Dr. Dhruv Khurana and EMPH Candidate Andy Short Co-Author Critical Health Equity Study in Health Affairs Scholar

We are thrilled to celebrate a remarkable milestone in our UCLA Executive MPH (EMPH) community. Esteemed faculty member Dr. Dhruv Khurana recently co-authored a groundbreaking research paper alongside first-year EMPH candidate Andy Short.

Published in the journal Health Affairs Scholar (Volume 4, Issue 6, June 2026), their study is titled “Protecting safety-net equity monitoring after federal sexual orientation and gender identity data rollbacks.” This achievement highlights the unique opportunities that arise from the collaborative connections our students form with faculty within the EMPH program, proving that academic mentorship at UCLA extends far beyond the classroom to drive real-world impact.

The synergy between Dr. Khurana and Andy Short bridges elite academic expertise with dedicated community leadership. Dr. Khurana, who teaches “Microeconomic Theory of Health Sector” in both the EMPH and MHA programs, holds a Ph.D. in Economics specializing in Health Economics and Econometrics from Claremont Graduate University and an M.S. in Finance from the London School of Economics. Recognizing Short’s analytical skills and perspective, Dr. Khurana found an exceptional research partner. In addition to successfully navigating his first year in the rigorous EMPH program, Short serves as the Associate Director of Volunteer Services at The Phoenix, a nonprofit organization that creates free, sober, active communities for individuals in recovery. Together, their combined expertise culminated in a highly sophisticated analysis of data governance and health equity.

Their timely research addresses the consequences of recent federal rollbacks on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection within safety-net health systems. Following a January 2025 executive order and subsequent June 2025 rescissions in Medicaid and health center reporting, federal agencies stripped SOGI metrics across hundreds of data collections, disproportionately targeting gender identity data. Drawing on whole-person health screening data from more than 35,000 safety-net patients, Dr. Khurana and Short exposed two critical patterns: a “generational reversal,” showing that severe health disparities—such as depression rates being 24 percentage points higher—are heavily concentrated among younger LGB+ adults (ages 18–25), and an “education paradox,” which reveals that higher educational attainment among LGB+ individuals uniquely coexists with greater material hardship.

Ultimately, the paper underscores a vital policy truth: when SOGI data is removed, the “denominator” for equity accountability entirely disappears, rendering these disparities invisible. To protect vulnerable populations, the authors propose actionable solutions, including SOGI data accountability mechanisms, workflow-embedded warm handoffs, and targeted workforce strategies to reduce discrimination and secure preventive care.

For an EMPH candidate to publish such vital, policy-shaping research in a top-tier journal during their first year is an extraordinary accomplishment. This student-faculty spotlight stands as a proud testament to the spirit of the UCLA EMPH program, demonstrating how passion, mentorship, and rigorous scholarship unite to advance the future of health equity.

Read the article here.