Papers
2
Total Citations
207
H-Index
2
About
Jonathan Skinner is a leading health economist whose research sits at the intersection of health care productivity, aging, and clinical outcomes. He is perhaps best known for his landmark 2012 study, “Adverse Effects of Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Versus Open Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy Among a Nationwide Random Sample of Medicare-Age Men,” which has garnered 176 citations. This work provided critical, real-world evidence that robotic-assisted prostatectomy offered no clear advantage over traditional open surgery for older men, and in fact carried higher risks of complications—fundamentally shaping clinical decision-making and health policy debates around surgical innovation. In his equally influential paper, “Saving Money or Just Saving Lives? Improving the Productivity of US Health Care Spending” (31 citations), Skinner tackled the urgent challenge of rising health care costs, arguing that the U.S. could achieve better health outcomes without increasing spending by eliminating waste and improving system efficiency. His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including election to the National Academy of Medicine. For students and researchers, Skinner’s work exemplifies how rigorous empirical analysis can illuminate the true value—and hidden costs—of medical advances, offering a powerful framework for understanding health care reform.
Research Focus
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