Claudine Gay, the newly elected president of Harvard University, is a widely admired higher education leader and a political scientist. But who is the man behind her success? In this article, we will explore the life and career of Christopher C. Afendulis, Claudine Gay’s husband and a lecturer and research analyst.
Early Life and Education
Christopher C. Afendulis was born in the United States and attended the University of Michigan, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He then pursued his PhD in political science at Harvard University, where he met Claudine Gay, who was also a doctoral student in the same department.
Career and Research Interests
After completing his PhD, Christopher C. Afendulis worked as a senior research analyst at the Center for Health Policy (CHP) and the Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research (PCOR) at Stanford University. He also served as a lecturer of health policy at Harvard University from 2006 to 2015.
Christopher C. Afendulis is interested in the economics of health care, including the financing of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, the provision of long-term care, and the effects of managed care on the health care system. He has published several articles on these topics in academic journals, such as Health Affairs, Health Services Research, and the American Journal of Public Health.
Some of his notable publications include:
- Expanded Use of Imaging Technology and the Challenge of Measuring Value, co-authored with Laurence C. Baker and Scott W. Atlas, which examined the trends and drivers of the increased use of advanced imaging technologies in the US health care system, and the implications for measuring and improving value.
- Differences in Neonatal Mortality Among Whites and Asian American Subgroups: Evidence From California, co-authored with Laurence C. Baker, Amitabh Chandra, Sean McConville, Ciaran S. Phibbs, and Elena Fuentes-Afflick, which analyzed the variations in neonatal mortality rates among different Asian American subgroups and compared them with whites in California, and found that some subgroups, such as Filipinos and Vietnamese, had higher risks of neonatal death than whites.
Personal Life and Family
Christopher C. Afendulis is married to Claudine Gay, who was recently elected as the 30th president of Harvard University and the first Black president in the university’s history. Claudine Gay has been serving as the Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) since 2018 and is also a professor of government and of African and African-American studies.
The couple has two children, a son and a daughter, who are both in their teens. They live in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and enjoy spending time together as a family. According to HITC, Claudine Gay once said that her husband is her “biggest cheerleader” and that he has been supportive of her career and achievements.
Conclusion
Christopher C. Afendulis is a lecturer and research analyst who specializes in the economics of health care. He is also the husband of Claudine Gay, the new president of Harvard University. He has a successful academic career and a happy family life. He is a role model for many aspiring scholars and a source of inspiration for his wife.