Megie Okumura, MD, MAS

My research is aimed at studying and formulating interventions that will address barriers and facilitators to chronic illness care for children with special health care needs as they transition from the pediatric to adult health care setting. I am dual-board certified in general pediatrics and internal medicine, and therefore have a unique perspective on the health care issues affecting the entire age spectrum of patients with childhood-onset chronic illnesses. My research and professional goal is to improve health care quality for youth and young adults with chronic conditions as they transition from pediatric to adult health care. Ultimately, I intend to apply my research to chronic illness care across the lifespan.

My current research program focuses on studies that will inform ways to improve the quality of health care among adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions. In order to best design programs that can help these YSHCN, my research has focused on epidemiologic studies of health care utilization and health care needs. My work has focused on interventions that will assist YSHCN transition from pediatric to adult health care. I have focused my interventions within the primary care setting as well as in subspecialty care (Cystic Fibrosis and Diabetes). Additionally, I work with community partners around the Bay Area to help develop mechanisms to improve the care of persons with disabilities in the community.