Professor Echu Liu Draws on Experience, Passion for Health Economics to Mold Future Health Outcomes Through Research and Teaching

06/04/2024

Associate professor of Health Management and Policy Echu Liu, Ph.D., M.B.A. is tackling health challenges through an array of avenues.

Guided by enthusiasm and dedicated to both the future successes of his students and the health outcomes of the population, Liu embraces his passion for teaching and research as a catalyst for positive change.

Liu is deeply committed to health economics. His educational background is firmly grounded in the intersection of economics, finance, and data, particularly in relation to health outcomes. Liu attributes his dedication to health economics to the process of crafting his dissertation during his doctoral studies, which solidified his passion for the field.

His dissertation proposal focused on investigating the long-term effects of cigarette taxes on cardiovascular disease mortality rates in the US, a research experience that he links to his current career path.

“This experience affirmed my decision to prioritize health economics as my primary academic pursuit, recognizing it as a powerful avenue through which I could leverage my skills and enthusiasm to effect tangible improvements in societal well-being,” Liu said.

Liu discovered a calling to immerse himself in the prospect of tackling health challenges through the analytical lens of econometrics and delving into the intricate relationship between policy interventions and health outcomes.

As a professor at Saint Louis University, Liu carries these interests into the current day while broadening interest in other realms.

His current focus is on health insurance literacy and food insecurity. Liu cites a need for more research into the long-term effects of these areas of research interest.

“Health insurance literacy is crucial in health economics as it directly influences healthcare utilization, access, and outcomes, yet it remains understudied. I am particularly intrigued by its impact on health outcomes. Although considerable research has been conducted on food insecurity, some remain relatively unexplored,” Liu said. “While it is clear that food insecurity directly affects health outcomes by compromising nutrition and overall well-being, it also leads to increased healthcare costs.”

Liu continues to explore the long-term effects of food insecurity by understanding its implications for physical and mental health, well-being, healthcare spending, and the analytical framework.

He believes that understanding the full scope of food insecurity, from childhood introduction to its ripple effect through adulthood, could lead to the development of effective interventions.

As the future unfolds for Liu and the landscape of his research interests, he cites precision medicine economics, health technology assessment, and healthcare financing and payment reform as areas of health economics with ‘potential for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare systems.’

Liu reflects on challenges and lessons learned in nearly two decades as a researcher, faculty member, and health economist. He cites adapting to tech advances, navigating policy changes, balancing theory and practice, and acknowledging diverse research.

Through those challenges, Liu has learned the importance of flexibility, lifelong learning, and self-worth communication.

“Embracing new technologies, methodologies, and pedagogical approaches enables continuous growth and improvement,” he said.

As he looks at the future and considers his past, it’s hard not to acknowledge individual accomplishments and some proud moments, with a lesson or two mixed in.

Liu says that some of his most outstanding achievements are witnessing students grow and achieve their goals.

“One of my most significant accomplishments is witnessing the growth and success of students, watching them achieve their academic and personal goals, and knowing that I contributed to their journey,” he said. “I am always thrilled and touched when I receive cards, emails, or messages on LinkedIn from former students, especially those who have graduated, updating me about their lives and expressing gratitude for my role in their success.”

College for Public Health and Social Justice

The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.