Mara is an Economist and Decision Analyst by background and holds degrees from Bocconi University in Milan and the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Her research is motivated by a desire to improve decision making in government, with a special interest and extensive expertise in the field of healthcare. Mara is one of the lead developers of the STAR toolkit, a socio-technical approach sponsored by the Health Foundation to improve resource allocation in healthcare organizations.
Mara has worked extensively with managers of the English and the Italian National Health Systems. She has also consulted for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in Ontario (Canada), the Home Office, the Ministry of Defence and the (then) Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in England, NATO and the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
You can see more about her work on the Blavatnik School of Government Faculty Spotlight
Academic papers
M. Airoldi, A. Morton, J.A. Smith, G. Bevan (2014) STAR--people-powered prioritization: a 21st-century solution to allocation headaches. Medical Decision Making 34(8):965-75.
M. Airoldi (2013). Disinvestments in practice: overcoming resistance to change through a socio-technical approach with local stakeholders. Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law. 38 (6), 1151-1173.
D. Read, S. Frederick, M. Airoldi (2012) "Four days later in Cincinnati: Longitudinal tests of intertemporal preference reversals due to hyperbolic discounting", Acta Psychologica. 140(2):177-185.
H. Dodhia, K. Phillips, M.-I. Zannou, M. Airoldi, G. Bevan (2012) "Modelling the impact on avoidable cardiovascular disease burden and costs of interventions to lower SBP in the England population", Journal of Hypertension, 30(1): 217-226.
M. Airoldi and A. Morton (2009) "Adjusting life for health or disability: stylistic difference or substantial issue?" Health Economics, 18(11): 1237-1247.
A. Morton, M. Airoldi, L. Phillips (2009) "Nuclear Risk Management on Stage: The UK's Committee on Radioactive Waste Management", Risk Analysis, 29(5): 764-779.
M. Airoldi, G. Bevan, A. Morton, M. Oliveira, J Smith (2008) "Requisite models for strategic commissioning: the example of type 1 diabetes", Health Care Management Science, 11: 89-110.
Book chapters
M. Airoldi (2013) “Stabilire le priorità d’intervento in sanità: dalla teoria alla pratica. L’esperienza inglese del SyMPOSE in Nuti S et al. Un metodo per individuare le priorità in sanità: l’esperienza pilota sul percorso dello scompenso cardiaco, Il Mulino: Bologna
M. Airoldi and A. Morton (2011) “Portfolio Decision Analysis for Population Health”, in Salo, A. and Keisler, J. and Morton, Alec, (eds.) Portfolio decision analysis: improved methods for resource allocation. Springer, Berlin.
D. Read, M. Airoldi (2005) "Utility Theory" in BS Everitt and DC Howell (Eds) Encyclopedia of Statistics in Behavioral Science, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, vol. 4: 2098-2101.
S. Leatherman, K. Sutherland, M. Airoldi (2008) "Bridging the quality gap", Health Foundation.
G. Bevan, A. Morton, M. Airoldi, M. Oliveira, J. Smith (2007). "Estimating health and productivity gains in England from selected interventions", The Health Foundation.
L. Phillips, M. Egan, M. Airoldi (2006). CoWRM MCDA Decision Conference 28-30 March 2006, Catalyze Ltd
Articles
M. Airoldi, L. Savell. (2020) Outcomes-Based Contracts in a Time of Crisis Stanford Social Innovation Review
M. Airoldi. (2013) Engaging local stakeholders: more help on the way with the Star tool, The Health Foundation blog
Mention in the media