Her research focuses on the dynamics underlying differences in health and health care among older Americans with chronic illnesses. Blustein has been the principal investigator in studies of the impact of cardiac service availability on service use, and on the relationship between the Medicare benefit and health service equity. She is currently working on an evaluation of a national initiative to improve inpatient and post-discharge cardiac care in hospitals that disproportionately serve minority Americans. She holds an MD from Yale University and a PhD from the Wagner School at New York University.