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 ...
Soda tax may impact children’s weight
July 31, 2024After 4 California cities began taxing sugar-sweetened beverages, young people in those cities had lower body mass index (BMI) compared to young people living in cities without the tax, a new study shows. “The findings of our study demonstrate that SSB (sugar-sweetened beverage) excise taxes may be associated with lower BMI percentile among youth,” said the ...Read more...Reduced death rates from colorectal cancer with FIT screening
July 26, 2024An analysis of Kaiser Permanente patients in California found a 33% reduced risk of dying from colorectal cancer among those completing at least one at-home fecal immunochemical test (FIT) screening. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. In 2007, Kaiser Permanente Southern California began an organized colorectal cancer screening program that includes automated outreach with ...Read more...Program helping patients lower cholesterol nets international award
July 19, 2024A 2019 Kaiser Permanente program has helped patients with high levels of “bad cholesterol” start taking medications to lower their cholesterol and decrease their risk of stroke and heart attacks. This month, this SureNet Statin Start program was recognized with a prestigious UNIVANTS of Healthcare Excellence Award, and even more importantly, has significantly improved the lives ...Read more...Five questions for … Dr. Michael Kanter
July 1, 2024Dr. Michael Kanter is an associate investigator with the Department of Research & Evaluation and the chair of Clinical Science and a professor for the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. He has been a quality care leader for Kaiser Permanente at both the regional and national levels for many years and was responsible for ...Read more...Eating raw vegetables may improve bladder cancer outcomes
June 26, 2024Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients whose treatment included the immunotherapy Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) after surgery were less likely to have their cancer recur if their diet included raw cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, a new Kaiser Permanente study found. The research, published in the Journal of Urology, analyzed data from patients enrolled in the Bladder Cancer Epidemiology, ...Read more...Research showing value of exercise before a COVID-19 diagnosis earns special recognition
June 25, 2024Being active can lower your risk of getting seriously ill with COVID, regardless of your race or the chronic conditions you may have, according to research published last year in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California findings were important, impactful, and influential. As a result, the journal editors chose the ...Read more...Some patients take 2nd at-home fecal test to delay colonoscopy
May 22, 2024A study of 316,443 patients shows that 7.4% of patients repeated fecal testing rather than proceeding directly to colonoscopy as guidelines recommend, and of those who repeated home tests, over half did not have a colonoscopy within one year. Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer-related cause of death in the United States, but screening ...Read more...Study suggests waning protection from Moderna bivalent COVID-19 vaccine
May 15, 2024Emerging COVID-19 variants continue to cause serious COVID-19 disease, but most people have not received any COVID-19 vaccine for more than a year. Kaiser Permanente Southern California researchers assessed the effectiveness of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines against the recently circulating variants or sublineages to inform policymakers and the potential need for updated vaccines. One of the latest studies found ...Read more...Study sheds light on needs of young people who survive cancer
May 3, 2024Emergency department use was common for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors within 5 years of a cancer diagnosis, and differences in use were associated with social and demographic factors and cancer type, according to a new Kaiser Permanente study. The American Cancer Society reports that more young people are being diagnosed with cancer. Understanding their ...Read more...Five questions for … Dr. Huong Nguyen
May 3, 2024A nurse and health services researcher, Huong Q. Nguyen, PhD, RN, focuses her research on the care of older adults with chronic and serious illnesses. She is the co-lead of the Care Improvement Research Team and interim director of the Division of Health Services Research & Implementation for the Department of Research & Evaluation. She ...Read more...