Our Unique Opportunity
Investigators and fellows in the Division of Research work on the cutting edge of delivery science. We partner directly with Kaiser Permanente physicians and clinical leaders on innovative research directly impacting patient care in one of the nation’s leading integrated delivery systems. Under the mentorship of leading scientists in their fields, fellows gain expertise in conducting delivery science studies and sharing findings through peer-reviewed articles and presentations at national conferences. Investigators have access to rich data resources, including a robust longitudinal electronic medical record system — one of the largest of its kind in the United States.
I’m grateful that the Delivery Science Fellowship challenged and supported me to think rigorously, pragmatically, and creatively about how health care delivery science and solutions.”
Faculty
About Us
Kaiser Permanente is an integrated delivery system with a diverse membership in 8 regions across the United States. In the Northern California region, Kaiser Permanente includes a health plan with 4.6 million members, a network of 21 hospitals and 206 ambulatory medical offices, and a multi-specialty physician group with more than 9,700 physicians.
The Division of Research, which is part of Kaiser Permanente Northern California, has more than 720 people on staff, including 73 faculty-level investigators with 629 ongoing, funded projects on a wide range of health research topics. In 2024, the Division’s research portfolio included over $150.85 million in grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health, other federal agencies, private foundations, industry, and Kaiser Permanente. Our delivery science investigators have made contributions in many research areas, including disease prevention, chronic illness management, behavioral health, health equity, social determinants, clinical effectiveness, the role of genes and the environment in health, inpatient care, predictive modeling, program evaluation, and health informatics. Founded in 1961, the Division’s research program has been built on a base of rigorous epidemiologic and health services investigation. The Division has a long tradition of training post-graduate fellows, including the current cohort of Delivery Science Fellows.
Program Goals for Delivery Science Fellows
- Enhance skills (framing impactful research questions, applying robust research methods, grant writing, manuscript publication, and oral presentations) to help highly qualified researchers pursue successful research careers in delivery science.
- Address critical health care delivery problems in priority areas such as understanding and overcoming barriers to effective health care; addressing race/ethnic disparities in health care delivery; improving clinical quality, outcomes and cost; and effectively applying health information technology, clinical informatics, and data science.
- Conduct research to help support advances in how medical care is delivered within Kaiser Permanente’s integrated care setting and the U.S. health care system overall.
- Be prepared to apply for positions in academic or health system settings upon completion of the fellowship program
Learning Opportunity
The 2-year, full-time program includes:
- Individualized scientific mentorship on at least two delivery science studies
- Weekly works-in-progress meetings with faculty and fellows
- Experience writing at least two first-authored publications based on Kaiser Permanente Division of Research projects
- Seminar series on career and skill development topics
- Core competency training in Delivery Science methods, including journal club
- Fellows with clinical training have the potential for maintaining a modest amount of clinical activity (arranged on a case-by-case basis)
Fellowship Application
We have opened our applications for our July 2026 cohort. Applications are due Nov. 7 by 5 p.m. PT.
Eligibility
We seek outstanding candidates with health professional doctorate degrees (MD, DO, PharmD, Nursing PhD) and/or research doctorate degrees (PhD, ScD, DrPH) in related fields. Applicants must be eligible for U.S. employment. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.
Funding
The fellowship is paid by an employment contract with The Permanente Medical Group and Kaiser Foundation Health. The program follows the KPNC graduate medical education compensation which includes salary, benefits, and tuition reimbursement.
Location
Pleasanton, California
Questions?
Additional inquiries about the program may be made by contacting Karen Estacio at DOR-Fellowship@kp.org.
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Helpful Links
Delivery Science Fellowship Application
A decade of cultivating the next generation of delivery science fellows
More Information about Delivery Science
