Behavioral Change Specialist, Merced County Department of Public Health
Professor of Health Economics at the University of California Merced, founded Sierra Health Economics to support and promote evidence based decision making for public health and health care organizations in the rural and under-served areas of California. Sierra Health Economics provides specialized consulting, tools, and training in health economics and behavioral economics.
Academic Background During 15 years as Professor of Health Economics at UC Merced (2011-2025), Dr. Brown was founding Director of the Health Sciences Research Institute, the largest research institution on campus. He served as Principal Investigator for the $1.35 million California Farmworker Health Study and developed health economics training programs that reached over 600 California public health professionals. Prior to UC Merced, he held positions at the University of Auckland (New Zealand), University of North Carolina, and University of Massachusetts-Boston, and worked for 12 years in various roles within New Zealand's health system.
Current Work Through Sierra Health Economics, Dr.Brown helps public health and healthcare agencies make evidence-based decisions about resource allocation. He specializes in three core areas:
Comprehensive needs assessment: Quantifying disease burden and economic impact in diverse communities
Transparent priority-setting: Designing defensible processes for allocating limited resources
Economic evaluation: Conducting cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and return on investment analyses
Identifying health economic data sources: Identifying publicly available data that can assist agencies to understand the economic implications of their policies and initiatives
Research & Impact Dr. Brown's research focuses on economic evaluation of interventions for vulnerable populations, particularly in rural and medically under-served regions. His chronic disease cost estimation tools are used by all 58 California counties for community health assessments,strategic planning, and PHAB accreditation.Originally from California, Dr. Brown now lives in Mariposa County, serving California's public health community statewide from the Sierra Nevada region.
Dr. Theresa Spezzano holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from UC Merced, specializing in behavioral economic approaches to promote healthy decision-making. With over 15 years of experience, she has significantly contributed to the development and evaluation of community health programs in the San Joaquin Valley. Her expertise spans expanding local food systems, youth nutrition, and K-12 school-based health curriculum development.
She has taught university-level courses in health promotion, health communication, personal health, and U.S. health systems. Her notable projects include garden-enhanced nutrition education, sustainable farm-to-school programs, sugar tax initiatives to reduce sugary beverage consumption, and the creation of local food hubs to increase the availability of locally grown produce in schools.
Previously, she served as the Nutrition Family and Consumer Science Advisor for Stanislaus and Merced Counties and the Health Equity Officer for Precision Medicine at CalHHS. Currently, she serves on the boards of the Stanislaus County Commission for Women and Central Valley Community Resources. Her work continues to impact community health positively, fostering healthier environments and behaviors.
Dr. Theresa Spezzano holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from UCMerced, specializing in behavioral economic approaches to promote healthydecision-making. With over 15 years of experience, she has significantlycontributed to the development and evaluation of community health programs inthe San Joaquin Valley. Her expertise spans expanding local food systems, youthnutrition, and K-12 school-based health curriculum development.She has taught university-level courses in health promotion,health communication, personal health, and U.S. health systems. Her notableprojects include garden-enhanced nutrition education, sustainablefarm-to-school programs, sugar tax initiatives to reduce sugary beverageconsumption, and the creation of local food hubs to increase the availabilityof locally grown produce in schools.Previously, she served as the Nutrition Family and ConsumerScience Advisor for Stanislaus and Merced Counties and the Health EquityOfficer for Precision Medicine at CalHHS. Currently, she serves on the boardsof the Stanislaus County Commission for Women and Central Valley CommunityResources. Her work continues to impact community health positively, fosteringhealthier environments and behaviors.
