Dr. DiStefano is an Assistant Professor in the Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and the Department of Clinical Pharmacy. His research is primarily focused on health technology assessment, prescription drug policy, and direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising. He is particularly interested in the ethical considerations that arise in each of these research areas. To advance research in these areas, Dr. DiStefano draws on both empirical research methods and conceptual and normative analysis. His work has been published in JAMA, Health Affairs, and Value in Health. Dr. DiStefano is also a committed educator. Prior to beginning his research career, he taught biomedical ethics at Dong-a University in Busan, South Korea.
Education, Licensure & Certifications
- PhD in Health Policy & Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2021
- Master's in Bioethics, University of Pennsylvania, 2014
- AB in Religion, Princeton University, 2011
Affiliations
Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research
Publications and Presentations
DiStefano MJ, Zemplenyi A, McQueen RB. 2024. Assessing clinical benefit in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: A 2-step approach for improving transparency, consistency, and meaningful patient engagement. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy. DOI: 10.18553/jmcp.2024.23255.
DiStefano MJ, Zemplenyi A, Anderson KE, Mendola ND, Nair KV, McQueen RB. 2024. Alternative approaches to measuring value: an update on innovative methods in the context of the United States Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research 24(2): 171-180.
DiStefano MJ, Levy JF, Odouard IC, Anderson GF. 2023. Estimated savings from using added therapeutic benefit and therapeutic reference pricing in United States Medicare drug price negotiations. Value in Health 26(11): 1618-1624.
DiStefano MJ, Markell JM, Doherty C, Alexander GC, Anderson GF. 2023. Association Between Pharmaceutical Product Characteristics and Manufacturer Spending on Direct-to-Consumer Advertising. Journal of the American Medical Association 329(5): 386-392.
Crane MA, DiStefano MJ, Moore TJ. 2023. False and misleading claims in online direct-to-consumer ketamine advertising in Maryland. JAMA Network Open 6(11): e2342210.
Anderson KE, DiStefano MJ, Liu A, Socal MP, Mattingly II TJ, Anderson GF. 2023. Incorporating Added Therapeutic Benefit and Domestic Reference Pricing into Medicare Payment for Expensive Part B Drugs. Value in Health 26(9): 1381-1388.
DiStefano MJ, Alexander GC, Polsky D, Anderson GF. 2022. Public opinion regarding U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of aducanumab and potential policy responses: A nationally representative survey. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 70(6): 1685-1694.