As a research center embedded within Kaiser Permanente’s large and dynamic health care system, our investigators have a unique opportunity to apply scientific expertise to real-world clinical problems, translate findings into practice, and share what we learn with the broader community.
Dr. Rayens is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Research & Evaluation. Her research interests include infectious diseases and vaccine efficacy and safety.
Before joining Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Rayens worked concurrently as an epidemiologist with the Northeast Georgia Health District as part of a COVID-19 response team and as a postdoctoral fellow in a research lab at the University of Georgia. Her doctoral work at the University of Georgia focused on furthering the ...
Over the years, clinical trials have led to amazing advances in treatment—even cures—for devastating illnesses. William Towner, MD, FACP, FIDSA, regional physician director for clinical trials, describes how trials at Kaiser Permanente contribute to the development of more effective and safer treatments for diseases such as HIV, hepatitis C, cancer, and more. (2:15)
For many people, public parks are just a beautiful green space they drive by on their way to work. However, research has shown that parks play a crucial role in people’s physical activity, and the community’s health. By studying parks, researchers aim to understand how these public spaces enhance community health, encourage active lifestyles, and ...
Mingsum Lee, MD, PhD, has been named as the 2025 Southern California Permanente Medical Group Physician Researcher of the Year. Commenting about her selection for the award, one nominator said Dr. Lee “is a true quadruple threat as an exceptional clinician, educator, administrator, and prolific researcher, but also has a humility and generosity which defines ...
In January 2025, when wildfires swept from the foothills above Los Angeles into the densely populated urban areas below, evacuations ensued and a thick layer of smoke spread across the region. Air quality plummeted. The number of virtual visits soared and in-person visits also increased. Research led by Kaiser Permanente Southern California and the University ...
Researchers have developed a new risk calculation model to help predict the risks of heart problems for breast cancer survivors. Their research was published in JAMA Oncology in October 2025. “There is limited information about how breast cancer treatments can affect the development of cardiovascular disease,” said study co-senior author Reina Haque, PhD, MPH, a ...
A new study led by Kaiser Permanente researchers compared how well 4 different types of glucose-lowering medications reduced the risk of heart attack and stroke for patients with type 2 diabetes, providing important new information for these patients and their physicians. The study, published in JAMA Network Open in October, 2025, analyzed data collected on ...
Check out our latest issue for a roundup of our most recent research and profiles on a few of our newest postdocs. This issue features new findings on opioid tapering programs that show that patients on long-term high-dose opioids who gradually reduced their dose within 3 months faced a lower risk of overdose within a year. It also shares important recent findings that the COVID-19 vaccine does not increase the risk of tinnitus, as well as findings about patterns of breast cancer imaging and Type 2 diabetes remission.
Investigators with the Division of Health Services Research & Implementation Science study how care is delivered, identify opportunities for care improvement, and implement new approaches for organizing and delivering health services. The division brings together scientists with diverse expertise and training, including emergency medicine, epidemiology, health services research, implementation science, internal medicine, nursing, pharmaceutical economics, and pulmonology.
The division co-leads the Care Improvement Research Team, a research team embedded within Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s quality improvement ecosystem. The team works closely with clinical and operational partners at Kaiser Permanente Southern California to identify, prioritize, and solve problems related to quality and affordability. Its goal is to reduce unnecessary practice variation, improve affordability, and transform care.