Megie Okumura, MD, MAS
Professor
Pediatrics
School of Medicine

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.

• 2024 Update of the RECOVER-Adult Long COVID Research Index.
  JAMA 2025 Geng LN, Erlandson KM, Hornig M, Letts R, Selvaggi C, Ashktorab H, Atieh O, Bartram L, Brim H, Brosnahan SB, Brown J, Castro M, Charney A, Chen P, Deeks SG, Erdmann N, Flaherman VJ, Ghamloush MA, …
• Insurance gaps at age-19 and age-26 health insurance eligibility thresholds by childhood-onset condition severity, Colorado 2014-2018.
  Health services research 2025 McMahon MV, Okumura MJ, Toomey SL, Chan CH, D'Ambrosi GR, Gray KP, Landrum MB, Meara E, Chien AT
• Sex Differences in Long COVID.
  JAMA network open 2025 Shah DP, Thaweethai T, Karlson EW, Bonilla H, Horne BD, Mullington JM, Wisnivesky JP, Hornig M, Shinnick DJ, Klein JD, Erdmann NB, Brosnahan SB, Lee-Iannotti JK, Metz TD, Maughan C, Ofotokun I, Reeder…
• Pediatric Subspecialist Referrals to Peer Support for Families.
  Maternal and child health journal 2024 Schor EL, Klima T, Henry HKM, Gray A, Okumura MJ
• Differentiation of Prior SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Postacute Sequelae by Standard Clinical Laboratory Measurements in the RECOVER Cohort.
  Annals of internal medicine 2024 Erlandson KM, Geng LN, Selvaggi CA, Thaweethai T, Chen P, Erdmann NB, Goldman JD, Henrich TJ, Hornig M, Karlson EW, Katz SD, Kim C, Cribbs SK, Laiyemo AO, Letts R, Lin JY, Marathe J, Parthasarathy S, …
• Post-Acute Sequelae of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) After Infection During Pregnancy.
  Obstetrics and gynecology 2024 Metz TD, Reeder HT, Clifton RG, Flaherman V, Aragon LV, Baucom LC, Beamon CJ, Braverman A, Brown J, Cao T, Chang A, Costantine MM, Dionne JA, Gibson KS, Gross RS, Guerreros E, Habli M, Hadlock J, Han …
• Framework for developing self-actualization skills in young adults with autism.
  Health care transitions 2024 Okumura MJ, Selling SK, Uba A, Martin-Herz SP, Seretan HH, Rosene L, Cohen J, Tebb KP, Rehm RS
• Impairment Types and Combinations Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Disabilities: Colorado 2014-2018.
  Academic pediatrics 2023 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
• Socioeconomic Factors Are Associated With Severity of Hospitalization in Pediatric Lupus: An Analysis of the 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database.
  Arthritis care & research 2023 Soulsby WD, Lawson E, Okumura M, Pantell MS
• Investigating Protective Factors Associated With Mental Health Outcomes in Sexual Minority Youth.
  The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine 2021 Parmar DD, Tabler J, Okumura MJ, Nagata JM
• 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 AlRasheed RM, Martin-Herz SP, Glidden DV, Okumura MJ
• Improving Health Care Transitions for Children and Youth With Special Health Care Needs.
  Academic pediatrics 2021 Okumura MJ, Kuo DZ, Ware AN, Cyr MH, White PH
• 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 Schenker RB, Laguna MC, Odisho AY, Okumura MJ, Burnett H
• Early Peanut Introduction and Testing: A Framework for General Pediatrician Beliefs and Practices.
  Pediatric allergy, immunology, and pulmonology 2020 Chang A, Cabana MD, LaFlam TN, Patel S, Okumura M
• Implementation of a multidisciplinary discharge videoconference for children with medical complexity: a pilot study.
  Pilot and feasibility studies 2020 Ravid NL, Zamora K, Rehm R, Okumura M, Takayama J, Kaiser S
• Seeking equilibrium: The experiences of parents of infants and toddlers who are deaf/hard-of-hearing.
  Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2019 Vukkadala N, Giridhar SBP, Okumura MJ, Chan DK
• The Transition Journey: Time to Systematically Address Transition Planning to Adult Health Care.
  Pediatrics 2018 Okumura MJ
• Caring for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Profiling Pediatricians and Their Health Care Resources.
  Maternal and child health journal 2018 Okumura MJ, Knauer HA, Calvin KE, Takayama JI
• Care Quality and Spending Among Commercially Insured Children With Disabilities.
  Academic pediatrics 2018 Chien AT, Toomey SL, Kuo DZ, Van Cleave J, Houtrow AJ, Okumura MJ, Westfall MY, Petty CR, Quinn JA, Kuhlthau KA, Schuster MA
• Self-management and Transition to Adult Health Care in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Team Process.
  Pediatrics in review 2017 Mahan JD, Betz CL, Okumura MJ, Ferris ME
• Familial Caregiver and Physician Perceptions of the Family-Physician Interactions During Interfacility Transfers.
  Hospital pediatrics 2017 Rosenthal JL, Li ST, Hernandez L, Alvarez M, Rehm RS, Okumura MJ
• Receiving Providers' Perceptions on Information Transmission During Interfacility Transfers to General Pediatric Floors.
  Hospital pediatrics 2017 Rosenthal JL, Romano PS, Kokroko J, Gu W, Okumura MJ
• Care Coordination and Comprehensive Electronic Health Records are Associated With Increased Transition Planning Activities.
  Academic pediatrics 2017 Sharma N, O'Hare K, O'Connor KG, Nehal U, Okumura MJ
• Quality of Primary Care for Children With Disabilities Enrolled in Medicaid.
  Academic pediatrics 2017 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
• Preventive Dental Care at 6-Month Intervals Is Associated With Reduced Caries Risk.
  Clinical pediatrics 2017 Flaherman VJ, Epstein J, Amendola L, Inge R, Featherstone JD, Okumura M
• Pediatricians' Comfort Level in Caring for Children With Special Health Care Needs.
  Academic pediatrics 2017 Okumura MJ, Knauer HA, Calvin KE, Takayama JI
• Profiling Interfacility Transfers for Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.
  Hospital pediatrics 2016 Rosenthal JL, Hilton JF, Teufel RJ, Romano PS, Kaiser SV, Okumura MJ
• Interfacility Transfers to General Pediatric Floors: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Role of Communication.
  Academic pediatrics 2016 Rosenthal JL, Okumura MJ, Hernandez L, Li ST, Rehm RS
• Cystic Fibrosis Transitions of Care: Lessons Learned and Future Directions for Cystic Fibrosis.
  Clinics in chest medicine 2015 Okumura MJ, Kleinhenz ME
• Medical Homes for Children With Special Health Care Needs: Primary Care or Subspecialty Service?
  Academic pediatrics 2015 Van Cleave J, Okumura MJ, Swigonski N, O'Connor KG, Mann M, Lail JL
• Development of the Children With Disabilities Algorithm.
  Pediatrics 2015 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
• Risk Factors for Prolonged Length of Stay or Complications During Pediatric Respiratory Hospitalizations.
  Hospital pediatrics 2015 Kaiser SV, Bakel LA, Okumura MJ, Auerbach AD, Rosenthal J, Cabana MD
• 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 Okumura MJ, Saunders M, Rehm RS
• Health care transition preparation in youth with chronic conditions: working towards translational evidence with a patient perspective.
  Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2015 Ferris ME, Ferris MT, Okumura MJ, Cohen SE, Hooper SR
• Adults with childhood-onset chronic conditions admitted to US pediatric and adult intensive care units.
  Journal of critical care 2014 Edwards JD, Vasilevskis EE, Yoo EJ, Houtrow AJ, Boscardin WJ, Dudley RA, Okumura MJ
• Neighborhood Characteristics and ADHD: Results of a National Study.
  Journal of attention disorders 2014 Razani N, Hilton JF, Halpern-Felsher BL, Okumura MJ, Morrell HE, Yen IH
• Educational and vocational outcomes of adults with childhood- and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: nine years of followup.
  Arthritis care & research 2014 Lawson EF, Hersh AO, Trupin L, von Scheven E, Okumura MJ, Yazdany J, Yelin EH
• Improving transition from paediatric to adult cystic fibrosis care: programme implementation and evaluation.
  BMJ quality & safety 2014 Okumura MJ, Ong T, Dawson D, Nielson D, Lewis N, Richards M, Brindis CD, Kleinhenz ME
• The health care transition research consortium health care transition model: a framework for research and practice.
  Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2014 Betz CL, Ferris ME, Woodward JF, Okumura MJ, Jan S, Wood DL
• Multi-institutional profile of adults admitted to pediatric intensive care units.
  JAMA pediatrics 2013 Edwards JD, Houtrow AJ, Vasilevskis EE, Dudley RA, Okumura MJ
• Inpatient care for children, ages 1-20 years, with spina bifida in the United States.
  Journal of pediatric rehabilitation medicine 2013 Houtrow AJ, Maselli JH, Okumura MJ
• 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 Okumura MJ, Hersh AO, Hilton JF, Lotstein DS
• Peripheral muscle weakness in RASopathies.
  Muscle & nerve 2012 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
• Self-management skills in adolescents with chronic rheumatic disease: A cross-sectional survey.
  Pediatric rheumatology online journal 2011 Lawson EF, Hersh AO, Applebaum MA, Yelin EH, Okumura MJ, von Scheven E
• Profiling health and health-related services for children with special health care needs with and without disabilities.
  Academic pediatrics 2011 Houtrow AJ, Okumura MJ, Hilton JF, Rehm RS
• PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS AND ASSOCIATED BURDEN ON FAMILIES.
  Vulnerable children and youth studies 2011 Houtrow AJ, Okumura MJ
• Physician views on barriers to primary care for young adults with childhood-onset chronic disease.
  Pediatrics 2010 Okumura MJ, Kerr EA, Cabana MD, Davis MM, Demonner S, Heisler M
• 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 Okumura MJ
• Understanding factors associated with work loss for families caring for CSHCN.
  Pediatrics 2009 Okumura MJ, Van Cleave J, Gnanasekaran S, Houtrow A
• Comfort of general internists and general pediatricians in providing care for young adults with chronic illnesses of childhood.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2008 Okumura MJ, Heisler M, Davis MM, Cabana MD, Demonner S, Kerr EA
• Trends in hospitalizations for diabetes among children and young adults: United States, 1993 2004.
  Diabetes care 2007 Lee JM, Okumura MJ, Freed GL, Menon RK, 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 Okumura MJ, McPheeters ML, Davis MM
• 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 Okumura MJ, Cabana MD
• Prevalence and determinants of insulin resistance among U.S. adolescents: a population-based study.
  Diabetes care 2006 Lee JM, Okumura MJ, Davis MM, Herman WH, Gurney JG
• Inpatient health care use among adult survivors of chronic childhood illnesses in the United States.
  Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine 2006 Okumura MJ, Campbell AD, Nasr SZ, Davis MM