Pam Silberman, JD, DrPH

About

Pam Silberman, JD, DrPH, is a professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management in Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  There, she teaches courses on the health care system, services for underserved populations and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the health policy process. Her research interests focus on Medicaid, the health care safety net, the uninsured, rural health, and the ACA. 

In 2014, she stepped down as president and CEO of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine (NCIOM).  She served in this position from 2005-2014, and as vice president from 1999-2005.  Over the years, Pam helped lead task forces on rural health, state ACA implementation issues, the health care safety net, patient and family engagement, military health, health professional workforce, behavioral health, developmental disabilities, child and adolescent health, long-term care, dental care access, and health literacy. She has also done extensive work on promoting population health, helping to lead task forces that developed the North Carolina Prevention Action Plan, the Healthy NC 2020 objectives, and a plan to help local health departments in selecting, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based strategies to improve population health.  She served as co-publisher of the NCMJ, published jointly by the NCIOM and The Duke Endowment. 

Dr. Silberman graduated with a doctorate in public health from the UNC School of Public Health in December in 1997. She obtained her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1981, and her bachelor’s degree in political science and psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1977.

Honors and Awards

Harriet Hylton Barr Distinguished Alumni Award
2016, Gillings School of Global Public Health

Meritorious Service Award
2014, North Carolina Hospital Association

North Carolina Community Health Center Association Contribution Award
2014, North Carolina Community Health Center Association

Alumni Leadership Award
2013, UNC Department of Health Policy and Management

Ronald H. Levine Legacy Award
2013, State Health Director’s Conference, North Carolina Division of Public Health

Frederick B. Glaser Award
2010, Governor’s Institute on Alcohol and Substance Abuse

Ned Brooks Award for Public Service
2008, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Tarheel of the Week
1997, News and Observer

Representative Courses

Underserved Populations and Health Reform (HPM 758)

Health Policy Development/Policy Advocacy (HPM 759)

Advanced Health Policy Analysis: Health Policy Development, Health Policy Advocacy (HPM 790)

Service Activities

Alliance Behavioral Healthcare.  Board Member.  (Durham, NC).  June 2018 – present.

Key Publications

A Positive Association Between Hospice Profit Margin and the Rate at Which Patients are Discharged Before Death. Dolin R,* Holmes G, Stearns S, Kirk D, Hanson L, Taylor D, Silberman P.  (2017). Health Affairs, 36(7), 1291-1298.

Factors Driving Live Discharge from Hospice: Provider Perspectives. Dolin R,* Hanson L, Rosenblum S, Stearns S, Holmes G, Silberman P.  (2017). Journal of Pain Symptom Management, 53(6), 1050-1056.

The Effect of Narrow Network Plans on Out-of-Pocket Cost. Gillen E*, Hassmiller Lich K, Trantham L, Weinberger M, Silberman P, & Holmes M. (2017). The American Journal of Managed Care, 23(9), 540-545.

Implementing the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina: The Rubber Hits the Road. Silberman P. (2013). NCMJ, 74(4), 298-307..

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina. Silberman P, Cansler LM, Goodwin W, Yorkery B, Alexander-Bratcher K, Schiro S. (2011). NCMJ, 72(2), 156-160.

Honoring Their Service: Behavioral Health Services in North Carolina for Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families. Alexander-Bratcher K, Martin G, Purcell W, Watson M, Silberman P. (2011). NCMJ, 72(1), 29-36.

Developing Healthy, Happy, and Productive Young Adults: The North Carolina Metamorphosis Project and the NCIOM Task Force on Adolescent Health. Yorkery B, Ford C, Cline S, Lee H, Silberman P, Carter H, Coyne-Beasley T, Jones D, Speizer I, Holmes M. (2010). NCMJ, 71(4), 343-351.

Understanding Health Reform: A Work in Progress. Silberman P, Liao CE, Ricketts T. (2010). NCMJ, 71(3), 215-231.

Prevention for the health of North Carolina. Hastings J, Devlin L, Engel J, Seligson R, Roper W, Yorkery B, Lichstein J, Alexander-Bratcher K, Nielsen C, Jones D, Carter H, Liao C, Davis C, Silberman P, Holmes M. (2010). NCMJ, 71(1), 30-47.

Education