Jerry Avorn

Dr. Jerry Avorn serves as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Emeritus Chief of the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which he founded. After graduating from Columbia University in 1969 and Harvard Medical School in 1974, he has revolutionized pharmaceutical research and physician education through pioneering "academic detailing," an innovative approach to providing evidence-based drug information to doctors. His research spans the scientific, policy, and social aspects of physician prescribing practices, drug safety, and medication policy. As author of over 600 papers and the influential book "Powerful Medicines," he ranks among the most highly-cited researchers in medicine and social sciences. His leadership extends to serving as president of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and contributing to national policy through committee work with the Institute of Medicine. Currently Co-Director of PORTAL (Program On Regulation, Therapeutics, And Law), he continues to shape pharmaceutical policy and medical education while advocating for optimal medication use, particularly in elderly populations