Child & Adolescent Health

“Kids have so much potential. How can we optimize their health?”

Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPH
Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation
Executive Director of Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute Senior Investigator

 

Research overview

Babies, children, and teens have specific health needs. Research and evaluation at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) covers family health from pregnancy through childhood and early adulthood.

KPWHRI research and evaluation topics in child and adolescent health include:

  • drug safety during pregnancy
  • pediatric care quality in health systems
  • quality of care for respiratory illnesses
  • care and transitions for hospitalized children
  • implementation of screening for adverse childhood experiences
  • quality of youth mental health care
  • programs to support trauma and resilience-informed care for youth
  • impact of social determinants of health
  • disease prevention through vaccines

“We’re working with families, helping them make healthy eating, exercise, and preventive care part of their busy daily lives,” says Paula Lozano, MD, MPH, Washington Permanente Medical Group associate medical director for research and translation, KPWHRI senior investigator, and Washington Permanente Medical Group pediatrician.​​​​​​

Recent publications on Child & Adolescent Health

Simon GE, Stewart C, Yarborough BJ, Lynch F, Coleman KJ, Beck A, Operskalski BH, Penfold RB, Hunkeler EM. Mortality rates after the first diagnosis of psychotic disorder in adolescents and young adults. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018 Mar 1;75(3):254-260. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.4437. PubMed

Smith MS, Buchwad D, Bogart A, Goldberg J, Smith WR, Afari N. Adolescent offspring of mothers with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Adolesc Health. 2010;46(3):284-291. Epub 2009 Oct 13. PubMed

Sneed NM, Heerman WJ, Shaw PA, Han K, Chen T, Bian A, Pugh S, Duda S, Lumley T, Shepherd BE. Associations Between Gestational Weight Gain, Gestational Diabetes, and Childhood Obesity Incidence. LID - 10.1007/s10995-023-03853-8 [doi]  Matern Child Health J. 2023 Nov 15. doi: 10.1007/s10995-023-03853-8 [Epub ahead of print] PubMed

Souter V, Nethery E, Kopas ML, Wurz H, Sitcov K, Caughey AB. Comparison of midwifery and obstetric care in low-risk hospital births. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Nov;134(5):1056-1065. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003521. PubMed

Southam-Gerow MA, Chapman JE, Martinez RG, McLeod BD, Hogue A Weisz JR, Kendall PC. Are therapist adherence and competence related to clinical outcomes in cognitive-behavioral treatment for youth anxiety? J Consult Clin Psychol. 89(3), 188-199. https://doi.org/10.1037/ccp0000538.

Researchers in Child & Adolescent Health

Paula Lozano, MD, MPH

Senior Investigator; Director, ACT Center
206-287-2113
Paula.Lozano@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPH

Senior Investigator
Lisa.A.Jackson@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Sascha Dublin, MD, PhD

Senior Investigator
206-287-2870
Sascha.Dublin@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPH

Executive Director and Senior Investigator, KPWHRI; Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington
206-287-2988
Rita.M.Mangione-Smith@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Robert Penfold, PhD

Senior Investigator
206-287-2232
Robert.B.Penfold@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Rosemary Meza, PhD, MS

Collaborative Scientist
Rosemary.X1.Meza@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Annie Hoopes, MD, MPH

Acting Assistant Investigator
Andrea.J1.Hoopes@kp.org

Curriculum vitae (CV)



adjunct and Affiliate researchers

John Dunn, MD, MPH
Pediatrician
Washington Permanente Medical Group
Medical Director of Preventive Care
Kaiser Permanente Washington

Gina Sucato, MD, MPH
Director of Adolescent Health Services
Washington Permanente Medical Group

Doug Opel, MD, MPH
Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics 
University of Washington

Laura P. Richardson, MD, MPH
Adolescent Medicine
Seattle Children's Hospital
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Washington