The interdisciplinary experts at Penn’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics have seen a lot since LDI was created after the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in the 1960s, but nothing quite like the challenges roiling the US healthcare system now.

For more than 40 years—from Bill Clinton’s failed healthcare initiative to Barack Obama’s successful (if long contested) one and on into today’s most pressing issues around equity and best practices—Ruth Katz CW’74 has been instrumental in developing public healthcare policies.

If there is a crisis (and there have been a few lately), Andy Slavitt C’88 W’88 knows which expert to bring “in the bubble.” When he’s not taping his award-winning podcast, the former insurance executive and federal administrator has a day job:funding innovation in healthcare for those who need help the most. “I have one thing I care about,” he says. “Making this country better for the people who have been ignored for too long.”

Therapy dogs are reducing stress and bringing joy to patients and staff across the Penn healthcare community.