Luis A. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, RD

luis.a.rodriguez@kp.org

Kaiser Permanente Researcher Profiles

Rodriguez, Luis

​Luis A. Rodriguez, PhD, MPH, RD, is a Research Scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health System Sciences at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, and Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Rodriguez is a diabetes epidemiologist with a research portfolio focusing on the intersection of type 2 diabetes prevention and management to reduce diabetes incidence and prevent diabetes-related complications. As part of his research portfolio, he also investigates the biological and social causes that contribute to diabetes disparities and inform clinical and public health policy interventions that will address them.

Dr. Rodriguez received a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences and a master’s degree in Public Health, from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctorate in Epidemiology and Translational Science from the University of California, San Francisco. He completed the T32 Diabetes Translational Research and Delivery Science Postdoctoral Fellowship program at the Division of Research.

Current Positions

  • Research Scientist I
  • Assistant Professor, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, Department of Health System Sciences
  • Assistant Adjunct Professor, University of California, San Francisco, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics

Section Affiliations

Primary Research Interests

  • Type 2 diabetes epidemiology
  • Cardiometabolic disease epidemiology
  • Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)
  • Health care delivery

Studies

Evaluating biologic and social determinants of health to improve diabetes prevention and address health inequities in Latino patients.

Evaluating biologic and social determinants of health to improve diabetes prevention and address health inequities in Latino patients
This study will develop and externally validate models to predict incident type 2 diabetes in Latino adults that uniquely incorporate metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), Social determinants of Health factors, and their interaction to enhance our understanding of their role in predicting type 2 diabetes in this population. The study will evaluate enrollment and engagement in type 2 diabetes prevention programs among Latino adults, along with engagement with stakeholders to co-design outreach messages based on the model results that have the potential to increase participation in type 2 diabetes prevention programs and ultimately decrease type 2 diabetes incidence in Latino adults.
Funder: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Investigator: Rodriguez, Luis

Funder: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Trends in Diabetes Screening, Risk Factors and Incidence Before and After the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic Between the California Medi-Cal and Commercially-Insured Populations

Using quasi-experimental research methods, this study is assessing the extent to which disparities in type 2 diabetes prevention and outcomes were exacerbated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic between the Medi-Cal and commercially-insured populations. The career development plan for this diversity supplement is to receive high-quality mentorship from experts in type 2 diabetes prevention, health disparities, biostatistics and evaluation of natural experiments.

Investigator: Rodriguez, Luis

Funder: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Publications

A mixed-methods assessment of engagement in wellness programs for patients with prediabetes: Factors associated with referral and participation in lifestyle wellness programs

Authors: Thomas, Tainayah W;Finertie, Holly;Sanchez, Perla;Rodriguez, Luis A;Schmittdiel, Julie

Prev Med Rep. 2024 Sep;45:102850. Epub 2024-08-07.

PubMed abstract

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease

Authors: Rodriguez, Luis A;Schmittdiel, Julie A;Liu, Liyan;Macdonald, Brock A;Balasubramanian, Sreepriya;Chai, Krisna P;Seo, Suk I;Mukhtar, Nizar;Levin, Theodore R;Saxena, Varun

JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jul 01;7(7):e2421019. Epub 2024-07-01.

PubMed abstract

Race and ethnicity and pharmacy dispensing of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists in type 2 diabetes

Authors: Rodriguez, Luis A;Neugebauer, Romain S;Karter, Andrew J;Schmittdiel, Julie A;Schmittdiel, Julie A;et al.

Lancet Reg Health Am. 2024 Jun;34:100759. Epub 2024-05-07.

PubMed abstract

Hospital Readmissions Among Patients Experiencing Homelessness: An Electronic Health Record Data Study

Authors: Banerjee, Somalee;Yassin, Maher;Dyer, Wendy T;Thomas, Tainayah W;Rodriguez, Luis A;Schmittdiel, Julie

Perm J. 2024 Mar 15;28(1):55-61. Epub 2023-12-18.

PubMed abstract

American Heart Association EPI|Lifestyle Scientific Sessions: 2022 Meeting Highlights

Authors: Sattler, Elisabeth L P;Turkson-Ocran, Ruth-Alma;Lutsey, Pamela L;et al.

J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Apr 18;12(8):e028695. Epub 2023-04-12.

PubMed abstract

Effects of COVID-19 shelter-in-place confinement on diabetes prevention health behaviors among US adults with prediabetes: A cross-sectional survey

Authors: Thomas, Tainayah Whitney; Lindsey, Rebecca; Yassin, Maher; Rodriguez, Luis A; Heisler, Michele; Schmittdiel, Julie A

Prev Med Rep. 2023 Apr;32:102139. Epub 2023-02-13.

PubMed abstract

Identifying Predictors of Homelessness Among Adults in a Large Integrated Health System in Northern California

Authors: Rodriguez, Luis A; Thomas, Tainayah W; Finertie, Holly; Wiley, Deanne; Dyer, Wendy T; Sanchez, Perla E; Yassin, Maher; Banerjee, Somalee; Adams, Alyce; Schmittdiel, Julie A

Perm J. 2023 Mar 15;27(1):56-71. Epub 2023-03-13.

PubMed abstract

Identifying modifiable obesogenic behaviors among Latino adolescents in primary pediatric care.

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Gopalan A; Darbinian JA; Chandra M; Greenspan LC; Howell A; Lo JC

Prev Med Rep. 2022 Jul 30;29:101939. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101939. eCollection 2022 Oct.

PubMed abstract

Psychosocial and diabetes risk factors among racially/ethnically diverse adults with prediabetes

Authors: Rodriguez, Luis A; Thomas, Tainayah W; Finertie, Holly; Turner, Cassie D; Heisler, Michele; Schmittdiel, Julie A

Prev Med Rep. 2022 Jun;27:101821. Epub 2022-05-05.

PubMed abstract

Does NAFLD Mediate the Relationship Between Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Risk? Evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Authors: Rodriguez, Luis A; Kanaya, Alka M; Shiboski, Stephen C; Fernandez, Alicia; Herrington, David; Ding, Jingzhong; Bradshaw, Patrick T

Ann Epidemiol. 2021 11;63:15-21. Epub 2021-07-19.

PubMed abstract

Predicting Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease for Adults Using Practical Clinical Measures: Evidence from the Multi-ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Shiboski SC; Bradshaw PT; Fernandez A; Herrington D; Ding J; Bradley RD; Kanaya AM

J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Sep;36(9):2648-2655. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06426-5. Epub 2021 Jan 26.

PubMed abstract

Examining if the relationship between BMI and incident type 2 diabetes among middle-older aged adults varies by race/ethnicity: evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Bradshaw PT; Shiboski SC; Fernandez A; Vittinghoff E; Herrington D; Ding J; Kanaya AM

Diabet Med. 2021 May;38(5):e14377. doi: 10.1111/dme.14377. Epub 2020 Sep 22.

PubMed abstract

Design of a cluster-randomized trial of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of metformin on prevention of type 2 diabetes among prediabetic Mexican adults (the PRuDENTE initiative of Mexico City).

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Barquera S; Aguilar-Salinas CA; Sepulveda-Amor J; Sanchez-Romero LM; Denova-Gutierrez E; Balderas N; Moreno-Loaeza L; Handley MA; Basu S; Lopez-Arellano O; Gallardo-Hernandez A; Schillinger D

Contemp Clin Trials. 2020 Aug;95:106067. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106067. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

PubMed abstract

Differences in Diet Quality among Multiple US Racial/Ethnic Groups from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Jin Y; Talegawkar SA; Otto MCO; Kandula NR; Herrington DM; Kanaya AM

J Nutr. 2020 Jun 1;150(6):1509-1515. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxaa050.

PubMed abstract

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease mortality among a population-based cohort of women with and without breast cancer.

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Bradshaw PT; Parada H; Khankari NK; Wang T; Cleveland RJ; Teitelbaum SL; Neugut AI; Gammon MD

Cancer Causes Control. 2020 May;31(5):517-524. doi: 10.1007/s10552-020-01292-2. Epub 2020 Mar 7.

PubMed abstract

Vegetarian Diets Are Associated with Selected Cardiometabolic Risk Factors among Middle-Older Aged South Asians in the United States.

Authors: Jin Y; Kanaya AM; Kandula NR; Rodriguez LA; Talegawkar SA

J Nutr. 2018 Dec 1;148(12):1954-1960. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxy217.

PubMed abstract

Collaborative research and actions on both sides of the US-Mexico border to counteract type 2 diabetes in people of Mexican origin.

Authors: Barquera S; Schillinger D; Aguilar-Salinas CA; Schenker M; Rodriguez LA; Hernandez-Alcaraz C; Sepulveda-Amor J

Global Health. 2018 Aug 22;14(1):84. doi: 10.1186/s12992-018-0390-5.

PubMed abstract

Health and economic benefits of reducing sugar intake in the USA, including effects via non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a microsimulation model.

Authors: Vreman RA; Goodell AJ; Rodriguez LA; Porco TC; Lustig RH; Kahn JG

BMJ Open. 2017 Aug 3;7(8):e013543. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013543.

PubMed abstract

Dietary quality and household food insecurity among Mexican children and adolescents.

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Mundo-Rosas V; Mendez-Gomez-Humaran I; Perez-Escamilla R; Shamah-Levy T

Matern Child Nutr. 2017 Oct;13(4). doi: 10.1111/mcn.12372. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

PubMed abstract

Added sugar intake and metabolic syndrome in US adolescents: cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005-2012.

Authors: Rodriguez LA; Madsen KA; Cotterman C; Lustig RH

Public Health Nutr. 2016 Sep;19(13):2424-34. doi: 10.1017/S1368980016000057. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

PubMed abstract

Dietary treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Authors: Perito ER; Rodriguez LA; Lustig RH

Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2013 Mar;29(2):170-6. doi: 10.1097/MOG.0b013e32835ca11d.

PubMed abstract

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