Ralph Lawton

PhD Candidate in Health Policy (G4, Economics)

Ralph Lawton is a student in the MD-PhD program at Harvard Medical School. He was a Robertson Scholar at Duke University, graduating in 2020 with a BS in economics, and started medical school in 2021. After graduating, Ralph spent a year as an NBER research assistant with Duncan Thomas and Elizabeth Frankenberg. His research work sits at the intersection of economics and human biology – studying the fundamental causes and consequences of health changes, especially at older ages. Some of this work is international, working on projects in Indonesia, and much of it leverages health and policy changes in the US, with an emphasis on innovative health measures. Outside of clinical medicine and research, Ralph loves trying spicy food, hiking, and shooting archery.