Gretchen Williams Torres, M.P.P. is associate director of the health care evaluation group at NORC at the University of Chicago. She brings over 20 years of health services research experience to a broad portfolio of projects in health care payment and delivery and collaboration across sectors to improve health. Gretchen is an expert in applying mixed-method, multidisciplinary approaches to examine the implementation, impact, sustainability, and scalability of novel health care programs. She leads a variety of projects for federal agencies and foundations focused on alternative payment models, safety net health systems, and health system investment in social determinants of health. She has written and presented on mixed methods in health policy research, care transformation for underserved populations, cross-sector collaboration, and other topics. Her research appears in peer-reviewed publications and other formats designed to be used by policymakers and practitioners. Prior to NORC, Gretchen served as research director at the American Hospital Association’s Health Research and Educational Trust, where she led research and technical assistance focused on hospitals and their role in public health improvement. Gretchen holds B.A. in international relations from Tufts University and an M.P.P. with a concentration in health administration and policy from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.
A PCORI-funded learning network recently developed an action-oriented, step-by-step roadmap to help patient-driven research communities define their value.