Meet the New McDonough Faculty: Yunan Ji

We are pleased to welcome new faculty members to the Georgetown McDonough community this fall. 

In our Meet the New McDonough Faculty Series, learn more about the interests, specialties, experiences, and personalities behind the talented academics inside the Rafik B. Hariri Building on Georgetown’s campus. 

We spoke with Yunan Ji, assistant professor of strategy, about what she hopes to accomplish at Georgetown through her engagement with students, research, classroom teachings, and beyond.

What are you most looking forward to when it comes to working at Georgetown McDonough?

I am excited to work with the amazing faculty and students at McDonough. I try to keep my door open so please stop by and introduce yourself if we haven’t met!

What institution or previous line of work are you coming from?

I was previously at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies in London, United Kingdom.            

What is your area(s) of expertise and which subject(s) are you most passionate about?

My area of expertise is the economics of health care, including how we can make health care higher quality, more affordable, and more innovative. Outside of work, I am passionate about long-distance hiking.

What is your favorite quote and why?

My favorite quote is from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: “There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.” I sometimes wonder if the same set of theories apply to the research problems I work on.

What is your favorite podcast or book and why?

My favorite podcast is Freakonomics, M.D. Freakonomics meets health care in digestible 30-minute episodes. What’s not to love?

How would you describe yourself in a few words?

I am curious and committed.

What do you hope to ultimately bring to the McDonough community?

I hope to bring expertise in the economics of health care, along with many conversations around the big questions and innovative solutions in health care markets (and a chocolate pecan pie if I ever manage to perfect the recipe).