Ana Lòpez-De Fede, PhD, is a Research Professor at the Institute for Families in Society, Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine and Affiliated Faculty with the Department of Special Education in the Educational Psychology Department at the University of South Carolina. At the Institute, as head of the Division of Medicaid Policy Research (MPR), Dr. Lòpez-De Fede currently directs interdisciplinary research dedicated to exploring the links between health, health service delivery systems and well-being. In recognition of this work, she received the University of South Carolina 2014 Breakthrough Leadership in Research Award.

During her professional career, she has directed community-based organizations, served as a consultant with programs addressing the needs of at-risk vulnerable populations, worked as an advocate for enhanced health care and educational services for individuals with disabilities, and performed as a university unit administrator. She is presently a standing member of the AHRQ, Health Services and Systems Research Review Panel a federal appointment authorized by the US HHS Secretary. She formerly served as a member of the CDC Advisory Committee for the Elimination of Tuberculosis.

Her publications and professional interest are in health care systems change, Medicaid and Medicare financing of health care, health care reform, spatial analytics, service delivery to rural and minority communities, and the social and cultural determinants of health. Dr. Lòpez-De Fede has a proven track-record in the field of applied research and in bringing together different entities to build collaborative efforts.