Oral History Interview with William Hsiao

Abstract

William Hsiao is the K.T. Li Professor of Economics, Emeritus, in Department of Health Policy and Management and Department of Global Health and Population, at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Hsiao is a leading global expert and consultant on health insurance policies and reforms. He was born in China, educated in the United States, and received his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. He is also a fully qualified actuary with extensive experience in private and social insurance. Dr. Hsiao’s health economic and policy research program spans across the world. He is a leading global expert in universal health insurance, which he has studied for more than forty years. He has been actively engaged in designing health system reforms and universal health insurance programs for many countries and regions, including Taiwan, China, and the United States. Dr. Hsiao was elected to be a member of the National Academy of Medicine, US National Academy of Science, and elected to be a Board member of the National Academy of Social Insurance and USA Society of Actuaries. He has published more than 180 papers and several books and served on several editorial boards of professional journals. He served as a policy advisor to three US presidents, the US Congress, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, and International Labor Organization.