Barbara J. McNeil, MD, PhD, Ridley Watts Professor and Head of the Department of Health Care Policy spoke to the Harvard Medical Society of the Chicago Harvard Club on May 14, 2009. The event was held to examine the role of technology in health care, the affiliated costs, and if analyses of comparative effectiveness may lead to more suitable choices in the application of technology.  

Although the session was aimed at alumni of HMS, the audience also consisted of many venture capitalists and lawyers from the greater Chicago area. Dr. McNeil’s presentation was entitled: “Costs, Cost Growth, and Quality of Care—Is there a Magic Bullet?” and initiated considerable discussion. Most questions during the discussion involved the role of comparative effectiveness in physicians’ practices and in innovation, areas that Dr. McNeil had emphasized in her presentation.

The Harvard Medical Society of Chicago really enjoyed hosting Dr. McNeil and hearing about her innovative ideas and experiences with medical technology.