**Francesco Taroni** **, M.D.,** is Professor of Social Medicine at the University of Bologna, visiting research scientist at Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia (US),  and scientific director of the Agenzia Sanitaria Regionale of the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy in Bologna. He is also  director of post graduate school of Specialization in Legal and Social Medicine.   Prof. Taroni has a  perspective as both an academic health services researcher and as a health policy maker. He served as a member of the Italian National Health Council and was director of the Italian National Agency for Regional Health Care Services. Previously, he has been director for health and social policies of the Emilia-Romagna Region of Italy, with responsibility of the organization and financing of health care services for the four million residents of the region.    He served as director of research in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Istituto Superiore di Sanità (the Italian National Institutes of Health), and as visiting professor in statistical methods for quality care evalutation at the La Sapienza University in Rome and for Clinical Epidemiology at the  University of Bologna. Prof. Taroni maintains his relationship with Jefferson Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, PA, as a visiting  research scientist at Jefferson's Center for Research in Medical Education and Health Care.   Prof. Taroni is a 1975 graduate in medicine and surgery of the University of Bologna, where he has also completed specializations in gastroenterology, public health and preventive medicine.