Laurel D. Hansell, MA, MPH

Biography

Laurel Hansell brings training and expertise as both an applied anthropologist and a public health researcher to her work, with a focus on qualitative research and stakeholder engagement.

In her current role as a collaborative scientist at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI), she provides qualitative methodological expertise to a variety of projects and topic areas and contributes to data collection and analysis. She has conducted individual interviews with patients and health care providers on numerous studies, including SUAY (Safer Use of Antipsychotics in Youth), BP-CHECK, and Back on Track. She has also conducted focus groups and member check activities on study such as BP-CHECK and Back In Action.

Laurel joined KPWHRI in 2018 as an implementation and evaluation associate and was promoted to collaborative scientist in 2022, having taken on roles with increasing responsibility using her qualitative research expertise.

Laurel earned a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health services from the University of Washington. She also received a master’s in applied anthropology from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s in anthropology from Southern Illinois University.

In her free time, Laurel enjoys exploring local parks and attending Seattle Storm and Reign sporting events.

Areas of research focus

Medication Use & Patient Safety

Chronic pain and opioids
Chronic illness management
Complementary & Integrative Health
Obesity
Dissemination & implementation research
Community pharmacy

Recent Publications

Ralston JD, Anderson ML, Ng J, Bashir A, Ehrlich K, Burns-Hunt D, Cotton M, Hansell L, Hsu C, Hunt H, Karter AJ, Levy SM, Ludman E, Madziwa L, Omura EM, Rogers K, Sevey B, Shaw JAM, Shortreed SM, Speight J, Sweeny A, Tschernisch K, Tschernisch S, Yarborough L Preventing Severe Hypoglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes: Randomized Controlled Trial of Proactive Care With Versus Without Psychoeducation 2026 May 12 doi: 10.1007/s11606-026-10491-7. Epub 2026-05-12. PubMed

Green BB, Hansell LD, Hsu CW, Jones T, Luce C, Ralston JD, Munson SA, Davis B, Wright T, Anderson ML Evaluation of an Email Blood Pressure Measurement Outreach Program 2026 Mar;39(3):400-406 doi:10.1093/ajh/hpaf206. doi: 10.1093/ajh/hpaf206. Epub 2025-10-15. PubMed

Walsh C, Palazzo L, Hansell L, Louie T, Long S, Brown M, Hippe DS, Coronado GD, DeCell K, Leone RJ, Lodhi S, Wysham N, Wernli KJ, Triplette M Lung cancer screening care pathways in community settings: An examination of three healthcare systems 2026 Feb 4 doi: 10.1093/annalsats/aaoag029. Epub 2026-02-04. PubMed

Louie T, Snidarich M, Hippe DS, Wernli KJ, Palazzo L, Hansell L, Brown M, Coronado GD, Lodhi S, Leone R, DeCell K, Mardesich K, Wysham N, Triplette M A pragmatic pre-post intervention trial to address adherence to lung cancer screening follow-up in community settings (the ACCELL trial): Study protocol 2025 Dec;159:108106 doi:10.1016/j.cct.2025.108106. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2025.108106. Epub 2025-10-10. PubMed

Hansell LD, Hsu CW, Mogk JM, Paz SR, Moore DD, Macias MM, Bhakta BB, Crawford CL, Ellis D, Lopez C, Jackson T, Graves R, Corralejo V, Gray MF, Young DR, Drewnowski A, Lewis KH, Murali SB, Coleman KJ Experiences and Perspectives of Racially Diverse Patients 5 Years Post-Bariatric Surgery: Qualitative Findings from the BELONG II Study 2025 Oct 16 doi: 10.1007/s40615-025-02635-y. Epub 2025-10-16. PubMed