Featured Experts
The Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making draws on the expertise of many talented individuals to shape and inform our work. We periodically capture their insights in our growing selection of question-and-answer interviews.
Policy To Support Shared Decision-Making
Professor Gary Schwitzer
Mr. Schwitzer is an associate professor at University of Minnesota School of Journalism & Mass Communication and publisher of HealthNewsReview.org, a website that assesses the quality and accuracy of articles on health and medicine. Since 2005, the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision Making has awarded Mr. Schwitzer grants to evaluate health reporting via the website. Mr. Schwitzer, who covered health news on TV for 15 years, discussed the relationship between health reporting and informed decision-making.
Benjamin Moulton J.D., M.P.H.
Mr. Moulton is the co-author of the 2006 article, “Rethinking Informed Consent: the Case for Shared Decision Making,” published in The American Journal of Law & Medicine. Recently he was asked to highlight key discussion points in the article and provide an overview on the topic of shared decision-making. Disclaimer: this interview should not be considered by the reader to be legal advice or used as a substitute for professional legal advice for a particular situation.
Karen J. Merrikin, J.D.
Ms. Merrikin is executive director of public policy at Group Health Cooperative, a non-profit health plan and care delivery system in Washington state. She was actively involved in shaping and supporting a state bill endorsing shared decision-making that was successfully passed in 2007. She shared her thoughts on the role of shared decision-making at Group Health and practical tips for others interested in supporting similar legislation.
Michael J. Barry, M.D.
Dr. Barry is Medical Director of the John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation of the General Medicine Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. In addition, Dr. Barry is past President of the Society for Medical Decision-Making (SMDM).