More than just a pretty space: What research tells us about parks
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 ...
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Five questions for Dr. Mingsum Lee
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 ...
Los Angeles wildfires increased virtual medical visits
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 ...
Predicting heart issues among breast cancer survivors
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 ...
Finding factors that could help patients achieve remission from Type 2 diabetes
August 12, 2025A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes typically means a future of blood sugar monitoring and glucose-lowering medications. But interest is growing in identifying which people with diabetes might be able to stop taking their medications and control their disease with diet and exercise alone. A new Kaiser Permanente study, published in Diabetes Care, sheds light ...Read more...Five questions for Dr. Taynara Formagini
July 24, 2025A behavioral and public health scientist, Taynara Formagini, PhD, MSc, is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Research & Evaluation. Her work focuses on preventing cardiovascular and chronic diseases among racial and ethnic minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations through a combination of intervention research and epidemiology. What inspired you to pursue research? I’m a first-generation ...Read more...Comorbidities could increase risk of other cancers for breast cancer survivors
July 24, 2025Kaiser Permanente research found that breast cancer survivors have a higher risk of developing other cancers if they have other preexisting health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. “Preexisting health conditions are common in people diagnosed with cancer and what we’ve learned with this study is that comorbidities — experiencing multiple illnesses or disorders ...Read more...Five questions for Dr. Maheen Humayun
July 24, 2025Maheen Humayun, PhD, MPH, is an infectious disease epidemiologist and postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Research & Evaluation. Prior to joining Kaiser Permanente, Dr. Humayun worked as an HIV Cluster Detection and Response Fellow at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In that role, she analyzed national HIV surveillance data to detect rapid ...Read more...Opioid use associated with increased risk of mortality for breast cancer survivors
July 24, 2025About 16% of breast cancer survivors continued to use opioid pain medications after their cancer treatment was complete, a new Kaiser Permanente study showed. The study also found that risk of death was 84% higher among these survivors who continued to use opioids. The study was published in June 2025 in JNCI Cancer Spectrum. “The most important ...Read more...Tailored outreach may be needed for some young cancer survivors
July 1, 2025Growing numbers of patients are diagnosed with cancer between the ages of 15 and 39. These younger cancer patients can have complex health needs after their cancer treatment and should receive health care that includes screening for new cancers, addresses potential issues related to their treatment, and emphasizes general preventive care. Researchers at Kaiser Permanente Southern ...Read more...Researchers study young cancer survivors and their opioid use.
June 16, 2025Young cancer survivors were more likely to be on long-term opioid therapy when compared to their counterparts without cancer. But among those on long-term opioid therapy, young cancer survivors were less likely to develop opioid use disorder than their peers without cancer, according to Kaiser Permanente research. The study was published in Cancer in May 2025. “We ...Read more...Algorithm improves MS treatment while reducing disparities
June 16, 2025A novel treatment algorithm developed and implemented within Kaiser Permanente Southern California increased the use of effective medications for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and reduced treatment disparities for Hispanic and Black patients. “Studies show Hispanic and Black people with MS typically have higher levels of disability than white people, but no studies have addressed whether ...Read more...Five questions for … Dr. Navdeep Sangha
May 20, 2025Navdeep S. Sangha, MD, is a vascular neurologist and co-assistant chief of Neurology at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. He is the director of the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Regional Stroke Program and the Kaiser Permanente Southern California Telestroke Program. He joined Los Angeles Medical Center’s Neurology Department in 2012. As the principal investigator for ...Read more...Clinical trials nurse brings skill and compassion to patients in San Diego
May 12, 2025*Final in a series highlighting research nurses during Nurses Week 2025* Michael Fechter, LVN, was an emergency medical technician, working to become a paramedic and firefighter. On one emergency call, a critical care transport nurse suggested something that changed the direction of his career. “She told me that I needed to be where I could make a ...Read more...