Ben J. Marafino, PhD

ben.j.marafino@kp.org

Kaiser Permanente Researcher Profiles

Marafino, Ben J.

​Ben J. Marafino, PhD, is a Research Scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. His current research interests include: 1) the implementation science of machine learning, predictive analytics, and related methods as applied to care delivery; 2) applied causal inference for program evaluation and other observational studies, particularly quasi-experimental methods; and 3) methods for heterogeneous treatment effects in general. In addition, Dr. Marafino also serves as a methodologist, lending his expertise in the areas of statistics, machine learning, and informatics to other investigators at DOR and The Permanente Medical Group. He received his PhD from Stanford University.

Current Positions

  • Research Scientist, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Section Affiliations

Primary Research Interests

  • Design of observational studies
  • Quasi-experimental methods
  • Machine learning
  • Delivery and implementation science
  • Health care operations research

Publications

Trends in Open Aortic Valve Surgery in the United States: Descriptive Analysis of Sociodemographic Factors in Patient Selection

Authors: Burton É;Marafino B;Pines KC;Morrison T;Groeneveld MC;Baiocchi M

BMC Surg. 2026 Feb 25.

PubMed abstract

Development and validation of a machine learning model to identify individuals at high risk for psychotic disorders using medical record data

Authors: Marafino BJ;Kline-Simon AH;Stavers-Sosa I;Cronkite DJ;Gerstley LD;Durojaiye C;Kelley A;Kiel L;Ramaprasan A;Carrell DS;Penfold RB;Hirschtritt ME

BMC Psychiatry. 2026 Feb 10.

PubMed abstract

Electronically Delivered, Cardiovascular-Focused Messaging to Improve Influenza Vaccination: Rationale, Design, and Baseline Characteristics of the KP-VACCINATE Megatrial

Authors: Bhatt AS;Bhatt, Ankeet S;Go, Alan S;Parikh, Rishi V;Tan, Thida C;Marafino, Ben J;Ambrosy, Andrew P;Berry NC; et al.

Am Heart J. 2025 Dec;290:129-139. Epub 2025-06-18.

PubMed abstract

Cardiovascular-Focused Messaging to Improve Influenza Vaccination Rates

Authors: Bhatt AS;Bhatt, Ankeet S;Parikh, Rishi V;Tan, Thida C;Marafino, Ben J;Ambrosy, Andrew P;Go, Alan S;Go AS; et al.

NEJM Evid. 2025 Aug 30:EVIDoa2500208.

PubMed abstract

Expanding care coordination in an integrated health system through causal machine learning

Authors: Marafino BJ;Plimier C;Kipnis P;Escobar GJ;Myers LC;Donnelly MC;Greene JD;Flagg MD;Small JR;Liu VX

NPJ Digit Med. 2025 Sep 24;8(1):571. Epub 2025-09-24.

PubMed abstract

Protocol for Designing a Model to Predict the Likelihood of Psychosis From Electronic Health Records Using Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning

Authors: Stavers-Sosa, Icelini;Cronkite, David J;Gerstley, Lawrence D;Kelley, Ann;Kiel, Linda;Kline-Simon, Andrea H;Marafino, Ben J;Ramaprasan, Arvind;Carrell, David S;Hirschtritt, Matthew E

Perm J. 2024 Sep 16;28(3):23-36. Epub 2024-09-02.

PubMed abstract

Effectiveness of an Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Intervention for Detecting Clinical Deterioration

Authors: Gallo, Robert J;Shieh, Lisa;Smith, Margaret;Marafino, Ben J;Geldsetzer, Pascal;Asch, Steven M;Shum, Kenny;Lin, Steven;Westphal, Jerri;Hong, Grace;Li, Ron Chen

JAMA Intern Med. 2024 Mar 25.

PubMed abstract

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status, Tenofovir Exposure, and the Risk of Poor Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) Outcomes: Real-World Analysis From 6 United States Cohorts Before Vaccine Rollout

Authors: Lea, Alexandra N; Marafino, Ben J; Skarbinski, Jacek; Silverberg, Michael J; et al.

Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Mar 02.

PubMed abstract

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