Michael Nichol

Professor and Vice Provost

As professor of Health Policy and Pharmaceutical Economics, Dr. Nichol has developed and directed a number of graduate programs in both the Price School of Public Policy and School of Pharmacy at USC. He has published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and abstracts, and has provided consultation to health and insurance firms, as well as large physician groups. He has also served on multiple national boards and committees.

Dr. Nichol began his health care career as a health planner with the Oregon State Health Planning and Development Agency. He became planning director, associate director, and then executive director of the Western Oregon Health Systems Agency, between the years of 1978 and 1984. During his tenure as executive director, the Agency developed the first physician-specific fee guide, which was distributed to the general public. In addition, the Agency sponsored multiple public hearings as a part of the Oregon Health Decisions project, which resulted in a set of health priorities for the Oregon Medicaid program.

While directing the Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, Professor Nichol developed the Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, which has become one of the premier graduate degrees in the field. He has served on a number of national boards and committees, including the National Commission on Quality Assurance Cardiovascular Work Group, the National Quality Forum’s National Voluntary Consensus Standards for the Reporting of Therapeutic Drug Management Quality Education and Adherence Technical Advisory Panel, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Systems Research Study Section, and a study section for the Patient Centered Outcomes and Research Institute (PCORI). Professor Nichol was President of the USC Faculty during the 2008-2009 academic year.

In addition to his present appointment as Professor of Public Policy, Dr. Nichol serves as USC Associate Provost for Online Education. He previously served as Price’s Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs and director of the school’s Graduate Health Programs. Dr. Nichol is also a Research Fellow at the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics.