Denise Tahara

Before joining NYMC full time, Dr. Tahara was an independent consultant working to improve the quality, efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery systems. Projects include improving billing and collections for a nursing home system, including correcting and resubmitting denied Medicare and Medicaid claims, reducing bad debt expense. Working with performance improvement teams at a home healthcare agency, she streamlined the reporting and analysis of quality indicators and implemented new methods to improve patient safety. At a large auto insurance company, she worked with a team to streamline the claims process, utilizing scanned/imaged documents, reducing paper flow and also updating client data records. Dr. Tahara has also worked with area hospitals to develop business plans to expand their programs and the corresponding metrics to measure the performance. This resulted in the approval of a residency program with NYMC and creation of new specialty programs at the hospitals. Currently, Dr. Tahara works with organizations on performance improvement, integrative care, and food insecurity. She helps them leverage existing resources to innovate and engage; create strategic partnerships with local community leaders; and invest community members in the long-term health of their neighborhoods.

Performance improvement through system transformation continues to be her primary area of research. Other areas of research include public health and food security, improving birth outcomes and maternal health through preconception healthcare, team-based approaches to integrating chronic disease care, pediatric obesity and chronic diseases management, educating the public about healthy lifestyle choices and increasing sustainability practices in healthcare. Dr. Tahara received her BS from Cornell University, her MBA and PhD from New York University and her CPA from New York State. While at NYU Dr. Tahara studied operations management and quality improvement with Dr. Deming.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree Cornell University
• Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business
• New York University - Leonard N. Stern School of Business
• Master's Degree NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
• Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

Companies

• Associate Professor, Health Policy & Management New York Medical College (2020)
• Associate Professor & Division Director, Health Policy & Management, Dept. of Public Health New York Medical College (2018 — 2020)
• Associate Professor, Director MPH Studies, New York Medical College (2005 — 2018)
• Adjunct Associate Professor, Masters in Design Management Program PRATT INSTITUTE (1995 — 2005)
• Independent Consultant Self-employed (1993 — 2005)
• Adjunct Assistant Professor NYU Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service (1996 — 2004)
• Adjunct Assistant Professor NYU Stern School of Business (1986 — 1995)
• Manager Ernst & Young (1987 — 1993)