Ralph Ignacio Lawton

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Email: ralphlawton@hms.harvard.edu · Web: ralphlawton.com

Education

2021–2029 Harvard University, MD/PhD program
PhD in Health Policy [Economics track]
National Institute on Aging – Medical Scientist Training Program
Presidential Scholars Fellowship
2016–2020 Duke University, B.S. Economics with High Distinction
Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude, Robertson Scholar

Publications

  1. Lawton, Ralph, and David Cutler. “Cardiovascular Risk Factor Prevalence and Control by Education in Older Adults in Three Countries.” JAMA Network Open (in press).
  2. Lawton, Ralph. “Early-life infectious disease exposure, the “hygiene hypothesis,” and lifespan: Evidence from hookworm disease.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 122, no. 35 (2025): e2504265122. Winner of the 2025 Dorothy Thomas Award.
  3. Lawton, Ralph, Elizabeth Frankenberg, Teresa Seeman, Arun Karlamangla, Cecep Sumantri, and Duncan Thomas. “Explaining Adverse Cholesterol Levels and Distinct Gender Patterns in an Indonesian Population Compared with the U.S.” Economics & Human Biology, 10143 (2024). Working paper version: NBER WP 32489 (2024).
  4. Lawton, Ralph, Bernardo Sabatini, and Daniel Hochbaum. “Longevity, demographic characteristics, and socio-economic status are linked to triiodothyronine levels in the general population.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121 (2024 2): e2308652121.
  5. Lawton, Ralph, Elizabeth Frankenberg, Teresa Seeman, Cecep Sumantri, Eileen Crimmins, and Duncan Thomas. “Exposure to the Indian Ocean Tsunami shapes the HPA-axis resulting in HPA “burnout” 14 years later.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (2023 44): e2306497120.
  6. Thomas, Duncan, Ralph Lawton, Tyson Brown, and Rachel Kranton. “Prevalence, Severity and Distribution of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Using Observational Data Collected Before and Nine Months into the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 1 (2021): 100009.
  7. Lawton, Ralph, Kevin Zheng, Daniel Zheng, and Erich Huang. “A Longitudinal Study of Convergence Between Black and White COVID-19 Mortality: A County Fixed Effects Approach.” The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 1 (2021): 100011.
  8. Leigh, Noel, Ralph Lawton, Pamela Hershberger, and Maciej Goniewicz. “Flavourings Significantly Affect Inhalation Toxicity of Aerosol Generated from Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS).” Tobacco Control, 25 (2016 Suppl 2): ii81-ii87.
  9. Honors Thesis (Best Thesis Award – Economics): Evolution of Wealth and Consumption in the Aftermath of a Major Natural Disaster (2020).

Works in Progress

Selected Honors and Awards

2025Dorothy Thomas Award, best graduate student paper. PAA.
2016–2020Robertson Scholar – Full Merit Scholarship, Duke University
2020Allen Starling Johnson Jr Best Thesis Prize, Duke Dept of Economics
2020Faculty Scholar Nominee – Top Student in Economics, Duke University
2018USA Archery Team – Top 5 Archers in US Under 21
2018, 2020USA Archery All-American – Top Collegiate Archers Nationwide
2016Eagle Scout

Service and Other Interests

2021–Harvard Medical School MD/PhD Program Steering Committee
2021–2023Junior Clinician – Crimson Care Collaborative, Mass. General Hospital
2021–2022HMS Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association Executive Board
2021–Harvard/MIT Equitable Access to Research Training (Summer Program) Board
2018–USA Archery Level 2 Coach

Referee Service

Quarterly Journal of Economics; Journal of Health Economics; Health Economics; Health Economics, Policy and Law

Professional Experience

2024–Research Assistant, Ellen Meara, Harvard SPH and NBER
2021–2022Research Assistant, Gautam Rao and Frank Schilbach, Harvard Econ.
2021–2021Research Assistant, Marcella Alsan, Harvard Kennedy School
2016–2021 Associate in Research, NBER and Duke University
Researchers: Duncan Thomas, Elizabeth Frankenberg
2018–2018 Research Intern, Edgecombe County Health Department
Supervisor: William Leland

Presentations and Conferences

  1. Lawton, Ralph I., and David M. Cutler. “Cardiovascular Disease Risk Control by Education across the United States, England, and South Korea.” NBER Meeting on Health and Healthcare Variations across the Population, Spring 2026.
  2. Lawton, R., D. Thomas, E. Frankenberg, C. Sumantri, T. Seeman, E. Crimmins, and D. Hochbaum. “Sustained Impacts of Stress on Thyroid Function and Cardiometabolic Health: Twenty Years After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.” Population Association of America Annual Meeting (podium presentation), 2026.
  3. Lawton, Ralph, and Yuan Zhang. “Lifetime Dementia Risk and Labor Market Outcomes.” Population Association of America Annual Meeting (poster), 2026.
  4. Lawton, Ralph. “Early-life infectious disease exposure, the “hygiene hypothesis”, and lifespan: evidence from hookworm.” Alpine Population Conference (poster), 2025. Population Association of America Annual Meeting (poster), 2025. ASHEcon (presentation), 2025.
  5. Lawton, Ralph, Elizabeth Frankenberg, Alefiya Albers, Cecep Sumantri, Mark Albers, Duncan Thomas. “Long-Term Impacts of Natural Disaster Exposure on Memory Function.” NIA Biomarker Network Meeting, Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Columbus, OH, 2024. Center to Accelerate Population Research in Alzheimer's, Ann Arbor, MI, 2024.
  6. Lawton, Ralph, Bernardo Sabatini, and Daniel Hochbaum. “Economic and Demographic Relationships With the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis.” NIA Biomarker Network Meeting and Population Association of America Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2023.
  7. Lawton, Ralph, Elizabeth Frankenberg, Jed Friedman, and Duncan Thomas. “Long-term Economic Wellbeing After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami.” Northeast Universities Development Consortium (NEUDC), Virtual, 2021.
  8. Lawton, Ralph, Elizabeth Frankenberg, Teresa Seeman, Cecep Sumantri, and Duncan Thomas. “Long Term Effects of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami on Hair Cortisol Concentration.” Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, 2019.
  9. Frankenberg, Elizabeth, Ralph Lawton, Teresa Seeman, Cecep Sumantri, and Duncan Thomas. “The Causal Impact of Stress on Inflammation Over the Long-term: Evidence from Exposure to a Natural Disaster.” Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Austin, TX, 2019.
  10. Lawton, Ralph, Elizabeth Frankenberg, Teresa Seeman, Cecep Sumantri, and Duncan Thomas. “Gender Gaps in Cholesterol Levels among Indonesians are Very Large: Roles of Behavioral, Socioeconomic and Other Health Indicators.” Population Association of America Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, 2018.
  11. Lawton, Ralph, and William Leland. “Barriers to Opioid Treatment in Rural North Carolina: User and Law Enforcement Perspectives.” ECU School of Medicine Kataria Research Day, Greenville, NC, 2018.
  12. Lawton, Ralph. “Toxicological Effects of Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Bronchial Epithelial Cells.” Society for Research in Nicotine and Tobacco annual conference, Chicago, IL, 2016.