Dr. Kelly C. Young-Wolff is a licensed clinical psychologist and Research Scientist III at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, as well as a Professor of Health Systems Science at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine. She has more than 15 years of experience conducting health services, epidemiologic, and prevention research, with a focus on substance use, maternal and child health, and health equity.
Dr. Young-Wolff has served as principal investigator and co-investigator on multiple NIHand state-funded studies, including large longitudinal cohort investigations of cannabis and tobacco use during pregnancy and their impacts on maternal and child outcomes. Her work has been widely disseminated and cited in U.S. congressional hearings, Surgeon General advisories, and state-level policy reports, reflecting its significance for shaping public health and clinical practice.
She has provided expert input to the California Department of Public Health, the California Surgeon General’s Office, and the National Academy of Sciences, and has contributed to the development of national clinical guidelines. Dedicated to mentorship, Dr. Young-Wolff has guided a diverse group of early-career investigators and medical trainees.
Her research has received broad media attention, with features on CNN, NPR, NBC Nightly News, and in outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and Washington Post. She is committed to advancing evidence-based policies that improve health outcomes, reduce disparities, and ensure that scientific findings are translated into meaningful improvements in health and health care delivery.