Marsha Rosenthal is a medical sociologist with a professional background in health care policy and administration. Dr. Rosenthal has a special interest in research on vulnerable populations, including the mentally ill and the elderly. Her recent academic work has focused on the doctor-patient relationship, especially as it has changed under managed care. This work marries sociological theory to the qualitative and quantitative study of patients' trust, loss of trust and blame. She has published work on trust-building programs among HMO medical directors, duration of doctors' office visits over time, and managed care for persons with a serious mental illness. Her paper developing a social theory of how people attribute blame won the 2002 Matilda White Riley prize from the Sociology Department at Rutgers University. Dr. Rosenthal's most recent project was a study of what determines Medicare patients' loss of trust in doctors and health plans. She is currently working with Dr. Vincent Mor on long-term care research, including physician practices in nursing homes. Future research will examine administrator, physician, family and patient expectations and experiences in nursing homes. Prior to her academic career, Dr. Rosenthal concentrated on federal and state health care policy, including long-term care policy and financing. Dr. Rosenthal holds an A.B. (cum laude) from Princeton University, an MPA in health policy and planning from New York University, and a Ph.D. in sociology from Rutgers University.