R. Mark Gritz, PhD, is Director of Operations for ACCORDS, an Associate Professor and Head of the Division of Health Care Policy and Research, and the Director of Operations at the Farley Health Policy Center. He received his PhD in Economics from Stanford University and has over 30 years of experience in directing and managing demonstrations, evaluations, research, and technical assistance projects designed to improve economic, health and other outcomes affecting the well-being of economically-disadvantaged and other vulnerable populations. Many of these projects have involved youth, women from low-income families, veterans, elderly, and other targeted populations, including several research and evaluation efforts examining the needs and experiences of low-income youth, unemployed workers, working single mothers, socio-economically disadvantaged populations, and disabled veterans. Before returning to Colorado he held several corporate management positions where he directed over 100 scientific and technical staff, had responsibility for the financial performance of international business units, and managed intellectual property portfolios. His current work focuses on healthcare value and its association with socio-economics factors with an eye towards rapidly responding to research and policy analysis needs of government agencies in Colorado.