Dr. Mendel, an Associate Social Scientist at RAND, is an organizational researcher with broad experience analyzing the dynamics of healthcare systems, healthcare reform, and quality improvement. He co-authored a study on institutional change and healthcare organizations in the U.S. over the past half-century, which received best scholarly book awards in organizational and medical sociology from the American Sociological Association in 2001 and 2002. More recently, his research has focused on the introduction of quality improvement in healthcare organizations, local inter-organizational networks and coordination of care for persons with co-morbid conditions, and the dissemination of evidence-based health interventions within community settings. He has also participated in cross-national research on self-help groups for substance addictions and the organization and financing of national health systems. Dr. Mendel received his Ph.D. in Sociology at Stanford University.