Kathryn G. Kietzman, PhD, MSW

Kathryn G. Kietzman, PhD, MSW, is a Senior Research Scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and an Associate Professional Researcher at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health where she studies the long-term health and social care needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Her research agenda focuses primarily on the needs of the most physically, socially, and financially vulnerable of older adults who live at home and depend on public programs and other informal supports to maintain their independence. Dr. Kietzman is currently leading a California Health Interview Survey study to assess population-level need for, and access to, long-term services and supports in California. Other recent work includes an investigation of how older adults with serious mental illness are being served through California’s public mental health delivery system and a related study of geriatric mental health workforce needs. Previous studies have examined how dual eligible health care consumers respond to health care coverage changes and make decisions about the health care options available to them. Dr. Kietzman has also evaluated efforts to increase the use of clinical preventive services among the 50+ population, through multi-sectoral collaboration and enhanced linkages between community and clinical settings.

Dr. Kietzman conducted her fellowship in the office of Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) where she worked on a broad array of health care reform initiatives related to mental health, aging, chronic care coordination, prevention and wellness, and the integration of health care delivery systems. A former member of the Board of Directors for the American Society on Aging, Dr. Kietzman currently serves on the Executive Board of the Center for Health Care Rights which provides education, counseling, and assistance to Medicare beneficiaries in Los Angeles County. She also serves on the Commission for the Senior Community in the City of Santa Monica. Dr. Kietzman earned her doctorate in social welfare from the UCLA School of Public Affairs where her dissertation research was supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Dr. Kietzman completed both Bachelor and Master degrees in social welfare at UC Berkeley.