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
Jones SMW, Keegan THM, Hahn EE, Nichols HB, O'Meara ES, Figueroa Gray M, Wernli KJ, Sauder CAM, Kirchhoff AC, Laurent CA, Kushi LH, Chubak J Test-Retest Reliability and Mode Effects on Single-Item and Multi-Item Measures in a Survey of Adolescent and Young Adults with Cancer 2026 Oct;15(5):340-346 doi:10.1177/21565333251414792. doi: 10.1177/21565333251414792. Epub 2026-01-12. PubMed
Sethness JL, Simmons KB, Zhang Y, Hoopes AJ Key Takeaways for Adolescent-Serving Clinicians in the 2024 U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use and Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use 2026 Oct;39(5):580-589 doi:10.1016/j.jpag.2026.02.012. doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2026.02.012. Epub 2026-02-26. PubMed
Buckley RC, Stein JN, Wardell AC, Kuo TM, Baggett C, Nichols HB, Hahn EE, Wernli KJ, Kushi LH, Keegan THM, Smitherman AB Predictive Risk Model for Early Post-Treatment Acute Care Use in Adolescent and Young Adult Patients With Cancer 2026 Aug 25 doi: 10.1200/OP-26-00195. Epub 2026-08-25. PubMed
Mahendra M, Miglioretti DL, Alber S, Moy LM, Kwan ML, Smith-Bindman R Computed Tomography Use and Indications in Children With and Without Chronic Health Conditions 2026 Aug 25 doi: 10.7812/TPP/26.049. Epub 2026-08-25. PubMed
Hoopes AJ, Hawryluk BA, Kiser AL, Brewer L, Wiehe SE, Maslowsky JM Co-designing an adolescent-centered contraception support resource for adolescents and primary care clinicians 2026 Aug 21 doi: 10.1016/j.jpag.2026.08.009. Epub 2026-08-21. PubMed
Researchers in Child & Adolescent Health
 Sascha Dublin, MD, PhDSenior Investigator |
 Annie Hoopes, MD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
 Lisa A. Jackson, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Paula Lozano, MD, MPHSenior Investigator; Director, ACT Center |
 Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPHExecutive Director and Senior Investigator, KPWHRI; Vice President for Research and Health Care Innovation, Kaiser Permanente Washington |
 Rosemary Meza, PhD, MSSenior Collaborative Scientist |
 Robert Penfold, PhDSenior Investigator |
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
Research
Study links medical imaging to cancer risk in children
New research finds that 10% of pediatric blood and bone marrow cancers may have stemmed from radiation exposure.
Research
Some adolescents are more likely to use patient portal than others
A new study aims to understand trends in digital care communication among teens.
Research
How did the pandemic impact hospital visits with animals?
Top pediatric oncology hospitals reported lasting changes to programs involving visits with animals.
New findings
Patient-centered perspectives on teen mental health
Annie Hoopes, MD, MPH, shares insights from an ACT Center study on integrating adolescent mental health in primary care.
Pediatric research
Improving child health and care with quality measures
KPWHRI Executive Director Rita Mangione-Smith, MD, MPH, talks about her research to advance pediatric care
IMPACT Center
Improving mental health care for youth
A new center will support using evidence-based practices in under-resourced settings such as schools.
KPWHRI in the media
Safely prescribing antipsychotic medications to youth
Safer use of antipsychotics in youth
Mind the Kids podcast, April 28, 2025
