CHIBE hosts 2024 Roybal Retreat

The Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) gathered in October 2024 for the annual Roybal Retreat, a moment for faculty and staff to learn about each other’s work and build new relationships.

CHIBE Associate Director Harsha Thirumurthy, PhD, gave remarks at the retreat and compared the event to a subway station hub. CHIBE affiliates work in all sorts of different research areas and fields, working on their own tracks, but the retreat is a place where these lines of work can meet.

“In some ways, the magic of something like the CHIBE retreat and CHIBE more generally is that this is where our subway lines intersect,” he said. “And I get a lot of joy at these intersections and stations where our subway lines cross. That’s where you get to learn what other people are working on, this is where you can learn what minor course corrections you want to make or different train lines you want to get on. I think that’s what makes a retreat like this very special. And I want to close with a challenge to all of you — don’t wait until next year to find yourself at a station where these subway lines cross.”

CHIBE Director Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, also delivered remarks at the retreat. He recognized many faculty and staff for awards and research achievements, shared the CHIBE annual report, and highlighted a new section of the CHIBE website that lists the Center’s research support tools. CHIBE affiliates can take advantage of our resources related to data standards; qualitative methods; Way to Health technology; best practices around inclusive and anti-racist research; and communications help such as infographics, one-pagers, landing pages for research teams, and letters to study participants informing them of trial results.

CHIBE Scientific Director Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, shared the exciting news that the NIA renewed CHIBE’s Roybal Center to improve the lives of older adults. (Read more about what CHIBE is working on with its Penn Roybal Center on Behavioral Economics and Health here.) For those wondering why we call the retreat our “Roybal Retreat,” Dr. Buttenheim also told the story behind Congressman Edward R. Roybal, the first Latino elected to Los Angeles City Council in 1949. Roybal co-founded the House Select Committee on Aging and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2014 posthumously.

The Center also welcomed Ingrid Nembhard, PhD, MS, Fishman Family President’s Distinguished Professor, Professor of Health Care Management, and Professor of Management (Organizational Behavior) at Wharton, as the keynote speaker for the retreat. Her research focuses on how characteristics of health care organizations, their leaders, and staff contribute to their ability to implement new practices, engage in continuous organizational learning, and ultimately improve quality of care. Find CHIBE’s Q&A with Dr. Nembhard here.  

In addition to research presentations on a variety of topics and a poster session, the retreat also featured a panel discussion on best data practices and research integrity and a workshop led by Dr. Buttenheim on exploring human-centered design. 

Thanks to all of you who joined us for this year’s retreat and for your commitment to the fields of behavioral economics and health.

Photos courtesy of Hoag Levins, LDI Editor of Digital Publications