Dr. Gregory Curfman, a cardiologist and medical researcher who served as an editor at the New England Journal of Medicine for nearly three decades, has joined Northeastern’s Center for Health Policy and Law as research and publications director and physician scholar.

Curfman brings extensive medical, research, and editorial experience to this role. In particular, he will continue his scholarly writing, work closely with the student law review and other publications to expand the impact of the university’s health policy and law research, and help organize various events and activities at the Center for Health Policy and Law.

The interdisciplinary center, which is housed in Northeastern’s School of Law, offers students a broad curriculum in health and public health law and hosts a range of events and activities that promote discussion and continued scholarship in the growing field of health law and policy.

“I’m excited to have this opportunity,” Curfman said. “I think it’s a great fit, and I’m very interested in carrying this work forward.”

In addition to his role at the center, Curfman will continue his longtime affiliation with Harvard Medical School, where he has served as assistant professor of medicine since 1983 and as editor-in-chief of Harvard Health Publishing since 2015. He is also the health policy and law editor of JAMA Internal Medicine and is a member of both AcademyHealth and the Advisory Council of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review.

Curfman served as an editor at the New England Journal of Medicine for 28 years, including 14 years as executive editor. He has authored or co-authored nearly 100 articles in peer-reviewed or other scientific and medical publications; won numerous awards, including the Alvarez Award for Medical Journalism from the National Medical Writers Association and Teacher of the Year at Dartmouth Medical School; testified before Congress on matters of health regulation and policy; and assisted in writing four amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wendy Parmet, Matthews Distinguished University Professor of Law and Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and faculty director of the Center for Health Policy and Law, underscored Curfman’s distinguished career and wealth of experience in medical practice, writing, and editing. She noted that Curfman has been a pioneer in both enhancing collaboration between academic law and medicine and helping physicians understand the importance of the law for their ability to treat their patients.

Curfman, for his part, said the nation’s current healthcare landscape provides fertile ground for continued research and scholarship in the field of health law and policy. One notable area, he said, is the Affordabale Care Act and its uncertain future. Stabilizing the healthcare exchange market and the House of Representatives’ lawsuit challenging the Obama administration’s funding of the law’s subsidy program are two particular areas that bear watching, he said.

Curfman has also published recently on topics ranging from drug regulation and U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy to anti-trust law in relation to mergers and acquisitions in the healthcare system.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Princeton University and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School.