School mourns loss of HPM faculty member John Vernon

Dr. John Vernon

John Andrew Vernon, PhD, 43, died on June 19. Dr. Vernon had been assistant professor of health policy and management at UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health since 2008.

He leaves behind his wife Jucineia Gomes, two sons and a stepdaughter.

A Durham, N.C., native, Dr. Vernon earned an undergraduate degree at Duke University, master’s degree at North Carolina State University and doctorate from the University of London, all in economics. He also held a doctorate in management science from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

Prior to his joining the UNC public health faculty, Dr. Vernon served as senior economic policy adviser in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, faculty research fellow at the National Bureau of Economic Research and assistant professor of finance at the University of Connecticut. On several occasions, he was called upon for expert testimony at Congressional committee hearings, related to his research.

His work primarily examined the pharmaceutical industry, including management strategy, evolutionary economics, simulation modeling, regulation and innovation, health care finance, and economics and management science. He published more than 47 papers, 30 editorials and working papers, and three books and chapters. In 2006, he won the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research’s Methodology Research Award.

“John will be missed by the faculty, staff and students for his outstanding level of scholarship,” said Peggy Leatt, PhD, professor and chair of the health policy and management department. “His testimonies on pharmaceutical issues have had a critically important impact on health policies at the federal level.”

Funeral services will be held Sunday, June 24, at 2 p.m. in the Howerton & Bryan Funeral Chapel [directions]. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Durham Rescue Mission, 507 E. Knox St. Durham, N.C. 27701. Online condolences may be submitted at www.howertonbryan.com.