Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Our methodology for producing the lists of Healthcare Research All-Stars is explained in detail here .

The 2024 Healthcare Research All-Stars list focused exclusively on surgical specialties, aligning with Avant-garde Health’s core expertise in perioperative analytics and our deep history of supporting surgeon-led research. This focus allowed us to recognize excellence in areas where we have the most robust data and long-standing relationships.

For 2025, we’ve expanded the All-Stars list to include medical specialties as well. This evolution reflects our desire to recognize a broader spectrum of clinicians who are producing high-impact, peer-reviewed research that advances value-based care—regardless of their specialty.

Inclusion as a Healthcare Research All-Star, for both surgeons and hospitals, is strictly a merit-based honor. No compensation has been offered to or requested from honorees. Our methodology for producing the lists of Healthcare Research All-Stars is explained in detail here.

Hospitals are recognized as Research All-Stars alongside physicians because of the significant investments they make in research, which often require considerable time and financial resources. These institutions play a crucial role in supporting medical research by offering essential resources and flexible scheduling arrangements, thereby enabling physicians to pursue their research endeavors. Without such institutional support, conducting research studies would not be feasible for many individual physicians. The Research All-Stars initiative, therefore, extends its accolades to not only the individual physicians but also to the hospitals that provide this backing. Hospitals with a strong orientation toward research are typically at the forefront of adopting innovative clinical practices, which contributes to the enhancement of care quality. The criteria used to select hospitals for this honor are detailed within our research methodology.

Avant-garde Health is a mission-driven healthcare analytics company that was born out of the value-based health care research at Harvard Business School led by Michael Porter and Bob Kaplan. We partner with health systems, surgery centers, and physicians to deliver deep, actionable insights into surgical care, enabling our clients to improve financial performance while enhancing patient outcomes.

Our software platform breaks down procedure-level cost, quality, and operational data—empowering providers to make informed decisions that drive real improvements. With a strong foundation in time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) and perioperative analytics, Avant-garde is trusted by leading institutions across the country.

In addition to our technology, we remain committed to advancing the field through academic research. Our team regularly collaborates with clinicians to publish high-impact, data-driven work in Harvard Business Review, NEJM, JAMA, and other top-tier journals—contributing to the national dialogue on value-based care and healthcare transformation.