Christopher Spera

Christopher Spera, Ph.D. is currently the President and CEO of Arbor Research Collaborative for Health.14 Prior to this role, he served as the Senior Vice President of the Health and Environment Division at Abt Associates, where he oversaw a multidisciplinary staff of over 250 people.12

Career Highlights

Leadership at Abt Associates: During his tenure at Abt Associates, Dr. Spera led significant growth in the health portfolio, increasing annual revenues from $52 million to over $100 million.1 His division worked with key agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Health Resources and Services Administration.1

Academic Background: Dr. Spera holds a Ph.D. in Human Development and Quantitative Methodology from the University of Maryland.35 He also has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Delaware.5

Expertise and Research: Dr. Spera specializes in health outcomes research, including program evaluation, applied research, and policy analysis.36 He has served as a Principal Investigator and/or provided Corporate Oversight on hundreds of projects in health policy, public health, epidemiology, and behavioral health.3

Current Role and Achievements

As President and CEO of Arbor Research Collaborative for Health, Dr. Spera leads the organization in its mission to improve patient outcomes through research and collaboration.14 He was appointed to this position in November 2021, succeeding Dr. Robert Merion.1

Dr. Spera continues to contribute to academia as an adjunct faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School of Public Policy, where he teaches program evaluation.3

Throughout his career, Dr. Spera has published over 20 peer-reviewed publications and more than 50 technical reports, demonstrating his commitment to advancing knowledge in his field.3