 

Vinusha Kalatharan (Committee Member). The epidemiology of upper urinary tract stone management in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. (PhD thesis in Epidemiology & Biostatistics work-in-progress completed: August 2020).

 

 

Post-Doctoral Fellows/Associates

Dr. Nazire Begen (January 2024 –)  

Project: Primary care reform and inequalities in the utilization of healthcare services and health outcomes.

 

Dr. Yihong Bai (July 2023 –)  

Project: Long-term outcomes of physicians practicing in Family Health Teams.

 

Dr. Zhe (Claudia) Li (ICES Postdoctoral Supervisor):     October 2022 – September 2023 

 

Dr. Nibene Habib Some 2018 (Initial placement: Senior Analyst, ICES; Health Economist at CAMH, January 2020).

 

Dr. Koffi-Ahoto Kpelitse 2015 (Initial placement: Senior Analyst, Canadian Institute for Health Information).

 

Dr. Mohammad Hajizadeh 2013 (Initial placement: Post-doctoral Fellow at McGill University (Assistant Professor at Dalhousie University since July 1, 2014).

 

Dr. Shammima Jesmin 2011 (Initial placement: Independent contracting).

 

 

Refereed Publications

(Names of trainees underlined)

1) Y. Niu, N. Begen, G.Y. Zou, S. Sarma. Predicting health utilities using health administrative data: Leveraging survey-linked health administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, forthcoming (Accepted, January 2025).

2) M. Hong, R.A. Devlin, G. S. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Sarma. Does an increase in an after-hours financial incentive for family physicians lead to reduced less-urgent emergency department visits? Canadian Public Policy, forthcoming (Accepted, January 2025).

3) H.H. Kim, M. Silverman, K. Anderson, R. Lodhi, S. Sarma, C. Dickey, C. Forchuk. Risk factors associated with in-hospital substance use among people who use methamphetamine in London, Ontario. Canadian Journal of Addiction, forthcoming (Accepted, December 2024).

4) D. Shukla, J. Fowler, T, Rocha, S. Sarma, L. Sowerby. Management of Anterior Epistaxis in the Emergency Department using Rapid Rhino and Merocel: A Quasi-experimental Costing Study. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, forthcoming (Accepted, December 2024).

5) Y. Bai, J. Reid, S. Habbous, R.A. Devlin, L. Jaakkimainen, S. Sarma. Interprofessional team-based primary care practice and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from Family Health Teams in Ontario, Canada. European Journal of Health Economics, forthcoming (Accepted, November 2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-024-01745-4

6) T. Thavam, M. Hong, R.A. Devlin, K.K. Clemens, S. Sarma. Does financial incentive for diabetes management reduce avoidable hospitalizations and mortality in high-income countries? A systematic review. Health Policy, 2024 Dec:150:105189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2024.105189

7) N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, S. Sarma. Primary care payment models and avoidable hospitalizations in Ontario, Canada: A multivalued treatment effects analysis. Health Economics, 33(10), 2024, 2288-2305. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4872

8) A. Hafeez, L. E. Cipriano, R. Kim, G. Zaric, U. Schwartz, S. Sarma. Cost-effectiveness analysis of pharmacogenomics (PGx) based warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban versus standard warfarin for the management of atrial fibrillation in Ontario, Canada. PharmacoEconomics, 42(1), 2024, 69-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40273-023-01309-z

9) M. Situ, U. Schwarz, G.Y. Zou, E. McArthur, R. Kim, A. X. Garg, S Sarma. Does prescribing apixaban or rivaroxaban versus warfarin for patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation save health system costs? A multivalued treatment effects analysis. European Journal of Health Economics, 25(3), 2024, 397-409.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-023-01594-7

10) M. Hong, R.A. Devlin, G. S. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Sarma. Primary care services and emergency department visits in blended fee-for-service and blended capitation models: Evidence from Ontario, Canada. European Journal of Health Economics, 25(3), 2024, 363-377. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-023-01591-w

11) H.H. Kim, M. Silverman, K. Anderson, R. Lodhi, S. Sarma, C. Dickey, C. Forchuk. Characterization of a cohort of persons who use methamphetamines in London, Ontario and in-hospital substance use. Canadian Journal of Addiction, 14(4), 2023, 36-43. https://doi.org/10.1097/CXA.0000000000000191

12) V. Gaudin, S. Stranges, P. Wilk, S. Sarma. School nutrition policy and diet quality of children and youth: A quasi-experimental study from Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 114, 2023, 613-628.

https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-023-00743-y 

13) R. Rondina, M. Hong, S. Sarma, M. Mitchell. Is it worth it? Cost-effectiveness analysis of a commercial physical activity app. BMC Public Health, October 2021: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11988-y.

14) V. Kalatharan, B. Welk, D.M. Nash, S.N. Dixon, J. Slater, Y. Pei, S. Sarma, and A.X. Garg.  Risk of hospital encounters with kidney stones in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a cohort study. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease 2021: https://doi.org/10.1177/20543581211000227

15) T. Wigle, B. Povitz, W.A. Teft, R. Legan, J. Lenehan, S. Nevison, V. Panuganty, D. Keller, S.A. Shanteer, R. Francis, V. Siebring, S. Sarma, Y.H. Choi, S. Welch, E. Winquist, U.I. Schwarz, and R.B. Kim. Impact of pretreatment dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase genotype-guided fluoropyrimidine dosing on chemotherapy associated adverse events. Clinical and Translational Science, 14(4), 1338-1348. https://doi.org/10.1111/cts.12981

16) T. Vu, K.K. Anderson, N.H. Somé, A. Thind, and S. Sarma. Mental health services utilization in primary care and emergency department settings: Analysis of blended fee-for-service and blended capitation models in Ontario, Canada. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 48(4), 654-667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-020-01099-y

17) M. Hong, A. Thind, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. Emergency department use following incentives to provide after-hours primary care: a retrospective cohort study. Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), 193 (3), 2021, E85-E93. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.200277

18) V. Kalatharan, E. McArthur, D.M. Nash, B. Welk, S. Sarma, A.X. Garg, and Y. Pei. Diagnostic accuracy of administrative codes for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in clinic patients with cystic kidney disease. Clinical Kidney Journal 14(2), 2021, 612-616. https://doi.org/10.1093/ckj/sfz184.

19) T. Vu, K.K. Anderson, R.A. Devlin, N.H. Somé, and S. Sarma. Physician remuneration schemes, psychiatric hospitalizations and follow-up care: Evidence from blended fee-for-service and capitation models. Social Science & Medicine 2021; 268:113465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113465

20) M.A. Bamimore, R.A. Devlin, A. Garg, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. Quality of diabetes care in blended fee-for-service and blended capitation payment systems. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 45(3), 2021, 261-268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2020.09.002

21) V. Kalatharan, B. Welk, D.M. Nash, E. McArthur,  J. Slater, S. Sarma, Y. Pei, and A.X. Garg. Complications in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease undergoing ureteroscopy: a cohort study. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease (October 2020): https://doi.org/10.1177/2054358120972830.

22) N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. Team-based primary care practice and physician’s services: Evidence from Family Health Teams in Ontario, Canada. Social Science & Medicine 2020, 264:113310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113310

23) N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. Stirring the Pot: Switching from blended fee-for-service to blended capitation. Health Economics, 29(11), 2020, 1435-1455. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.4145.

24) T. Thavam, R.A. Devlin, A. Thind, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. The impact of the diabetes management incentive on diabetes-related services in Ontario, Canada. European Journal of Health Economics 21(9), 2020, 1279-1293.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-020-01216-6.

25) S. Habbous, L. Barnieh, S. Klarenbach, B. Manns, S. Sarma M. Begen, K. Litchfield, L. Krista, S. Singh, and A.X. Garg. Evaluating multiple living kidney donor candidates simultaneously or sequentially: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Kidney International 98(6), 2020, 1578-1588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2020.06.015.

26) V. Kalatharan, R. Jandoc, G. Grewal, D. Nash, B. Welk, S. Sarma, Y. Pei, A. Garg. Efficacy and safety of surgical kidney stone interventions in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a systematic review. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease (May 2020): https://doi.org/10.1177/2054358120940433.

27) M. Hong, A. Thind, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. The impact of improved access to after-hours primary care on emergency department and primary care utilization: A systematic review. Health Policy, 124(8), 2020, 812-818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.05.015

28) V. Kalatharan, G. Grewal, D. Nash, B. Welk, S. Sarma, Y. Pei, A. Garg. Stone prevalence in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease (May 2020): https://doi.org/10.1177/2054358120934628.

29) P. Wilk, S. Ali, K. Anderson, A. Clark, M. Cooke, S. Frisbee, J. Gilliland, M. Haan, S. Harris, S. Kiarasi, A. Maltby, K. Norozi, R. Petrella, S. Sarma, S. Singh, S. Stranges, A. Thind. Geographic variation in preventable hospitalizations across Canada: A cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-037195 (May 2020).

30) R.A. Devlin, K.A. Kpelitse, L. Li, N. Mehta, and S. Sarma. After-hours incentives and emergency department visits: Evidence from Canada. Canadian Public Policy, 46(20), 2020, 253-263.

31) M.J. Heisel, S. Moore, G.L. Flett, R.M.G. Norman, P.S. Links, R. Eynan, N. O'Rourke, S. Sarma, P. Fairlie, K.J. Wilson, B. Farrell, M. Grunau, R. Olson, D. Conn. Meaning-centered men’s groups: Initial findings of an intervention to enhance resiliency and reduce suicide risk in men facing the transition to retirement. Clinical Gerontologist 43(1), 2020, 76-94.   

32) N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, L. Li, S. Shariff, B. Belhadji, A. Thind, A. Garg, S. Sarma. Production of physician services under fee-for-service and blended fee-for-service: Evidence from Ontario’s Natural Experiment. Health Economics 28(2), 2019, 1418-1434.

33) M. Hong and S. Sarma. Medicaid, Chapter in “Encyclopedia of Gerontology and Population Aging,” edited by Danan Gu and Matthew E. Dupre. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69892-2_993-1. (May 2019)

34) S. Przech, A. Garg, J.B. Arnold, L. Barnieh, M. Cuerden, C. Dipchand, L. Feldman, J. Gill, M. Karpinski, G. Knoll, C. Lok, M. Miller, M. Monroy, C. Nguan, R. Prasad, S. Sarma, J.M. Sontrop, L. Storsley, S. Klarenbach, for the Donor Nephrectomy Outcomes Research (DONOR) Network. Financial costs incurred by living kidney donors: A prospective cohort study. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 29(12), 2018, 2847-2857.

35) M. Lebenbaum, G. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Sarma. Trends in obesity and multimorbidity in Canada. Preventive Medicine, 116, 2018, 173-179.

36) S. Sarma, N. Mehta, R.A. Devlin, L. Li and K.A. Kpelitse. Family physician remuneration schemes and referrals to specialists: Quasi-experimental evidence from Ontario, Canada. Health Economics, 27(10), 2018, 1533-1549.

37) C.S. Kim, M. B. Hannouf, S. Sarma, G.B. Rodrigues, P. Rogan, S. Mahmud, E. Winquist, M. Brackstone and G.S. Zaric. Survival outcome differences based on treatment utilization and knowledge of primary tumour site for Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP) and known primary patients in Ontario, Canada. Current Oncology, 25(5), 2018, 307–316.

38) S. Habbous, E. McArthur, S. Sarma, M. Begen, B. Manns, K.L. Lentine, C. Dipchand, K. Litchfield, S. Mckenzie and A.X. Garg. Potential implications of a more timely living kidney donor evaluation. American Journal of Transplantation, 18(11), 2018, 2719-2729.

39) S. Habbous, J. Arnold, M. Begen, N. Boudville, M. Cooper, C. Dipchand, L.S. Feldman, D. Goździk, S. Dixon, M. Karpinski, S. Klarenbach, G.A. Knoll, N.N. Lam, K.L. Lentine, C. Lok, E. McArthur, S. McKenzie, M. Miller, M. Monroy-Cuadros, C. Nguan, G.V. Ramesh Prasad, S. Przech, S. Sarma, D.L. Segev, L. Storsley and A.X. Garg for the Donor Nephrectomy Outcomes Research (DONOR) Network. Duration of living kidney transplant donor evaluations: findings from 2 multi-center cohort Studies. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 72(4), 2018, 483-498.

40) S. Habbous, S. Sarma, L. Barnieh, E. McArthur, M.A. Begen, S., Klarenbach, K.L. Lentine, B. Manns, A.X. Garg. Health care costs for the evaluation, surgery, and follow-up care of living kidney donors. Transplantation, 102(8), 2018, 1367-1374.

41) S. Habbous, M.A. Begen, C. Dipchand, S. N. Dixon, N. N. Lam, C. Garcia-Ochoa, K. Lentine, K. Litchfield, S. Mackenzie, E. McArthur, S. Sarma, A. X. Garg. Initiating maintenance dialysis prior to living kidney donor transplantation when a donor candidate evaluation is well underway. Transplantation, 102(7), 2018, e345–e353.

42) S. Habbous, S. Przech, J. Martin, A.X. Garg and S. Sarma. Cost-effectiveness analysis of first-line phosphate binders for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Value in Health, 21(3), 2018, 318-325.

43) M. B. Hannouf, E. Winquist, S.M. Mahmud, M. Brackstone, S. Sarma, G. Rodrigues, P.  Rogan, J.S. Hoch and G.S. Zaric. The clinical significance of occult gastrointestinal primary tumours in metastatic cancer: a population retrospective cohort study. Cancer Research and Treatment, 50(1), 2018, 183-194.

44) M. B. Hannouf, E. Winquist, S.M. Mahmud, M. Brackstone, S. Sarma, G. Rodrigues, P.  Rogan, J.S. Hoch and G.S. Zaric. The potential clinical and economic value of primary tumour identification in metastatic cancer of unknown primary tumour: A population-based retrospective matched cohort study. PharmacoEconomics Open (2017) https://doi.org/10.1007/s41669-017-0051-2.

45) M. B. Hannouf, E. Winquist, S.M. Mahmud, M. Brackstone, S. Sarma, G. Rodrigues, P.  Rogan, J.S. Hoch and G.S. Zaric. The clinical significance of occult gynecologic primary tumours in metastatic cancer. Current Oncology, 2017, 24(5):e368-e378.

46) S. Tam, H. Sun, S. Sarma, J. Siu, K. Fung and L. Sowerby. Medialization Thyroplasty versus Injection Laryngoplasty: A Cost Minimization Analysis. Journal of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, 2017, 46(1):14.

47) S. Habbous, S. Przech, R. Acedillo, S. Sarma, A.X.  Garg and J. Martin. The efficacy and safety of sevelamer and lanthanum versus calcium-containing and iron-based binders in treating hyperphosphatemia in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 32 (1), 2017, 111-125.

48) M.B. Hannouf, E. Winquist, S.M. Mahmud, M. Brackstone, S. Sarma, P, Rogan, J.S. Hoch and G.S. Zaric. Cost-effectiveness of using a gene expression profiling test to aid in identifying the primary tumour in patients with cancer of unknown primary. Pharmacogenomics, 17, 2017, 286-300.

49) V. Kalatharan, Y. Pei,  K.K. Clemens, R.K. McTavish, S.N. Dixon, M. Rochon, D.M. Nash, A. Jain, S. Sarma, A. Zaleski, A. Lum, A.X. Garg. Positive predictive values of international classification of diseases, 10th revision coding algorithms to identify patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Diseases, 3, 2016, 1-7.

50) C. Yip, S. Sarma and P. Wilk. The association between social cohesion and physical activity in Canada: a multilevel analysis. Social Science & Medicine - Population Health 2, 2016, 718-723.

51) C. Pendrith, A. Thind, G. Zaric and S. Sarma. Association between financial incentives and cervical cancer screening in Ontario’s primary healthcare delivery models. Healthcare Policy, 12(1), 2016, 116-28.

52) J.C. Jacobs, S. Burke, M. Rouse, S. Sarma and G. Zaric. Cardiovascular disease risk awareness and its association with preventive health behaviors: Evidence from a Canadian sample of workplaces. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 58(5), 2016, 459-65.

53) C. Pendrith, A. Thind, G. Zaric and S. Sarma. Costs of cervical cancer treatment: Estimates from Ontario, Canada. Current Oncology, 23(2), 2016, e109-e115.

54) S. Larose, K.A. Kpelitse, M.K. Campbell, G. Zaric and S. Sarma. Does obesity influence labour market outcomes among working-age adults? Evidence from Canadian longitudinal data. Economics and Human Biology, 20, 2016, 26-41.

55) M. Hajizadeh, M.K. Campbell and S. Sarma. A spatial econometric analysis of adult obesity: Evidence from Canada. Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy, 9(3), 2016, 329-363.

56) C.S. Kim, M. B. Hannouf, S. Sarma, G.B. Rodrigues, P. Rogan, S. Mahmud, E. Winquist, M. Brackstone and G.S. Zaric. Identification and survival outcomes of a cohort of patients with cancer of unknown primary in Ontario. Acta Oncologica, 54, 2015, 1781-1787.

57) S. Sarma, R.A. Devlin, J. Gilliland, MK. Campbell and G. Zaric. The Effect of leisure-time physical activity on obesity, diabetes, high BP and heart disease among Canadians: Evidence from 2000/01 to 2005/06. Health Economics, 24(12), 2015, 1531–1547.

58) E. Ewara, G. Zaric, S. Welch and S. Sarma. Cost-effectiveness of first line treatments for KRAS wild type metastatic colorectal cancer. Current Oncology, 21(4), 2014, e541-e550.

59) S. Hollands, M.K. Campbell, J. Gilliland and S. Sarma. Association between fast-food and full-service restaurant density and BMI: A cross-sectional study of Canadian adults. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 15(3), 2014, e172-e178.

60) S. Sarma, G. Zaric, M.K. Campbell and J. Gilliland. The effect of physical activity on adult obesity: Evidence from Canadian NPHS panel. Economics and Human Biology, 14, 2014, 1-21.

61) M. Hajizadeh, M.K. Campbell and S. Sarma. Socioeconomic inequalities in adult obesity risk in Canada: Trends and decomposition analyses. European Journal of Health Economics, 15(2), 2014, 203-221.

62) K. Sunderajan, M.K. Campbell, Y-H. Choi and S. Sarma. The relationship between diet quality and adult obesity: Evidence from Canada. Journal of the American College of Nutrition 33(1), 2014, 1-17.

63) S. Hollands, M.K. Campbell, J. Gilliland and S. Sarma. A spatial analysis of the association between restaurant density and body mass index in Canadian adults. Preventive Medicine, 57(4), 2013, 258-264.

64) S. Sarma, M. Hajizadeh, A. Thind and R. Chan. The association between health information technology adoption and Family Physicians’ practice patterns in Canada: Evidence from 2007 and 2010 National Physician Surveys. Healthcare Policy, 9(1), 2013, 97-117.

65) S. Sarma, R.A. Devlin, A. Thind and M. Chu. Canadian family physicians’ decision to collaborate: Age, period and cohort effects. Social Science & Medicine, 75(10), 2012, 1811-1819.

66) S. Jesmin, A. Thind and S. Sarma. Does team-based primary health care improve patients’ perception of outcomes? Evidence from the 2007-08 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care. Health Policy 105(1), 2012, 71-83.

67) A. Sepehri, S. Sarma, U. Oguzoglu and T.M. Pham. Does the financial protection of health insurance vary across providers? Vietnam’s experience. Social Science & Medicine 73(4), 2011, 559-567.

68) S. Sarma, A. Thind and M. Chu. Do new cohorts of family physicians work less compared to their older predecessors? The Evidence from Canada. Social Science & Medicine 72(12), 2011, 2049-2058.

69) R.A. Devlin, S. Sarma and Q. Zhang. The role of supplemental coverage in a universal health insurance system: some Canadian evidence. Health Policy 100(1), 2011, 81-90.

70) S. Sarma, R.A. Devlin, B. Belhadji and A. Thind. Does the way physicians are paid influence the way they practice? The case of Canadian Family Physicians’ work activity. Health Policy 98(2-3), 2010, 203-217.

71) S. Sarma, R. A. Devlin and W. Hogg.  Physician’s production of primary care in Ontario, Canada.  Health Economics 19(1), 2010, 14-30.

72) S. Sarma. Demand for outpatient health care: Empirical findings from rural India. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy 7(4), 2009, 265-277.

73) A. Sepehri, S. Sarma and J. Serieux. Who is giving up the free lunch? The insured patients’ decision to access health insurance benefits and its determinants: evidence from a low-income country. Health Policy 92(2-3), 2009, 250-258.

74) S. Sarma, G. Hawley and K. Basu. Transitions in living arrangements of Canadian seniors: Findings from the NPHS longitudinal data. Social Science & Medicine 68(6), 2009, 1106-1113.

75) R.A. Devlin and S. Sarma. Do physician remuneration schemes matter? The case of Canadian family physicians. Journal of Health Economics 25(7), 2008, 1168-1181.

76) A. Sepehri, S. Sarma, W. Simpson and S. Moshiri. How important are individual, household and commune characteristics in explaining utilization of maternal health services in Vietnam? Social Science & Medicine 67(6), 2008, 1009-1017. 

77) A. Sepehri, S. Moshiri, W. Simpson and S. Sarma. Taking account of context: How important are household characteristics in explaining adult health-seeking behaviour? The case of Vietnam. Health Policy and Planning 23(6), 2008, 397-407.

78) S. Uppal and S. Sarma. Aging, health and labour market activity: The case of India. Journal of World Health & Population 9(4), 2007, 79-97.

79) S. Sarma, K. Basu and A. Gupta. The influence of prescription drug insurance on psychotropic and non-psychotropic drug utilization in Canada. Social Science & Medicine 65(12), 2007, 2553-2565.

80) S. Sarma and W. Simpson. A panel multinomial logit analysis of elderly living arrangements: Evidence from Aging in Manitoba Longitudinal Data, Canada. Social Science & Medicine 65(12), 2007, 2539-2552.

81) S. Sarma and H. Rempel. Household decisions to utilize maternal health care in rural and urban India. Journal of World Health & Population 9(1), 2007, 24-45.

82) A. Sepehri, W. Simpson and S. Sarma. The influence of health insurance on hospital admission and length of stay – The case of Vietnam. Social Science & Medicine 63(7), 2006, 1757-1770.

83) A. Sepehri, S. Sarma and W. Simpson. Does public health insurance reduce financial burden? Empirical findings from the VLSS panel. Health Economics 15(6), 2006, 603-616.

84) S. Sarma and W. Simpson. A microeconometric analysis of Canadian health care utilization. Health Economics 15(3), 2006, 219-239.

 

Selected Conference/Seminar Presentations

S. Sarma. “Ontario Family Health Teams and Quadruple‐aim Outcomes: Dynamic Effects,” presented at the CIHR Policy Research for Health System Transformation End-of-Grant Policy Research Roundtable organized by IHSPR, CIHR, Ontario, October 29, 2024.

S. Sarma. “Physician Payment Systems and Production of Services,” presented at the Department of Economics Seminar, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, September 23, 2024.

S. Sarma, R.A. Devlin, J. Reid. “Impact of Interprofessional Team-based Primary Care on In-basket and Out-basket Services: Evidence from FHOs,” presented at the European Health Economics Association Conference, Vienna, Austria, July 1 – July 3, 2024 (Presenter: R.A. Devlin).

S. Sarma, R.A. Devlin, J. Reid. “Impact of Interprofessional Team-based Primary Care on In-basket and Out-basket Services: Evidence from FHOs,” presented at the 58th Annual Canadian Economics Association Meetings, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, May 30 - June 1, 2024.

Y. Bai, J. Reid, S. Habbous, R.A. Devlin, L. Jaakkimainen, S. Sarma. “Interprofessional team-based primary care practice and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from Family Health Teams in Ontario, Canada,” presented at the 22nd Annual Canadian Health Economists’ Study Group Conference, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, May 29 - 30, 2024 (Presenter: Y. Bai).

S. Sarma. “Impact of Interprofessional Team-based Primary Care on In-basket and Out-basket Services: Evidence from FHOs,” presented to the ICES Primary Care & Health Systems Research Program, Toronto, Ontario, February 29, 2024.

S. Sarma. “Formation of Ontario Health Teams and Quadruple‐aim Outcomes: Quasi‐experimental Evaluation,” presented at the CIHR Quadruple Aim & Equity End-of-Grant Workshop organized by IHSPR, CIHR, Ontario, November 21, 2023.

S. Sarma. “Formation of Ontario Health Teams and Quadruple‐aim Outcomes: Quasi‐experimental Evaluation,” presented to the policy makers at the Ontario Ministry of Health (Research, Analysis and Evaluation Branch and Ontario Health Teams Branch) Ontario, October 27, 2023 (invited).

N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, S. Sarma. “Primary care payment models and avoidable hospitalizations: a multivalued treatment effects analysis,” presented at the 57th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba, June 02-03, 2023.

S. Sarma, N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric. “Primary care physician remuneration and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from blended fee-for-service and blended capitation models,” presented at the I-HDS (Institute for Healthcare Delivery Science) and TCI (Tisch Cancer Institute) Seminar Series, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, July 20, 2022 (invited).

S. Sarma, N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric. “Primary care physician remuneration and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from blended fee-for-service and blended capitation models,” presented at the EUHEA (European Health Economics Association) Conference 2022, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway, July 5-8, 2022.

S. Sarma, N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric. “Primary care physician remuneration and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from blended fee-for-service and blended capitation models,” presented at the 2022 ASHEcon (American Society of Health Economists) Conference, Austin, United States, June 26-29, 2022.

S. Sarma, N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric. “Changing from retrospective to prospective payments for primary care physicians and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from Ontario,” accepted for presentation at the 2021 iHEA Conference (the 14th World Congress on Health Economics), Virtual, July 12-15, 2021.

S. Sarma, L. Li, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Shariff, B. Belhadji, A. Garg. “Pay-for-performance incentives and cancer screening in Ontario,” presented at the 2019 iHEA Conference (World Congress on Health Economics), Basel, Switzerland, July 15-17, 2019.

N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. “Stirring the Pot: Switching from Blended Fee-For-Service to Blended Capitation in Ontario, Canada,” presented at the 3rd Economics of the Health Workforce Conference, iHEA Pre-Congress Session, Basel, Switzerland, July 14,

S. Sarma, N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric. “Changing from retrospective to prospective payments for primary care physicians and preventive cancer screening: Evidence from Ontario,” presented at the 53rd Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, Banff, Alberta, May 30 - June 2, 2019.

M. Hong, A. Thind, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. “The Impact of Ontario’s After-Hours Premium on Emergency Department Utilization,” presented at the 2019 Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) Conference, Nova Scotia, Halifax, May 29 - 31, 2019 (Presenter: Michael Hong).

M. Bamimore, G. Zaric, A. Garg, S. Sarma. “Quality of diabetes mellitus care in Ontario’s Family Health Group and Family Health Organization models,” presented at the 2019 Canadian Association for Health Services and Policy Research (CAHSPR) Conference, Halifax, Nova Scotia May 29 - 31, 2019 (Presenter: Mary Bamimore).

N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, S. Sarma. “Stirring the Pot: Switching from Blended Fee-For-Service to Blended Capitation in Ontario, Canada,” presented at the 18th  Annual Canadian Health Economists’ Study Group (CHESG) Conference, Banff, Alberta, May 29-30, 2019 (Presenter: Sisira Sarma).

N.H. Somé, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, L. Li, S. Shariff, B. Belhadji, A. Thind, A. Garg, S. Sarma. “Production of physician services under fee-for-service and blended fee-for-service: Evidence from Ontario’s natural experiment,” presented at the 17th Annual Canadian Health Economists’ Study Group (CHESG) Conference, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, May 31, 2018 (Presenter: Nibene Somé).

S. Sarma, L. Li, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Shariff, B. Belhadji, A. Garg. “Pay-for-performance incentives and cancer screening in Ontario,” presented at the Applied Research in Cancer Control (ARCC) conference, Montreal, Quebec, May 27-28, 2018.

N. Mehta, K.A. Kpelitse, R.A. Devlin, L. Li and S. Sarma. “Primary care access and emergency department utilization: theory and evidence from Canada,” presented at the 2017 iHEA Conference (World Congress on Health Economics), Boston University, Boston, USA, July 8-11, 2017.

S. Sarma, L. Li, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Shariff, A. Garg. “Pay-for-performance incentives and cancer screening: Evidence from Ontario,” presented at the 51st Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, June 2 - 4, 2017 (Presenter: Lihua Li).

S. Sarma, R.A. Devlin, N. Mehta, G. Zaric, A. Thind, S. Shariff, A. Garg. “Primary care reform and avoidable hospitalization: Results for Ontario’s congestive heart failure patients,” presented at the 51st Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, June 2 - 4, 2017.

N. Mehta, K.A. Kpelitse, R.A. Devlin, L. Li and S. Sarma. “Primary care access and emergency department utilization: theory and evidence from Canada,” presented at the 16th Annual Canadian Health Economics Study Group (CHESG) Meeting, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, May 31 – June 1, 2017.S. Sarma, N. Mehta, R.A. Devlin, Lihua Li, K.A. Kpelitse. “Family Physician Remuneration Schemes and Referrals to Specialists: Evidence from Ontario,” presented at the the Primary Care Reform Symposium: Economic Analysis of Recent Changes in Ontario, University of Toronto, January 15, 2016.

N. Mehta and S. Sarma. “The Impact of Primary Health Care Reform on Population Health: Theory and Evidence,” presented at the the Primary Care Reform Symposium: Economic Analysis of Recent Changes in Ontario, University of Toronto, January 15, 2016 (Presenter: Nirav Mehta).

S. Sarma, N. Mehta, R.A. Devlin, Lihua Li, K.A. Kpelitse. “Family Physician Remuneration Schemes and Referrals to Specialists: Evidence from Ontario,” presented at the the Canadian Centre for Health Economics, University of Toronto, November 27, 2015.

S. Sarma, N. Mehta, R.A. Devlin, Lihua Li, K.A. Kpelitse. “Family Physician Remuneration Schemes and Referrals to Specialists: Evidence from Ontario,” presented at the Department of Economics seminar series at the Wayne State University, United States, October 29, 2015.

The effect of leisure-time and transportation physical activity (LTTPA) on health: Evidence from Canada,” presented at the 11th iHEA Conference (World Congress on Health Economics), Bocconi University, Milan, Italy, July 12-15, 2015.

Association between financial incentives and cervical cancer screening in Ontario’s primary healthcare delivery models,” presented at the 11th iHEA Conference (World Congress on Health Economics), Bocconi University, Milan, Italy, July 12-15, 2015.

“Family Physician Remuneration Schemes and Referrals to Specialists: Panel-data Evidence from Ontario,” presented at the 49th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, Ryerson University, Toronto, May 28 –May 31, 2015.

“After-Hours Access to Primary Care and Emergency Department Visits: Comparison of Ontario’s Family Health Groups and Family Health Organizations,” presented at the 49th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, Ryerson University, Toronto, May 28 –May 31, 2015.

“The effect of leisure-time and transportation physical activity (LTTPA) on health: Evidence from Canada,” presented at the 48th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, May 29 –June 1, 2014.

“The effect of income on obesity among Canadian adults,” presented at the 48th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, May 29 –June 1, 2014.

“The effect of income on obesity among Canadian adults,” presented at the 13th Annual Canadian Health Economics Study Group Meeting, Victoria, British Columbia, May 26 –27, 2014.

“The effect of leisure-time physical activity on obesity, diabetes, high BP and heart disease among Canadians,” paper presented at the CRDCN National Conference, University of Waterloo, Ontario, October 3 – 4, 2013.

“The effect of leisure-time physical activity on obesity, diabetes, high BP and heart disease among Canadians, presented at the 47th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, HEC Montréal, Quebec, May 30 – June 2, 2013.

“The Effect of Physical Activity on Adult Obesity in Canada: Evidence from Panel Data,” presented at the 46th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, June 7-10, 2012.

“Socioeconomic Inequalities in Adult Obesity Risk in Canada: Trends and Decomposition Analyses, ” presented at the 46th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, June 7-10, 2012.

“Does Spatial Heterogeneity Influence Adult Obesity in Canada? Spatial Panel Data Analysis, ” presented at the 11th Annual Canadian Health Economists’ Study Group Meeting, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, June 6-7, 2012.

“Team-based Primary Health Care (PHC) Practice and Patient Perceptions of Health Care Outcomes: A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) Analysis using data from the 2007-2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care (CSCPHC),” presented at the 8th iHEA Conference (World Congress on Health Economics), Sheraton Centre, Toronto, Ontario, July 10-13, 2011.

“Does it matter how obesity is measured in social science literature? Some new findings from Canada,” presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, June 2-5, 2011.

“Team-based Primary Health Care (PHC) Practice and Patient Perceptions of Health Care Outcomes: A Propensity Score Matching (PSM) Analysis using data from the 2007-2008 Canadian Survey of Experiences with Primary Health Care (CSCPHC),” presented at the 45th Annual Conference of the Canadian Economics Association, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, June 2-5, 2011.

“Do New Cohorts of Family Physicians Work Less Compared to their Older Predecessors? The Evidence from Canada,” presented at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Economics Association Conference, the Université Laval Québec City, Québec, May 28-30, 2010.

“Does Decline in Smoking Lead to Rise in Obesity? Panel Data Analysis from the Canadian NPHS,” presented at the Canadian Health Economics Study Group Meetings, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, May 26-27, 2010.

“Does the way physicians are paid influence the way they practice? The case of Canadian Family Physicians’ work activity,” presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Economics Association Conference, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, May 29 – 31, 2009.

“Transitions in living arrangements of Canadian seniors: Findings from the NPHS longitudinal data,” presented at the Canadian Health Economics Study Group Meetings 2008, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, May 15-16, 2008 and the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Canadian Economics Association Conference, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 6 – 8, 2008.

“Physician’s production of primary care in Ontario: Evidence from the 2004 National Physician Survey, Canada,” presented at the Canadian Health Economics Study Group 2006, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, May 11-12, 2006 and 2006 Health Canada Science Forum, Ottawa, Ontario, October 30-31, 2006.

“Determinants of elderly living arrangements: evidence from Aging in Manitoba Longitudinal data, 1971-96,” presented at the Canadian Health Economics Study Group 2005, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, May 25-26, 2005.

“Does public health insurance reduce financial burden? Empirical findings from the VLSS panel,” presented at the 38th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Economics Association Conference, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, June 4 – 6, 2004.

“Demand for outpatient health care in rural India: a nested multinomial logit approach,” presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Economics Association Conference, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, May 30 – June 1, 2003.

“A Microeconometric analysis of health care utilization in Canada: evidence from NPHS data,” presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Economics Association Conference, University of Calgary, Alberta, May 31 – June 2, 2002.

“Numerical methods for the solution of a human capital model,” presented at the 7th International Conference of the Society for Computational Economics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, June 28 – 29, 2001.

 

Reviewer for the Granting Agencies (year(s) reviewed):

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – COVID-19 Rapid Research Review Committee Member (Spring 2020)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Health Services Evaluation & Interventions Research (HS3) Committee Member (Fall 2019, Spring/Summer 2020, Spring 2021)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Operating Grant: Economic Forecasting Committee Member (February 2018).

Canada Research Chair Tier 2 Application, External Reviewer (2016)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Health Services Evaluation & Interventions Research Committee (Scientific Officer, Fall 2017)

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Foundation Scheme Stage I Committee Member (November 2014, November 2015, January 2016).

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Health Policy and Management Operating Grant Committee Member  (Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2013, Spring 2014).

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant Committee Member (Spring 2011, Fall 2011).

Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR), Review Panel Member (2013).

Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR), External Reviewer (2016).

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) – External Reviewer (2009).

 

Journal Reviewer

Health Economics (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2019 (2), 2022, 2023, 2024); Journal of Health Economics (2010, 2013, 2015, 2021); European Journal of Health Economics (2014, 2015, 2023); Economics & Human Biology (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019); Social Science & Medicine - Health Economics Section (2010, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2022 (2)), 2023; Annals of Family Medicine (2022); PharmacoEconomics (2024, 2025); Canadian Medical Association Journal (2011, 2015, 2016, 2023); BMJ Open (2023); Canadian Journal of Public Health (2016, 2019, 2021); Health Care Management Science (2019); Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease (2021); Applied Health Economics and Health Policy (2009); Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy (2012); International Journal of Health Care Finance and Economics (2010, 2015); Health Policy (2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2019, 2023); BMC Cancer (2016); Healthcare Policy (2016); Current Oncology (2017); Journal of Public Health (2016); Canadian Public Policy (2013); Simulation: Transactions of the Society for Modelling and Simulation International (2014); Contemporary Economic Policy (2013, 2016); Nutrition and Food Science (2014); Health Policy and Planning (2010, 2011); International Journal for Equity in Health (2010); Empirical Economics (2010, 2017); Health Services Research (2007); Demography (2008); Pharmacoepidemiology & Drug Safety (2008, 2010); Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy (2011); Indian Journal of Community Medicine (2009, 2009, 2010); National Medical Journal of India (2008)

 

Memberships/Affiliation:

-        Canadian Economics Association (2001 – )

-        Canadian Health Economists’ Study Group (2004 – )

-        International Health Economics Association (2007 – )

-        ICES (former Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) (2009 – )

-        Canadian Centre for Health Economics (2013 – )

-        American Society of Health Economists (2013 –)