University of Minnesota School of Public Health Professor Jean Abraham was recognized with the 2024-2025 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Graduate and Professional Education, an honor that recognizes and celebrates faculty members who have made significant contributions to graduate and professional education at the University. Established by the University in 1999, award recipients are chosen based on a range of factors, including excellence in instruction, student involvement in research and professional development, development of instructional programs, and advising and mentoring of students.

Abraham is a health economist whose research focuses on private health insurance, including consumer behavior, plan quality, benefit design innovation, and competition. She served as the director of SPH’s Master of Healthcare Administration Program from 2016-2022, and currently serves as head of the SPH Division of Health Policy and Management.

Abraham’s nomination for the award noted that she has been strongly committed to the education mission of the University of Minnesota throughout her tenure, influencing graduate and professional student learning through her classroom teaching, research collaborations, student advising, and academic leadership roles.

Through her teaching responsibilities, primarily in the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program, Abraham has developed and delivered in-person and online courses on applied statistical methods, health economics, health systems and policy, and health insurance. She has also strengthened academic programs, improved the student experience, and bolstered the external reputation of SPH through program and divisional leadership roles

An in-person award ceremony is planned for Monday, April 7 at McNamara Alumni Center.