Guy David

Current Courses (Fall 2024)

• HCMG3220 - Health Care Ecosystem

  This course provides an application of economic principles to the health care ecosystem, focusing primarily on the US health care sector. By recognizing the importance of scarcity and incentives, this course will focus on the critical economic issues in producing, financing, and delivering efficient and equitable health care. In particular, the course will discuss the tension between cost, access and quality of care; analyze the determinants of demand for medical care; discuss the role of health insurance and the complexities it brings; study the unique role of physicians in guiding and shaping the allocation of resources in medical care markets; and analyze competition in medical care markets, especially among hospitals. Special emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of policy instruments such as government regulation, antitrust laws, and public health programs. Knowledge of calculus and basic microeconomics is highly recommended. Students who take HCMG 3220 may not also take HCMG 3520 for further credit.

  HCMG3220001 ( Syllabus )

• HCMG3520 - Health Care Services Del

  The purpose of this course is to apply economics to an analysis of the health care industry, with special emphasis on the unique characteristics of the US healthcare markets, from pre-hospital to post-acute care. This course focuses on salient economic features of health care delivery, including: the role of nonprofit providers, the effects of regulation and antitrust activity on hospitals, the degree of input substitutability within hospitals, the nature of competition in home health care, public versus private provision of emergency medical services, the effect of specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, the economics of direct-to-consumer advertising and its effect on drug safety, defining and improving medical performance in hospitals, specialization and investment in physical and human capital, and shifting of services between inpatient and outpatient settings and its effect on health care costs and quality.

  HCMG3520001 ( Syllabus )

• HCMG9000 - Proseminar In He

  This course is intended to provide entering doctoral students with information on the variety of health economics models, methods, topics, and publication outlets valued and used by faculty in the HCMG doctoral program and outside of it. The course has two main parts: the first, to acquaint students with theoretical modeling tools used frequently by health economists. This part of the course involves a number of lectures coupled with students' presentations from the health economics, management and operations research community at Penn on a research method or strategy they have found helpful and they think is important for all doctoral students to know.

  HCMG9000001 ( Syllabus )

All Courses

• ECON0390 - Econ & Fincing-Hlthcr Dl

  The course provides an application of economic models to demand, supply, and their interaction in the medical economy. Influences on demand, especially health status, insurance coverage, and income will be analyzed. Physician decisions on the pricing and form of their own services, and on the advice they offer about other services, will be considered. Competition in medical care markets, especially for hospital services, will be studied. Special emphasis will be placed on government as demander of medical care services. Changes in Medicare and regulation of managed care are among the public policy issues to be addressed. Prerequisite: If course requirement not met, permission of instructor required.

• HCIN6040 - Health Economics

  Health economics applies economic principles to the health care sector. By recognizing the importance of scarcity and incentives, it focuses on the critical economic issues in producing, delivering, and financing health care. It analyzes determinants of demand for medical care, the unique role of physicians in resource allocation, the role of health insurance, and competition in medical care markets.

• HCIN6042 - Health Economics

  This course surveys health economics through its principles, insurance, physicians, hospitals and related care, and regulation and integration. Dynamic lectures cover the role of economics in health; differences between health economics and other branches of the discipline; supply, demand, and equilibrium; and the iron triangle of health care (access, cost, and quality). Key health insurance concepts are introduced—risk aversion, moral hazard, cost sharing, and adverse selection—along with a practical overview of the calculations that underlie pricing decisions. You will learn about the relationship between physicians and patients, supplier-induced demand, alternative payment models, the economics of primary care and of specialization, and the role of nonprofit and for-profit hospitals in the health care system. The course concludes with the legal and regulatory structures that govern hospital systems and hospitals’ regional market power, by examining vertical and horizontal integration, price discrimination, price fixing, mergers, and antitrust laws. In the final assignment, you will apply course concepts to health equity issues.

• HCMG2020 - Econ & Fincing-Hlthcr Dl

  The course provides an application of economic models to demand, supply, and their interaction in the medical economy. Influences on demand, especially health status, insurance coverage, and income will be analyzed. Physician decisions on the pricing and form of their own services, and on the advice they offer about other services, will be considered. Competition in medical care markets, especially for hospital services, will be studied. Special emphasis will be placed on government as demander of medical care services. Changes in Medicare and regulation of managed care are among the public policy issues to be addressed. Prerequisite: If course requirement not met, permission of instructor required.

• HCMG3020 - Econ & Fin of HC Delivery

  This course provides an application of economic principles to the health care sector. By recognizing the importance of scarcity and incentives, this course will focus on the critical economic issues in producing, delivering, and financing health care. In particular, the course will analyze determinants of demand for medical care, such as health status, insurance coverage, and income; the unique role of physicians in guiding and shaping the allocation of resources in medical care markets; and competition in medical care markets, especially among hospitals. Special emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of policy instruments such as government regulation, antitrust laws, 'sin taxes' on cigarettes and alcohol, and public health programs. Students who take HCMG 302 may not also take HCMG 202 (ECON 039) for further credit.; knowledge of calculus and basic microeconomics is recommended.

• HCMG3220 - Health Care Ecosystem

  This course provides an application of economic principles to the health care ecosystem, focusing primarily on the US health care sector. By recognizing the importance of scarcity and incentives, this course will focus on the critical economic issues in producing, financing, and delivering efficient and equitable health care. In particular, the course will discuss the tension between cost, access and quality of care; analyze the determinants of demand for medical care; discuss the role of health insurance and the complexities it brings; study the unique role of physicians in guiding and shaping the allocation of resources in medical care markets; and analyze competition in medical care markets, especially among hospitals. Special emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of policy instruments such as government regulation, antitrust laws, and public health programs. Knowledge of calculus and basic microeconomics is highly recommended. Students who take HCMG 3220 may not also take HCMG 3520 for further credit.

• HCMG3520 - Health Care Services Del

  The purpose of this course is to apply economics to an analysis of the health care industry, with special emphasis on the unique characteristics of the US healthcare markets, from pre-hospital to post-acute care. This course focuses on salient economic features of health care delivery, including: the role of nonprofit providers, the effects of regulation and antitrust activity on hospitals, the degree of input substitutability within hospitals, the nature of competition in home health care, public versus private provision of emergency medical services, the effect of specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, the economics of direct-to-consumer advertising and its effect on drug safety, defining and improving medical performance in hospitals, specialization and investment in physical and human capital, and shifting of services between inpatient and outpatient settings and its effect on health care costs and quality.

• HCMG8410 - Intro Health Mgmt & Econ

  This course provides an introduction to the field of health care economics and management. Using an economic approach, the course will provide an overview of the evolution, structure and current issues in the health care ecosystem. It examines the unique features of health care services, products and markets, with a specific focus on the changing relationships between patients, physicians, hospitals, insurers, employers, communities, and government. In particular, the course focuses on three broad segments of the health care industry: payors, providers, and producers. NOTE: This is a required course for Wharton Graduate Health Care Management majors; it counts as an elective course for all other Wharton Graduate students. It is also open to Law School and Nursing School students with a joint Wharton Program.

• HCMG8520 - Health Care Services Del

  The purpose of this course is to apply economics to an analysis of the health care industry, with special emphasis on the unique characteristics of the US healthcare markets, from pre-hospital to post-acute care. This course focuses on salient economic features of health care delivery, including: the role of nonprofit providers, the effects of regulation and antitrust activity on hospitals, the degree of input substitutability within hospitals, the nature of competition in home health care, public versus private provision of emergency medical services, the effect of specialty hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers, defining and improving medical performance in hospitals, specialization and investment in physical and human capital, shifting of services between inpatient and outpatient settings and its effect on health care costs and quality, and innovation in primary care from retail clinics to patient-centered medical homes and retainer-based medicine.

• HCMG8900 - Advanced Study Project

  HCMG 8900-001: This course examines issues related to the Services Sector of the health care industry. For those interested in management, investing, or banking in the health care industry, the services sector will likely be the largest and most dynamic sector within all of health care. We will study key management issues related to a number of different health care services businesses with a focus on common challenges related to reimbursement, regulatory, margin, growth, and competitive issues. We will look at a number of different businesses and subsectors that may have been unfamiliar to students prior to taking the course. We will make extensive use of outside speakers, many of whom are true industry leaders within different sectors of the health care services industry. Speakers will address the current management issues they face in running their businesses as well as discuss the career decisions and leadership styles that enables them to reach the top of their profession. Students will be asked to develop a plan to both buy out and manage a specific health care services business of their choosing and will present their final plans to a panel of leading Health Care Private Equity investors who will evaluate their analysis. Prerequisites: HCMG 8410. Health Care Management MBA majors only

• HCMG8980 - Global Modular Course

  Global Modular Course (GMC) - see description in section details

• HCMG8990 - Independent Study

  Arranged with members of the Faculty of the Health Care Systems Department. For further information contact the Department office, Room 204, Colonial Penn Center, 3641 Locust Walk, 898-6861.

• HCMG9000 - Proseminar in He

  This course is intended to provide entering doctoral students with information on the variety of health economics models, methods, topics, and publication outlets valued and used by faculty in the HCMG doctoral program and outside of it. The course has two main parts: the first, to acquaint students with theoretical modeling tools used frequently by health economists. This part of the course involves a number of lectures coupled with students' presentations from the health economics, management and operations research community at Penn on a research method or strategy they have found helpful and they think is important for all doctoral students to know.

• HPR6700 - Health Care Leadership

  The weeklong intensive course aims at developing essential business acumen and leadership skills required to thrive in a constantly changing health care ecosystem. Taught by invited faculty who have experience working with health care leaders, this course will focus on actionable knowledge in financial acumen, strategic decision making, innovation and building high-performance teams. Through interactive mixed-mode delivery methods, faculty will share tools and frameworks, always with a focus on how to apply them, both personally and within an organizational context. Prerequisite: Permission needed from Instructor.

• MGMT8970 - Global Modular Course A

  Special course arranged for Wharton MBA students, focused on global business, management and innovation.

• Wharton School Excellence-in-Teaching Award for the Undergraduate Division, 2018
• Wharton School Teaching Excellence Award, 2018
• Wharton School Teaching Commitment and Curricular Innovation Award for the MBA Division, 2017
• Wharton School Excellence-in-Teaching Award for the Undergraduate Division, 2014

Knowledge at Wharton

• How Does Your Financial Wellbeing Shape Your Health Outcomes?, Knowledge at Wharton - 2/6/2024
• How to Avoid Burnout for Shift Workers, Knowledge at Wharton - 3/28/2023
• COVID Crisis: Balancing Health Care and Economic Policy, Knowledge at Wharton - 9/22/2020
• An Innovative Way to Improve Care for Chronically Ill Patients, Knowledge at Wharton - 8/14/2014
• Growth Strategies of Israel’s Burgeoning Medical Device Sector, Knowledge at Wharton - 4/18/2014
• Hospitals Hiring Physicians: Why the Trend Is on the Rise, Knowledge at Wharton - 2/12/2014
• Medical Innovation: When Do the Costs Outweigh the Benefits?, Knowledge at Wharton - 10/2/2013
• Research Roundup: Cross Subsidization at Hospitals, Building Better Teams and the Alcohol Bias, Knowledge at Wharton - 7/18/2012
• Research Roundup: Improving Intelligence Forecasts, Vertically Integrated Health Care, and ‘Worrisome’ Health Care Costs, Knowledge at Wharton - 12/20/2011
• Concierge Medicine: The Doctor Is (Always) In, If You Pay Enough, Knowledge at Wharton - 11/22/2011

Wharton Stories

• This MBA’s Telehealth Startup Saves Lives One Call at a Time, Wharton Stories - 11/12/2019
• Wharton Health Care Management Faculty and PhD Students Square Off on the Basketball Court, Wharton Stories - 04/24/2018