Sara Sakowitz MD MPH MBA
@SaraSakowitz
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PGY-1 @mghsurgery | Data science & health services research @CoreLabUCLA | @dgsomucla trained 🩺 | Prev MS/MPH/MBA @columbia @bumedicine @uclaanderson
the lab
Joined May 2012
🚨10% of US hospitals mark up the true cost of surgical care a median ~8x- and demonstrated greater morbidity & readmissions Already one of @JAMASurgery's most viewed papers this month👇 https://t.co/NX0vbsDSRZ Presented at @PCSAsurg #PCSA
@Aortologist #SurgTwitter #MedTwitter
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Treatment in competitive markets was associated with higher morbidity risk and costs following elective cancer resection. https://t.co/kN6XP8NkjM
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Fresh off the press @JAMASurgery Another 🔥 analysis looking at the association of market competition & surgical oncological outcomes!! @SaraSakowitz @tdonahuemd
Thrilled to publish our latest work in @JAMASurgery evaluating the impact of hospital market competition on outcomes of oncologic surgery 📈🏥 By ⬇️competition, does centralization increase quality and value of care? Full paper👇 https://t.co/vpuLgsVm7k
@tdonahuemd @Aortologist
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Thrilled to publish our latest work in @JAMASurgery evaluating the impact of hospital market competition on outcomes of oncologic surgery 📈🏥 By ⬇️competition, does centralization increase quality and value of care? Full paper👇 https://t.co/vpuLgsVm7k
@tdonahuemd @Aortologist
jamanetwork.com
This cohort study explores the role of hospital-level factors in the quality and cost of oncologic care.
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@JAMASurgery @PCSAsurg @Aortologist @dgsomucla @MGHSurgery @DrSharonLum @CoreLabUCLA The goal of our work is not only to spark discussion, but action to promote price transparency &better regulate hospital pricing. Featured by @BeckersHR
https://t.co/ogyCkwryXS
@sarahkliff @charlesornstein @statnews @NYTHealth @cnnhealth @WSJhealth @PostHealthSci @forbeshealth
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@JAMASurgery @PCSAsurg @Aortologist @dgsomucla @MGHSurgery @DrSharonLum @CoreLabUCLA Thank you to @ShereneSharath @KougiasP & Dr David Berger for thinking about the implications of health systems driven by profit & for writing such a thoughtful commentary on our article Read their commentary ⤵️ https://t.co/tKCb0lLutJ
jamanetwork.com
It is often assumed that when paying a higher price for a good or service, that good or service is of higher quality. Sakowitz et al1 challenge the assumption that higher markups for major elective...
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@JAMASurgery @PCSAsurg @Aortologist @dgsomucla @MGHSurgery @DrSharonLum @CoreLabUCLA 🔎Key target for quality improvement? Identifying high-markup, low-value hospitals ®ulating pricing practices could represent an initial approach to lowering costs- while protecting patients. 📍If we're serious about creating a better system: ⬆️transparency is the first step!
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@JAMASurgery @PCSAsurg @Aortologist @dgsomucla @MGHSurgery @DrSharonLum @CoreLabUCLA Key Takeaways 📢 💰Hospital prices are currently not subject to regulation 📊Significant variation in how hospitals mark up the cost of surgical care across the US 🏥Centers with the highest markups demonstrated inferior postoperative outcomes
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Our study on hospital markup & surgical outcomes 💰💰 Out now in @JAMASurgery
@SaraSakowitz @CoreLabUCLA
High-markup hospitals are associated with inferior quality and value of care and represent an important initial target for national policy aimed at promoting transparency and regulating hospital pricing. https://t.co/ZJyWEZQfdW
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“High-markup” hospitals are overwhelmingly for-profit, located in large metropolitan areas and have the worst patient outcomes | UCLA Health
uclahealth.org
Hospitals with the widest difference between the cost of their services and what they charge patients and insurance carriers are mostly for-profit, investor owned and located in large metropolitan...
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High-markup hospitals are associated with inferior quality and value of care and represent an important initial target for national policy aimed at promoting transparency and regulating hospital pricing. https://t.co/ZJyWEZQfdW
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OUT NOW 🔥📝 in @JAMASurgery: @SaraSakowitz @Aortologist &co investigate how hospitals mark up the cost of surgical care across the US 💰 Average markup 3x true cost - but top 10% marked up care >8x 🏥 Highest markup centers had worse outcomes Read here👇 https://t.co/CJFD16pnnW
jamanetwork.com
This cross-sectional study characterizes US national variation in the hospital price markup for 4 major elective operations and assesses the association of markup with perioperative outcomes and...
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A massive thank you to Dr. Keith Lillemoe—editor, mentor, and leader—for elevating Annals of Surgery and launching Annals Open. Your impact will be felt for years to come. https://t.co/2mEHlFNddO
journals.lww.com
An abstract is unavailable.
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Perspectives, Experiences, and Opportunities of Academic Surgeons in the Era of Healthcare Corporatization.
journals.lww.com
increasing challenges from a corporatized health care environment. While previous studies have addressed the financial aspects of corporatization, a comprehensive evaluation of academic surgeons’...
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Surgery is becoming a numbers game. As RVUs dominate priorities, academic surgeons report less time for teaching, research, and mentorship—jeopardizing the next generation. https://t.co/SM5aWadIXd
journals.lww.com
increasing challenges from a corporatized health care environment. While previous studies have addressed the financial aspects of corporatization, a comprehensive evaluation of academic surgeons’...
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Nearly 3 in 4 academic surgeons believe corporatization is harming the mission of surgery. Education and research are sidelined, and burnout is rising. The tripartite model is at risk. https://t.co/SM5aWadIXd
journals.lww.com
increasing challenges from a corporatized health care environment. While previous studies have addressed the financial aspects of corporatization, a comprehensive evaluation of academic surgeons’...
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Congratulations to our very own Dr Benharash for winning the @WTSA_Surgery #WTSA2025 Donald B Doty Award! And to newly minted general surgery intern @SaraSakowitz for winning the Norman E. Shumway Award for the best podium presentation of the meeting! What a weekend 🌴🔥👏
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Thank you to the entire program committee for an incredible ✨ @WTSA_Surgery #WTSA2025 Annual Meeting! We were honored to represent @dgsomucla @UCLASurgeryRes and share our work across 2 podiums and 4 oral presentations. Congratulations to the whole team, we are so proud!!
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The end of the very beginning: officially an MD MBA! I owe everything to the people who have shaped, challenged and supported me: My parents, my mentors, my @CoreLabUCLA home, my @dgsomucla family. I know my dad looking down at me is so proud. I am just so grateful. WE did it!🤍
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Fresh off the press! Published in the July 2025 issue of @AnnalsofSurgery Academic Surgeons in the Era of Health Care Corporatization! @SaraSakowitz @CoreLabUCLA @tdonahuemd @UCLASurgery @UCLASurgeryRes @AcademicSurgery @AmCollSurgeons
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