Alden Lai

Assistant Professor of Public Health Policy and Management

Professional overview

Alden Lai studies the quality of jobs and work environments (i.e., “work design”) of workers to achieve better employee outcomes and organizational performance in health care. He uses qualitative and mixed methods to examine workplace behaviors that have important implications for employees, patients, and organizations, such as proactive behavior among frontline workers. With an aim of enhancing worker wellbeing, his research has been published in both management and health care journals, including Academy of Management Discoveries, Health Care Management Review, Medical Care Research and Review, Journal of General Internal Medicine, and The Milbank Quarterly. He is an editorial board member for Health Care Management Review and Medical Care Research and Review, and has served as a national and international expert for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on workforce issues. He is an affiliated faculty member in the Department of Management and Organizations at NYU Stern.

Dr. Lai has received international recognition for his research, teaching, and contributions to his field. They include an Early Career Achievement Award, Outstanding Early Career Educator Award, and Outstanding Paper based on a Dissertation Award from the Academy of Management’s Health Care Management Division, and a Teaching Excellence Award from GPH. 

At GPH, he teaches courses on management, leadership, and strategy in public health.

Dr. Lai has advised federal and state governments, health systems, international and non-profit organizations, corporations, and philanthropies internationally. His professional experiences include being a management consultant and social enterprise strategist. He is currently a board member for the Wellbeing for Planet Earth Foundation, whose mission is to foster a more globally inclusive understanding of wellbeing for research, practice, and policy.

Education

BA, Psychology, National University of Singapore, Singapore

MPH, Social & Behavioral Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan

PhD, Health Policy & Management (Organizational Behavior), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Honors and awards

Outstanding Early Career Educator Award, Health Care Management Division, Academy of Management (2025)

Early Career Teaching Excellence Award, NYU GPH (2025)

Early Career Achievement Award, Health Care Management Division, Academy of Management (2024)

“40 Under 40 in Public Health” Award, Boston Congress of Public Health (2023)

Denny Gioia Award for Best Qualitative Paper, Managerial and Organizational Cognition Division, Academy of Management (2023)

“Best Paper” (top 10%), Managerial and Organizational Cognition Division, Academy of Management (2023)

Goddard Faculty Award, NYU GPH (2023)

NYU GPH Leadership Development Award (2021)

19 Washington Square North Faculty Fellowship (2021)

Outstanding Paper based on a Dissertation Award, Division of Health Care Management, Academy of Management (2021)

Show Chwan Scholar in Health Care Management (2018)

Sir Arthur Newsholme Scholar (2015)

The University of Tokyo President Award (2013)

University of Copenhagen-International Alliance of Research Universities Scholar (2012)

Government of Japan Monbukagakusho Scholar (2011)

Sato-Yo International Foundation Scholar (2009)

Areas of research and study

Health Care Management

Health Care Workforce

Knowledge Workers

Primary Care

Proactivity at Work

Qualitative Research

Well-Being at Work

Work Design

Consulting and Community Engagement

1199 Benefit and Pension Funds
Ajinomoto
Ando Foundation
Ashoka
Asian Venture Philanthropy Network
Australian Sports Commission
Carnegie UK Trust
Clinical Directors Network Inc.
Columbia University Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
Diplomatic Courier
Earth Company
G1 Institute Japan
Gallup Inc.
Government of Australia, Treasury
Harvard University Human Flourishing Program
John Templeton Foundation
Katsuiku Foundation
Learned Society of Wales
National Healthcare Group
Nestle
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bureau of Equitable Health Systems
New York City Health + Hospitals
New York City Office of Labor Relations
New York City Department of Education, Office of School Health
Nikkei
OECD Center for Well-Being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity
Otsuka Pharmaceutical
Oxford University Wellbeing Research Centre
Permanent Delegation of Japan to the OECD
PERSOL Holdings
Physician Affiliate Group of New York
Prime Minister’s Office, Iceland
Tecnologico de Monterrey, Human Flourishing Projects
Templeton World Charity Foundation
The Consumer Goods Forum
The Hastings Center
The HOW Institute for Society
The Leadership and Happiness Laboratory, Harvard Kennedy School
KRC Research and United Minds, The Weber Shandwick Collective
UNICEF Office of Global Insight and Policy
United Nations Human Development Report Office
United Nations Statistics Division
Unson Foundation
WHO Commission on Social Connection
Woodlands Health Campus
World Happiness Council

Publications

Publications

The Complex Dynamics of Experiential and External Peace: New Global Insights from the Gallup World Poll

Lai, A. (n.d.).

Abstract

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The Complex Dynamics of Experiential and External Peace: New Global Insights from the Gallup World Poll

Lai, A. (n.d.).

Journal title

Journal of Happiness Studies

Abstract

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The Complex Kaleidoscope of Global Flourishing: An assessment of 144 Countries on 38 Wellbeing Indicators in the Gallup World Poll

Lai, A. (n.d.).

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THE INCOMPLETE, OUTDATED, INCORRECT, AND UNKNOWN: MITIGATING THREATS OF KNOWLEDGE ERRORS IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE PRIMARY CARE

Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2021

Journal title

ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT DISCOVERIES

Volume

7

Issue

4

Page(s)

581-602

10.5465/amd.2019.0182

Abstract

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The PRIDI (Pragmatic, Rapid, and Iterative Dissemination & Implementation) tool to inform and evaluate implementation fit to shifting landscapes

Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Abstract

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Yousefi Nooraie, R., Reichelt, M., Fiscella, K., Kwan, B. M., Birken, S. A., Shelton, R. C., and Lai, A. Y. (September 6, 2022). The PRIDI (Pragmatic, Rapid, and Iterative Dissemination & Implementation) tool to inform and evaluate implementation fit to shifting landscapes. The 6th Society for Implementation Research Collaboration Conference, virtual.

The world prefers a calm life, but not everyone gets to have one : global trends in valuing and experiencing calmness in the Gallup World Poll

Lomas, T., Diego-Rosell, P., Shiba, K., Standridge, P., Lee, M. T., & Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2023

Journal title

Journal of Positive Psychology

10.1080/17439760.2023.2282786

Abstract

Abstract

Psychology has paid relatively little attention to low arousal positive states like calmness. To remedy this lacuna, this study draws on the most globally comprehensive study to date on calmness (121,207 participants in 116 countries in the 2020 Gallup World Poll), featuring two items asking whether people: (a) prefer a calm life or an exciting life; and (b) experienced calmness yesterday. By intersecting these, we could categorise people in four categories of calmness: satisfied (both prefer and experience it); unwanted (experience calmness but prefer excitement); longed-for (prefer calmness but don’t experience it); and unmissed (neither prefer nor experience it). The results reveal a nuanced picture that challenges certain stereotypes (e.g. calmness had no particular association here with Eastern cultures), and shed new light on this overlooked topic (e.g. poorer people and countries are more likely to prefer calmness yet are less likely to actually experience it).

Towards a greater global understanding of wellbeing : A proposal for a more inclusive measure

Lambert, L., Lomas, T., Weijer, M. P., Passmore, H. A., Joshanloo, M., Harter, J., Ishikawa, Y., Lai, A., Kitagawa, T., Chen, D., Kawakami, T., Miyata, H., & Diener, E. (n.d.).

Publication year

2020

Journal title

International Journal of Wellbeing

Volume

10

Issue

2

Page(s)

1-18

10.5502/ijw.v10i2.1037

Abstract

Abstract

The science of wellbeing has come a long way from the early days of measuring wellbeing via a nation’s GDP, and wellbeing measures and concepts continue to proliferate to capture its various elements. Yet, much of this activity has reflected concepts from Western cultures, despite the emphasis placed on wellbeing in all corners of the globe. To meet the challenges and opportunities arising from cross-disciplinary research worldwide, the Well-Being for Planet Earth Foundation and the Gallup World Poll have joined forces to add more culturally relevant constructs and questions to existing Gallup modules. In this white paper, we review the discussion from the international well-being summit in Kyoto, Japan (August 2019), where nine such additions were proposed and highlight why a more global view of wellbeing is needed. Overall, the new items reflect a richer view of wellbeing than life satisfaction alone and include hedonic and eudaimonic facets of wellbeing, social wellbeing, the role of culture, community, nature, and governance. These additions allow for the measurement of a broader conceptualization of wellbeing, more refined and nuanced cross-cultural comparisons, and facilitate a better examination of the causes of variation in global wellbeing. The new Gallup World Poll additions will be trialled in 2020, with additional inclusions from this summit to be made in 2021.

Trends in negative emotions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States

Hagen, D., Goldmann, E., & Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Public Health

Volume

212

Page(s)

4-6

10.1016/j.puhe.2022.08.009

Abstract

Abstract

ObjectivesTo identify trends in the prevalence of negative emotions in the United States throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 2020 and November 2021.Study designDescriptive, repeated cross-sectional analysis of nationally representative survey data.MethodsData originated from Gallup’s COVID-19 web survey, encompassing 156,684 observations. Prevalence estimates for self-reported prior-day experience of sadness, worry, stress, anger, loneliness, depression, and anxiety were computed, plotted using descriptive trend graphs, and compared to 2019 estimates from the Gallup World Poll. Differences between estimates were evaluated by inspecting confidence intervals.ResultsStress and worry were the most commonly experienced negative emotions between March 2020 and November 2021; worry and anger were significantly more prevalent than pre-pandemic. The prevalence of sadness, worry, stress, and anger fluctuated considerably over time and declined steadily to pre-pandemic levels by mid-2021. Distinctive spikes in the prevalence of several negative emotions, especially sadness and anger, were observed following the murder of George Floyd.ConclusionsSeveral negative emotions exhibited excess prevalence during the pandemic, especially in spring/summer 2020. Despite recent reductions to pre-pandemic levels, continued monitoring is necessary to inform policies and interventions to promote population well-being.

What makes proactive behaviors effective? Perspectives of health care executives

Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2025

Journal title

Health Care Management Review

Volume

50

Issue

1

Page(s)

13-22

Abstract

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Work Engagement and Patient Quality of Care : A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Wee, K. Z., & Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Journal title

Medical Care Research and Review

Volume

79

Issue

3

Page(s)

345-358

10.1177/10775587211030388

Abstract

Abstract

Past research has demonstrated that work engagement among health care professionals influences patient quality of care. There is, however, no estimate of the strength of this relationship, and existing reviews have not always explained conflicting findings. We conduct a meta-analysis and review of 25 articles, and find a small to medium mean effect size (r =.26, p

Work Hard, Snore Hard : Recovery from Work for Early Career Researchers

Gatari, E., Fleuren, B., & Lai, A. (n.d.).

Publication year

2022

Page(s)

41-51

10.1007/978-3-031-10754-2_4

Abstract

Abstract

Being an early career researcher often means having to work intensely on projects and articles. Periods with heavy workloads are common, and proper recovery during breaks or after work can sometimes not take place because of limited time. As prolonged periods of intense work with little rest may lead to long-term negative effects, this chapter discusses the importance of recovery and several actionable tips to consider for early career researchers. We begin with a brief personal example that illustrates why sufficient rest is needed. Next, we introduce recovery from work concepts. We explain that optimal recovery from work on a daily basis is necessary to offset negative long-term effects such as fatigue and burnout. Based on research in occupational health psychology, we provide several practical tips on how to recover well and overcome challenges related to recovery from work. The aim is to help early career researchers in preventing exhaustion or eventually burnout, so they can keep doing their work in a sustainable way.

Workplace subjective wellbeing in essential workers during a public health crisis

Lai, A. (n.d.).

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