About Us

Transforming Healthcare Financing for a Better Tomorrow

Our Mission

The Health Care Financing Initiative fosters research and engagement between our students and faculty, legislative and policymaking leaders, and industry leaders in the areas of health care financing and public policy.The McCourt School established the Health Care Financing Initiative (HCFI) in June 2018 with the generous support of the Institute for Critical Care Foundation (ICCF).

Our Team

Principal Investigators

Thomas DeLeire, PhD

Distinguished Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy

Director, HCFI

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Carol B. Davis, PhD, MBA

Assistant Research Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy

Associate Director of Research and Publications, HCFI

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Current Members

Emmanuella Sobo, MPH

Research Program Manager

Emmanuella is an experienced program manager and public health analyst with demonstrated success in overseeing program deliverables, including the development of written protocols, reporting materials, and database documentation. With a Master of Public Health from George Washington University, she specializes in data management and project implementation, ensuring the successful achievement of program goals and strict adherence to state and federal regulations. Emmanuella has worked across various sectors, including academic, clinical, and governmental organizations, where she has excelled in implementing data-driven strategies and fostering collaborative efforts to drive meaningful outcomes. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and exploring diverse culinary cultures.

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Aditi Bhardwaj

Biostatician

Aditi is a data professional with over 3 years of experience in machine learning, statistical analysis, data visualization, and programming languages including Python, R, and SQL. Proficient in business intelligence tools like Tableau, Aditi specializes in deriving actionable insights from complex datasets using artificial intelligence and statistical modeling techniques and presenting these findings in clear, visually engaging reports to non-technical audiences and thrive in collaborative environments. She is excited to leverage expertise in data-driven strategies to contribute to the success of the HealthCare Financing Initiative.

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Yuhan Ma

Research Assistant

Yuhan holds a Master of Science in Data Science for Public Policy (’25) from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy. She is passionate about using data science to improve health outcomes and advance equity, with the goal of creating a fairer environment that empowers individuals to lead healthier lives.

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Emmanuel Carrasco Hernandez

Research Assistant

Emmanuel Carrasco Hernández holds a Master of Public Policy (MPP, ’25) from Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, with a focus on population health and harm reduction strategies. Originally from Mexico and trained in Economics, he combines rigorous financial analysis with strategic community engagement to generate data-driven insights for real-world policy challenges.

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Recent Alumni

Vika Li

Graduate Research Assistant

Vika earned her Master’s in Data Science for Public Policy (’25) from Georgetown University’s McCourt School, where she focused on healthcare and life sciences. With a background in mental health from New York University and as an alumna of the Health Care Financing Initiative (HCFI), she combines data analytics with a human-centered approach. Beyond work, Vika loves solo adventures and discovering new cities on foot.

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Yetong Xu

Graduate Research Assistant

Yetong completed his graduate studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy in Data Science for Public Policy in May 2024. His research interests include Health Policy, Computational Social Science, and Development Economics. He is passionate about applying data science to solve social issues and improve the welfare of those in need. In his spare time, he enjoys playing basketball. Yetong is currently a Research Associate Fellow at Harvard Business School.

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Rehman Liaqat

Graduate Research Assistant

Rehman Liaqat (He/Him) graduated in May 2024 with a Master of Public Policy (MPP), focusing on economic policy development. A 2022-24 George E. Richmond Scholar for Health Equity and a 2023 Leadership Fellow at the McCourt School, he worked to promote equity, community, and meaningful dialogue within academic policy circles. Rehman is now pursuing a JD program in Northwestern.