Lesley Russell is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney’s Leeder Centre for Health Policy, Economics and Data. She was the inaugural Menzies Foundation Fellow at the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and, prior to that, a health policy adviser to the federal Labor Party. She worked for seven years as health policy adviser on the Energy and Commerce Committee in the US House of Representatives and was a Senior Policy Adviser to the US Surgeon-General during the Obama Administration.
International
Another near-death experience survived, but Obamacare’s immortality is still not guaranteed
Lesley Russell
29 June 2015
The US Supreme Court annoyed conservatives twice last week, fuelling an even more divisive presidential race, writes Lesley Russell
International
Hillary and the Republican posse on the road to the 2016 primaries
Lesley Russell
7 May 2015
The Republicans are entering a toxic period of jostling for the presidential nomination, writes Lesley Russell. Meanwhile, Hillary Clinton faces no real challenger
International
In Washington, a tough two years ahead
Lesley Russell
7 November 2014
Low turnout means that the midterm elections offer no mandate to the Republicans, writes Lesley Russell. But there are clear messages for both parties in the results
Books & arts
Buying and selling healthcare
Lesley Russell
6 November 2014
Adam Reich vividly describes the way different kinds of hospitals work in the United States, writes Lesley Russell. But what happened to the patients?
International
Mid-term blues
Lesley Russell
7 October 2014
The odds aren’t good for the Democrats in next month’s elections, but this referendum on Barack Obama’s presidency isn’t over yet,…
National affairs
Healthcare and the limits of competition
Lesley Russell
26 September 2014
Lesley Russell looks at what the draft recommendations of the competition policy review mean for health policy and services
International
Back from the fiscal cliff – but now what?
Lesley Russell
23 October 2013
Can Barack Obama turn the chaos in Republican ranks to the advantage of the Democrats, asks Lesley Russell
International
The shadow on the congressional horizon
Lesley Russell
16 April 2013
The Republicans have a problem and the Democrats have an opportunity, writes Lesley Russell
Tea-leaf time
Lesley Russell
26 April 2012
Does the tidal wave of polls help predict how Romney and Obama will fare in November, asks Lesley Russell
Baulking at the first hurdle
Lesley Russell
20 May 2011
Republican presidential candidates are gathering for the race, but many seem reluctant to line up at the starting gate, writes Lesley Russell in Washington
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