Bio


Joe Nation is a Professor of the Practice of Public Policy at Stanford University, where he co-directs the graduate student Practicum in public policy and teaches policy courses on climate change, health care, and California state issues. He also serves as a Grossman-Kennedy Fellow in Human Biology, teaching environmental and health policy. He received the Phi Beta Kappa Undergraduate Teaching Award in 2023.

His current research is focused on climate change and improving data-driven decisions by state governments. Nation sits on the board of Advisors for Georgetown’s School of Foreign Service and is a Faculty Affiliate at Stanford’s Center on Longevity. He has consulted for RAND for more than 30 years since his graduation from the Pardee RAND Graduate School (PRGS) in 1989.

From 1992-2000, he served on the Marin Water Board, including two terms as President. From 2000-2006, he represented Marin and Southern Sonoma Counties in the California State Assembly. He was the principal co-author of AB 32, California’s Global Warmings Solutions Act and was selected as Legislator of the Year by a number of organizations.

Academic Appointments


  • Professor of the Practice, Public Policy

Administrative Appointments


  • Professor of the Practice, Public Policy (2009 - Present)
  • Kennedy-Grossman Fellow in Human Biology, HumBio (2015 - Present)

Honors & Awards


  • Undergraduate Teaching Award, Phi Beta Kappa (2023)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations


  • Economic Advisory Board, Bay Area Council (2013 - Present)
  • Faculty Affiliate, Stanford Center on Longevity (2013 - Present)
  • MSFS Advisory Board, Georgetown University (2013 - Present)

All Publications


  • The California Breast Density Information Group: A Collaborative Response to the Issues of Breast Density, Breast Cancer Risk, and Breast Density Notification Legislation RADIOLOGY Price, E. R., Hargreaves, J., Lipson, J. A., Sickles, E. A., Brenner, R. J., Lindfors, K. K., Joe, B. N., Leung, J. W., Feig, S. A., Bassett, L. W., Daniel, B. L., Kurian, A. W., Love, E., Ryan, L., Walgenbach, D. D., Ikeda, D. M. 2013: 887–92

    Abstract

    In anticipation of breast density notification legislation in the state of California, which would require notification of women with heterogeneously and extremely dense breast tissue, a working group of breast imagers and breast cancer risk specialists was formed to provide a common response framework. The California Breast Density Information Group identified key elements and implications of the law, researching scientific evidence needed to develop a robust response. In particular, issues of risk associated with dense breast tissue, masking of cancers by dense tissue on mammograms, and the efficacy, benefits, and harms of supplementary screening tests were studied and consensus reached. National guidelines and peer-reviewed published literature were used to recommend that women with dense breast tissue at screening mammography follow supplemental screening guidelines based on breast cancer risk assessment. The goal of developing educational materials for referring clinicians and patients was reached with the construction of an easily accessible Web site that contains information about breast density, breast cancer risk assessment, and supplementary imaging. This multi-institutional, multidisciplinary approach may be useful for organizations to frame responses as similar legislation is passed across the United States. © RSNA, 2013 Online supplemental material is available for this article.