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.
Education
6/2021 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, UCSF
M.A.S, 2011 - Epidemiology and Biostatistics, UCSF
Institute for Health Policy Studies Fellowship, 2008 - School of Medicine, UCSF
Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, 2006 - School of Medicine, University of Michigan
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Combined Residency Program, 2004 - School of Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital
M.D., 2000 - School of Medicine, New York Medical College
Websites

  1. Chien AT, Spence SJ, Okumura MJ, Lu S, Chan CH, Houtrow AJ, Kuo DZ, Van Cleave JM, Shanske SA, Schuster MA, Kuhlthau KA, Toomey SL. Impairment Types and Combinations Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Disabilities: Colorado 2014-2018. Academic pediatrics 2023. PMID: 37925071


  2. Soulsby WD, Lawson E, Okumura M, Pantell MS. Socioeconomic Factors are Associated with Severity of Hospitalization in Pediatric Lupus: An Analysis of the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database. Arthritis care & research 2023. PMID: 36971263


  3. Parmar DD, Tabler J, Okumura MJ, Nagata JM. Investigating Protective Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes in Sexual Minority Youth. 2021. PMID: 34887197


  4. AlRasheed RM, Martin-Herz SP, Glidden DV, Okumura MJ. Adherence to Child Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Guidelines in Medical Homes-Results from a National Survey. Journal of developmental and behavioral pediatrics : JDBP 2021. PMID: 34034294


  5. Okumura MJ, Kuo DZ, Ware AN, Cyr MH, White PH. Improving Health Care Transitions for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs. 2021. PMID: 35248248


  6. Schenker RB, Laguna MC, Odisho AY, Okumura MJ, Burnett H. Are We Reaching Everyone? A Cross-Sectional Study of Telehealth Inequity in the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Urban Academic Pediatric Primary Care Clinic. Clinical pediatrics 2021. PMID: 34514898


  7. Chang A, Cabana MD, LaFlam TN, Patel S, Okumura M. Early Peanut Introduction and Testing: A Framework for General Pediatrician Beliefs and Practices. Pediatric allergy, immunology, and pulmonology 2020. PMID: 34143689


  8. Ravid NL, Zamora K, Rehm R, Okumura M, Takayama J, Kaiser S. Implementation of a multidisciplinary discharge videoconference for children with medical complexity: a pilot study. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 2020. PMID: 32099662


  9. Vukkadala N, Giridhar SBP, Okumura MJ, Chan DK. Seeking equilibrium: The experiences of parents of infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard-of-hearing. Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2019. PMID: 30883371


  10. Okumura MJ. The Transition Journey: Time to Systematically Address Transition Planning to Adult Health Care. Pediatrics 2018. PMID: 30224364


  11. Okumura MJ, Knauer HA, Calvin KE, Takayama JI. Caring for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Profiling Pediatricians and Their Health Care Resources. Maternal and child health journal 2018. PMID: 29497983


  12. Chien AT, Toomey SL, Kuo DZ, Van Cleave J, Houtrow AJ, Okumura MJ, Westfall MY, Petty CR, Quinn JA, Kuhlthau KA, Schuster MA. Care Quality and Spending Among Commercially Insured Children With Disabilities. Academic pediatrics 2018. PMID: 29932986


  13. Mahan JD, Betz CL, Okumura MJ, Ferris ME. Self-management and Transition to Adult Health Care in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Team Process. Pediatrics in review 2017. PMID: 28667233


  14. Rosenthal JL, Li ST, Hernandez L, Alvarez M, Rehm RS, Okumura MJ. Familial Caregiver and Physician Perceptions of the Family-Physician Interactions During Interfacility Transfers. Hospital pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28546453


  15. Rosenthal JL, Romano PS, Kokroko J, Gu W, Okumura MJ. Receiving Providers' Perceptions on Information Transmission During Interfacility Transfers to General Pediatric Floors. Hospital pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28559362


  16. Sharma N, O'Hare K, O'Connor KG, Nehal U, Okumura MJ. Care Coordination and Comprehensive Electronic Health Records are Associated With Increased Transition Planning Activities. Academic pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28428097


  17. Chien AT, Kuhlthau KA, Toomey SL, Quinn JA, Okumura MJ, Kuo DZ, Houtrow AJ, Van Cleave J, Landrum MB, Jang J, Janmey I, Furdyna MJ, Schuster MA. Quality of Primary Care for Children With Disabilities Enrolled in Medicaid. Academic pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28286057


  18. Flaherman VJ, Epstein J, Amendola L, Inge R, Featherstone JD, Okumura M. Preventive Dental Care at 6-Month Intervals Is Associated With Reduced Caries Risk. Clinical pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28952370


  19. Okumura MJ, Knauer HA, Calvin KE, Takayama JI. Pediatricians' Comfort Level in Caring for Children With Special Health Care Needs. Academic pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28246025


  20. Rosenthal JL, Hilton JF, Teufel RJ, Romano PS, Kaiser SV, Okumura MJ. Profiling Interfacility Transfers for Hospitalized Pediatric Patients. Hospital pediatrics 2016. PMID: 27150111


  21. Rosenthal JL, Okumura MJ, Hernandez L, Li ST, Rehm RS. Interfacility Transfers to General Pediatric Floors: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Communication. Academic pediatrics 2016. PMID: 27109492


  22. Okumura MJ, Kleinhenz ME. Cystic Fibrosis Transitions of Care: Lessons Learned and Future Directions for Cystic Fibrosis. Clinics in chest medicine 2015. PMID: 26857773


  23. Van Cleave J, Okumura MJ, Swigonski N, O'Connor KG, Mann M, Lail JL. Medical Homes for Children With Special Health Care Needs: Primary Care or Subspecialty Service? Academic pediatrics 2015. PMID: 26523634


  24. Chien AT, Kuhlthau KA, Toomey SL, Quinn JA, Houtrow AJ, Kuo DZ, Okumura MJ, Van Cleave JM, Johnson CK, Mahoney LL, Martin J, Landrum MB, Schuster MA. Development of the Children With Disabilities Algorithm. Pediatrics 2015. PMID: 26416938


  25. Kaiser SV, Bakel LA, Okumura MJ, Auerbach AD, Rosenthal J, Cabana MD. Risk Factors for Prolonged Length of Stay or Complications During Pediatric Respiratory Hospitalizations. Hospital pediatrics 2015. PMID: 26330245


  26. Okumura MJ, Saunders M, Rehm RS. The Role of Health Advocacy in Transitions from Pediatric to Adult Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Bridging Families, Provider and Community Services. Journal of pediatric nursing 2015. PMID: 26228309


  27. Ferris ME, Ferris MT, Okumura MJ, Cohen SE, Hooper SR. Health care transition preparation in youth with chronic conditions: working towards translational evidence with a patient perspective. Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2015. PMID: 25737346


  28. Edwards JD, Vasilevskis EE, Yoo EJ, Houtrow AJ, Boscardin WJ, Dudley RA, Okumura MJ. Adults with childhood-onset chronic conditions admitted to US pediatric and adult intensive care units. Journal of critical care 2014. PMID: 25466316


  29. Razani N, Hilton JF, Halpern-Felsher BL, Okumura MJ, Morrell HE, Yen IH. Neighborhood Characteristics and ADHD: Results of a National Study. Journal of attention disorders 2014. PMID: 25028386


  30. Lawson EF, Hersh AO, Trupin L, von Scheven E, Okumura MJ, Yazdany J, Yelin EH. Educational and vocational outcomes of adults with childhood- and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: nine years of followup. Arthritis care & research 2014. PMID: 24877200


  31. Okumura MJ, Ong T, Dawson D, Nielson D, Lewis N, Richards M, Brindis CD, Kleinhenz ME. Improving transition from paediatric to adult cystic fibrosis care: programme implementation and evaluation. BMJ quality & safety 2014. PMID: 24415776


  32. Betz CL, Ferris ME, Woodward JF, Okumura MJ, Jan S, Wood DL. The health care transition research consortium health care transition model: a framework for research and practice. Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2014. PMID: 24919934


  33. Edwards JD, Houtrow AJ, Vasilevskis EE, Dudley RA, Okumura MJ. Multi-institutional profile of adults admitted to pediatric intensive care units. JAMA pediatrics 2013. PMID: 23549637


  34. Houtrow AJ, Maselli JH, Okumura MJ. Inpatient care for children, ages 1-20 years, with spina bifida in the United States. Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2013. PMID: 23803342


  35. Okumura MJ, Hersh AO, Hilton JF, Lotstein DS. Change in health status and access to care in young adults with special health care needs: results from the 2007 national survey of adult transition and health. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2012. PMID: 23298998


  36. Stevenson DA, Allen S, Tidyman WE, Carey JC, Viskochil DH, Stevens A, Hanson H, Sheng X, Thompson BA, Okumura MJ, Reinker K, Johnson B, Rauen KA. Peripheral muscle weakness in RASopathies. Muscle & nerve 2012. PMID: 22907230


  37. Lawson EF, Hersh AO, Applebaum MA, Yelin EH, Okumura MJ, von Scheven E. Self-management skills in adolescents with chronic rheumatic disease: A cross-sectional survey. Pediatric rheumatology online journal 2011. PMID: 22145642


  38. Houtrow AJ, Okumura MJ, Hilton JF, Rehm RS. Profiling health and health-related services for children with special health care needs with and without disabilities. Academic pediatrics 2011. PMID: 21962936


  39. Houtrow AJ, Okumura MJ. PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND ASSOCIATED BURDEN ON FAMILIES. Vulnerable children and youth studies 2011. PMID: 22135697


  40. Okumura MJ, Kerr EA, Cabana MD, Davis MM, Demonner S, Heisler M. Physician views on barriers to primary care for young adults with childhood-onset chronic disease. Pediatrics 2010. PMID: 20231189


  41. Okumura MJ. Growing up and getting old(er) with childhood-onset chronic diseases: paving the way to better chronic illness care worldwide. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2009. PMID: 19931824


  42. Okumura MJ, Van Cleave J, Gnanasekaran S, Houtrow A. Understanding factors associated with work loss for families caring for CSHCN. Pediatrics 2009. PMID: 19948604


  43. Okumura MJ, Heisler M, Davis MM, Cabana MD, Demonner S, Kerr EA. Comfort of general internists and general pediatricians in providing care for young adults with chronic illnesses of childhood. Journal of general internal medicine 2008. PMID: 18661191


  44. Lee JM, Okumura MJ, Freed GL, Menon RK, Davis MM. Trends in hospitalizations for diabetes among children and young adults: United States, 1993 2004. Diabetes care 2007. PMID: 17728482


  45. Okumura MJ, McPheeters ML, Davis MM. State and national estimates of insurance coverage and health care utilization for adolescents with chronic conditions from the National Survey of Children's Health, 2003. The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2007. PMID: 17875459


  46. Okumura MJ, Cabana MD. The results of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association 2006. PMID: 17105543


  47. Lee JM, Okumura MJ, Davis MM, Herman WH, Gurney JG. Prevalence and determinants of insulin resistance among U.S. adolescents: a population-based study. Diabetes care 2006. PMID: 17065679


  48. Okumura MJ, Campbell AD, Nasr SZ, Davis MM. Inpatient health care use among adult survivors of chronic childhood illnesses in the United States. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine 2006. PMID: 17018465