Ada Kwan, PhD, MHS

Title(s)Postdoctoral Scholar, Medicine
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Address1001 Potrero Avenue, #4106
San Francisco CA 94110
Phone628-206-5489
PronounsShe/Her/Hers
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0003-4889-9433 Additional info
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    University of California, BerkeleyPhD2020Health Economics, Health Policy
    Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthMHS2009Health Systems, International Health
    University of MichiganBS2006Neuroscience

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    I am a health and development economist working with Drs. Priya Shete and Adithya Cattamanchi in the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care and with Dr. Brie Williams and the Amend team in the Center for Vulnerable Populations. My research focuses on evaluating health systems interventions and programs, often ones related to measuring quality and equity of care delivery. Methodologically, I utilize randomization, quasi-experiments, and complex surveys, such as simulated standardized patients, to assess the effects and implications of scaling up related health programs. By measuring healthcare as a good with attributes that remain unobservable to patients and program implementers even after delivery, this research can help inform policy, intervention, and program design.

    I have 13+ years of experience conducting at-scale or multi-site economic, impact, and quality of healthcare evaluations in roles at institutions such as the Mexico National Institute of Public Health (CIEE) and the World Bank (DECRG). My research spans examining: private provider networks and public sector service delivery in India, Kenya, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, and China; social protection programs in Zimbabwe; COVID-19 response measures in U.S. state prisons; and equity-focused interventions in California. In previous roles, I have advised on integrating digital technologies to improve population health, domestically and internationally. This work has been sponsored by the United Nations Foundation, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Sesame Workshop, and other agencies.

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    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
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    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Dynamics of indirect protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection through vaccine and infection-acquired immunity. medRxiv. 2024 Jul 24. Tan ST, Rodríguez-Barraquer I, Kwan AT, Blumberg S, Hutchinson J, Leidner D, Lewnard JA, Sears D, Lo NC. PMID: 39211889; PMCID: PMC11361209.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    2. California's COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Policy: Cases, Hospitalizations, And Deaths Averted In Affected Communities. Health Aff (Millwood). 2024 05; 43(5):632-640. Hoover CM, Estus E, Kwan A, Raymond K, Sreedharan T, León T, Jain S, Shete PB. PMID: 38709962.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    3. Indirect vaccine effectiveness in an outbreak of Alpha B.1.1.7 variant in a California state Prison, May 2021. Vaccine. 2024 Apr 30; 42(12):3057-3065. Archer H, McCoy SI, Sears D, Kwan A, Kuersten M, Lewnard JA, Bertozzi SM. PMID: 38584059.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    4. The Essential Role of Altruism in Medical Decision Making. NBER Working Paper No. w32151. 2024. Gertler P, Kwan A. View Publication.
    5. Stress and Anxiety Among Correctional Health Care Professionals in a U.S. State Prison System During COVID-19. J Correct Health Care. 2024 Feb; 30(1):40-48. Leach BCB, Ahalt C, Williams B, Kwan AT. PMID: 38174991; PMCID: PMC11071106.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    6. Ventilation conditions during COVID-19 outbreaks in six California state carceral institutions. PLoS One. 2023; 18(11):e0293533. Sklar R, Noth E, Kwan A, Sear D, Bertozzi S. PMID: 37934737; PMCID: PMC10629643.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    7. Can a private sector engagement intervention that prioritizes pro-poor strategies improve healthcare access and quality? A randomized field experiment in Kenya. Health Policy Plan. 2023 Oct 11; 38(9):1006-1016. Boone CE, Gertler PJ, Barasa GM, Gruber J, Kwan A. PMID: 37602984; PMCID: PMC11020211.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Use of standardised patients to assess tuberculosis case management by private pharmacies in Patna, India: A repeat cross-sectional study. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023; 3(5):e0001898. Svadzian A, Daniels B, Sulis G, Das J, Daftary A, Kwan A, Das V, Das R, Pai M. PMID: 37235550; PMCID: PMC10218738.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    9. Deception and informed consent in studies with incognito simulated standardized patients: empirical experiences and a case study from South Africa. Research Ethics. 2023; 19(3):17470161231174734. Daniels, Benjamin, Jody Boffa, Ada Kwan, and Sizulu Moyo. View Publication.
    10. Do private providers initiate anti-tuberculosis therapy on the basis of chest radiographs? A standardised patient study in urban India. Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia. 2023; 100152. Anita Svadzian, Benjamin Daniels, Giorgia Sulis, Jishnu Das, Amrita Daftary, Ada Kwan, Veena Das, Ranendra Das, Madhukar Pai. View Publication.
    11. Infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and reinfections during the Omicron wave. Nat Med. 2023 02; 29(2):358-365. Tan ST, Kwan AT, Rodríguez-Barraquer I, Singer BJ, Park HJ, Lewnard JA, Sears D, Lo NC. PMID: 36593393; PMCID: PMC9974584.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 79     Fields:    Translation:HumansCells
    12. Infectiousness of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections and reinfections during the Omicron wave. medRxiv. 2022 Nov 21. Tan ST, Kwan AT, Rodríguez-Barraquer I, Singer BJ, Park HJ, Lewnard JA, Sears D, Lo NC. PMID: 36299430; PMCID: PMC9603831.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:
    13. Tuberculosis diagnosis and management in the public versus private sector: a standardised patients study in Mumbai, India. BMJ Glob Health. 2022 10; 7(10). Daniels B, Shah D, Kwan AT, Das R, Das V, Puri V, Tipre P, Waghmare U, Gomare M, Keskar P, Das J, Pai M. PMID: 36261230; PMCID: PMC9582305.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. The Impact Of COVID-19 On The Health Of Incarcerated Older Adults In California State Prisons. Health Aff (Millwood). 2022 08; 41(8):1191-1201. Kwan A, Garcia-Grossman I, Sears D, Bertozzi SM, Williams BA. PMID: 35914202; PMCID: PMC10165538.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    15. Modeling scenarios for mitigating outbreaks in congregate settings. PLoS Comput Biol. 2022 07; 18(7):e1010308. Blumberg S, Lu P, Kwan AT, Hoover CM, Lloyd-Smith JO, Sears D, Bertozzi SM, Worden L. PMID: 35857774; PMCID: PMC9342784.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    16. Respiratory pandemic preparedness learnings from the June 2020 COVID-19 outbreak at San Quentin California State Prison. Int J Prison Health. 2022 06 10; 306-321. Kwan A, Sklar R, Cameron DB, Schell RC, Bertozzi SM, McCoy SI, Williams B, Sears DA. PMID: 35678718; PMCID: PMC10231421.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    17. COVID-19 outbreak in a state prison: a case study on the implementation of key public health recommendations for containment and prevention. BMC Public Health. 2022 05 14; 22(1):977. Duarte C, Cameron DB, Kwan AT, Bertozzi SM, Williams BA, McCoy SI. PMID: 35568894; PMCID: PMC9107313.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    18. Implementing Quality of Care Measures: Lessons from a Standardized Patient Study in Seven Provinces of China. Am J Public Health. 2022 06; 112(6):818-820. Kwan A. PMID: 35483013; PMCID: PMC9137004.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    19. Do private providers give patients what they demand, even if it is inappropriate? A randomised study using unannounced standardised patients in Kenya. BMJ Open. 2022 03 18; 12(3):e058746. Kwan A, Boone CE, Sulis G, Gertler PJ. PMID: 35304401; PMCID: PMC8935168.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    20. Tuberculosis care quality in urban Nigeria: A cross-sectional study of adherence to screening and treatment initiation guidelines in multi-cadre networks of private health service providers. PLOS Global Public Health. 2022; 1(2):e0000150. Lauren A. Rosapep, Sophie Faye, Benjamin Johns, Bolanle Olusola-Faleye, Elaine M. Baruwa, Micah K. Sorum, Flora Nwagagbo, Abdu A. Adamu, Ada Kwan, Christopher Obanubi, Akinyemi Olumuyiwa Atobatele. View Publication.
    21. Prescribing practices for presumptive TB among private general practitioners in South Africa: a cross-sectional, standardised patient study. BMJ Glob Health. 2022 01; 7(1). Salomon A, Boffa J, Moyo S, Chikovore J, Sulis G, Daniels B, Kwan A, Mkhombo T, Wu S, Pai M, Daftary A. PMID: 35042710; PMCID: PMC8768922.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    22. Simulated patients and their reality: An inquiry into theory and method. Soc Sci Med. 2022 05; 300:114571. Das V, Daniels B, Kwan A, Saria V, Das R, Pai M, Das J. PMID: 34865913; PMCID: PMC9077327.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    23. Mitigating outbreaks in congregate settings by decreasing the size of the susceptible population. medRxiv. 2021 Jul 07. Blumberg S, Lu P, Hoover CM, Lloyd-Smith JO, Kwan AT, Sears D, Bertozzi SM, Worden L. PMID: 34268514; PMCID: PMC8282103.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3  
    24. Quality of care for tuberculosis and HIV in the private health sector: a cross-sectional, standardised patient study in South Africa. BMJ Glob Health. 2021 05; 6(5). Boffa J, Moyo S, Chikovore J, Salomon A, Daniels B, Kwan AT, Pai M, Daftary A. PMID: 33990360; PMCID: PMC8127976.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 11     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Ten Urgent Priorities Based on Lessons Learned From More Than a Half Million Known COVID-19 Cases in US Prisons. Am J Public Health. 2021 06; 111(6):1099-1105. Barnert E, Kwan A, Williams B. PMID: 33856887; PMCID: PMC8101573.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    26. Antibiotic overuse in the primary health care setting: a secondary data analysis of standardised patient studies from India, China and Kenya. BMJ Glob Health. 2020 09; 5(9). Sulis G, Daniels B, Kwan A, Gandra S, Daftary A, Das J, Pai M. PMID: 32938614; PMCID: PMC7493125.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 41     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. How to do (or not to do) … using the standardized patient method to measure clinical quality of care in LMIC health facilities. Health Policy Plan. 2019 Oct 01; 34(8):625-634. King JJC, Das J, Kwan A, Daniels B, Powell-Jackson T, Makungu C, Goodman C. PMID: 31424494; PMCID: PMC6904318.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    28. Use of standardised patients for healthcare quality research in low- and middle-income countries. BMJ Glob Health. 2019; 4(5):e001669. Kwan A, Daniels B, Bergkvist S, Das V, Pai M, Das J. PMID: 31565413; PMCID: PMC6747906.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 37     Fields:    
    29. Lessons on the quality of tuberculosis diagnosis from standardized patients in China, India, Kenya, and South Africa. J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis. 2019 Aug; 16:100109. Daniels B, Kwan A, Pai M, Das J. PMID: 31720433; PMCID: PMC6830154.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 29  
    30. Use of standardised patients to assess gender differences in quality of tuberculosis care in urban India: a two-city, cross-sectional study. Lancet Glob Health. 2019 05; 7(5):e633-e643. Daniels B, Kwan A, Satyanarayana S, Subbaraman R, Das RK, Das V, Das J, Pai M. PMID: 30928341; PMCID: PMC6465957.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    31. Variations in the quality of tuberculosis care in urban India: A cross-sectional, standardized patient study in two cities. PLoS Med. 2018 09; 15(9):e1002653. Kwan A, Daniels B, Saria V, Satyanarayana S, Subbaraman R, McDowell A, Bergkvist S, Das RK, Das V, Das J, Pai M. PMID: 30252849; PMCID: PMC6155454.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 70     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    32. Influence of supply-side factors on voluntary medical male circumcision costs in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Zambia. PLoS One. 2018; 13(9):e0203121. Bautista-Arredondo S, Sosa-Rubi SG, Opuni M, Contreras-Loya D, La Hera-Fuentes G, Kwan A, Chaumont C, Chompolola A, Condo J, Dzekedzeke K, Galarraga O, Martinson N, Masiye F, Nsanzimana S, Wamai R, Wang'ombe J, ORPHEA study team. PMID: 30212497; PMCID: PMC6136711.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    33. Efficiency of HIV services in Nigeria: Determinants of unit cost variation of HIV counseling and testing and prevention of mother-to-child transmission interventions. PLoS One. 2018; 13(9):e0201706. Bautista-Arredondo S, La Hera-Fuentes G, Contreras-Loya D, Kwan A, Van Buren SJ, Amanze OO, Atobatele A, Adeyemi A, Abatta E, Ogungbemi KM, Sosa-Rubí SG. PMID: 30192765; PMCID: PMC6128456.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    34. Costs along the service cascades for HIV testing and counselling and prevention of mother-to-child transmission. AIDS. 2016 10 23; 30(16):2495-2504. Bautista-Arredondo S, Sosa-Rubí SG, Opuni M, Contreras-Loya D, Kwan A, Chaumont C, Chompolola A, Condo J, Galárraga O, Martinson N, Masiye F, Nsanzimana S, Ochoa-Moreno I, Wamai R, Wang'ombe J, ORPHEA study team. PMID: 27753679; PMCID: PMC5051528.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 20     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    35. Use of standardised patients to assess antibiotic dispensing for tuberculosis by pharmacies in urban India: a cross-sectional study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2016 Nov; 16(11):1261-1268. Satyanarayana S, Kwan A, Daniels B, Subbaraman R, McDowell A, Bergkvist S, Das RK, Das V, Das J, Pai M. PMID: 27568359; PMCID: PMC5067371.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 63     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    36. Use of standardised patients to assess quality of tuberculosis care: a pilot, cross-sectional study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015 Nov; 15(11):1305-13. Das J, Kwan A, Daniels B, Satyanarayana S, Subbaraman R, Bergkvist S, Das RK, Das V, Pai M. PMID: 26268690; PMCID: PMC4633317.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 123     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    37. Using provider performance incentives to increase HIV testing and counseling services in Rwanda. J Health Econ. 2015 Mar; 40:1-9. de Walque D, Gertler PJ, Bautista-Arredondo S, Kwan A, Vermeersch C, de Dieu Bizimana J, Binagwaho A, Condo J. PMID: 25554976.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 28     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    38. Assessing cost and technical efficiency of HIV prevention interventions in sub-Saharan Africa: the ORPHEA study design and methods. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Nov 29; 14:599. Bautista-Arredondo S, Sosa-Rubí SG, Opuni M, Kwan A, Chaumont C, Coetzee J, Condo J, Dzekedzeke K, Galárraga O, Martinson N, Masiye F, Nsanzimana S, Wamai R, Wang'ombe J, ORPHEA study team. PMID: 25927555; PMCID: PMC4260235.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    39. Acceptability and willingness to receive short message service regarding HIV healthcare information in a HIV adult population in Mexico City. Journal of the International Aids Society. 2014; 17. Brenda Crabtree-Ramírez, Yanink Caro-Vega, Sandra Sosa-Rubi, Ada Kwan, Juan Sierra-Madero, Raul Ortega-Pérez, Alondra López-Martínez, Sergio Bautista-Arredondo.
    40. mHealth transferring the burden of caregivers to mobile technology. Policy white paper commissioned by Pfizer, Inc. & the United Nations Foundation. 2014. Ada Kwan. . View Publication.
    41. mHealth opportunities for non-communicable diseases among the elderly. Policy white paper commissioned by Pfizer, Inc. & the United Nations Foundation. 2014. Ada Kwan. . View Publication.
    42. mHealth solutions for improving mental health and illnesses in the aging process. Policy white paper commissioned by Pfizer, Inc. & the United Nations Foundation. 2014. Ada Kwan. . View Publication.
    43. In: M. Rosenmöller, D. Whitehouse & P. Wilson (Eds.) Managing eHealth: From Vision to Reality. Reshaping Health in a World of Mobile Phones. 2014; 215-229. Patricia Mechael, Ada Kwan, Avrille Hanzel, Chelsea Hedquist.
    44. In: P. A. Bruck & M. Rao (Eds.), Global Mobile: Applications and innovations for the Worldwide Mobile Ecosystem. Global Mobile. 2013. Patricia Mechael, Ada Kwan, Dayle Kern.
    45. Using mobile technologies for healthier aging. Policy white paper commissioned by Pfizer, Inc. & the United Nations Foundation. 2013. Ada Kwan. . View Publication.
    46. Getting healthier around the world: Information and communication technologies for child health and development. Policy white paper commissioned by Sesame Workshop & mHealth Alliance at the United Nations Foundation. 2013. Ada Kwan. .
    47. Using mobile phones on the job. BMJ. 2012; 344(2012):e2777. Mechael P, Kwan A, Struble S. View Publication.
    48. In: J. Donner & P. Mechael (Eds.), mHealth in Practice: Mobile technology for health promotion in the developing world. State of Behavior Change Initiatives and How Mobile Phones are Transforming It. 2012; 15-31. Ada Kwan, Patricia Mechael, Nadi Kaonga.
    49. Barriers and gaps affecting mHealth in low- and middle-income countries: Policy White Paper. Center for Global Health and Economic Development, The Earth Institute at Columbia University. 2010. Patricia Mechael, Hima Batavia, Nadi Kaonga, Sarah Searle, Ada Kwan, Adina Goldberger, Lin Fu, James Ossman. View Publication.
    50. Tissue fractionation by hydrostatic pressure cycling technology: the unified sample preparation technique for systems biology studies. J Biomol Tech. 2008 Jul; 19(3):189-99. Gross V, Carlson G, Kwan AT, Smejkal G, Freeman E, Ivanov AR, Lazarev A. PMID: 19137106; PMCID: PMC2563921.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Animals
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