Hanke Zheng

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About

Hanke Zheng is a leading voice in health policy and surgical outcomes, whose work challenges the traditional fee-for-service paradigm that has long dominated U.S. healthcare. Her research centers on value-based care, surgical quality improvement, and the economic incentives that shape medical practice. In her highly cited 2022 paper, “Improving Value in Surgery,” Zheng argues for a radical transformation in how surgical care is delivered and reimbursed, exposing how fee-for-service models reward volume over quality and drive up costs without improving patient outcomes. Though early in her career, her work has already garnered attention for its clear-eyed critique of systemic inefficiencies and its actionable framework for reform. Zheng’s contributions are especially vital for students and researchers interested in the intersection of clinical surgery, health economics, and policy—offering a roadmap for aligning financial incentives with genuine patient value. Her scholarship signals a new generation of surgeon-researchers committed not only to technical excellence but to the structural changes needed to make healthcare more equitable, effective, and sustainable.