Matthew J. Carlson, PhD

Clinical Assistant Professor, OHSU Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
Assistant Professor, Portland State University Dept. of Sociology

Portland State University
PO Box 751
Portland, OR 97207
Phone: (503) 725-9554
Fax: (503) 725-3957
E-mail:

Experience and Interests
Matthew J. Carlson, PhD is a medical sociologist with a primary interest in health care access, quality, and health disparities. He is currently an assistant professor of Sociology at Portland State University, where he is leading a 3-year cohort study on the impact of Oregon Health Plan program changes on health care access and quality among adult Medicaid beneficiaries. In addition, he provides research consulting to the Health Resources and Services Administration, and several local health care agencies. He has presented papers and published articles on a wide range of topics including access to health care, consumer experiences with managed health and mental health care, the influence of patient satisfaction on substance abuse treatment outcomes, compulsive gambling, and domestic violence intervention.

Recent Publications (click below for a full list of publications)
Deck DD, Carlson MJ. Retention in publicly funded methadone maintenance treatment in two western states. Journal of Behavioral Health Services and Research. 2005;32(1):43-60.

Carlson MJ, Gabriel RM, Deck DD, Laws KE, D’Ambrosio R. The impact of managed care on publicly funded adolescent substance abuse treatment: service use and six-month outcomes in Oregon and Washington. Medical Care Research and Review. Forthcoming.

Carlson MJ, Krahn G. Use of complementary and alternative medicine Practitioners by People with Physical Disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation. Forthcoming.

Wright B, Carlson MJ, Edlund T, et al. The impact of increased cost sharing on adults enrolled in Medicaid: Early results from a prospective cohort study. Health Affairs. Forthcoming.