Julie A. Schmittdiel, PhD, is a research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, an MA in biostatistics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a PhD in health services and policy analysis from UC Berkeley. Her doctoral studies focused on organizational theory and behavior, especially pertaining to health care organizations.
 
Since joining KPNC's Division of Research upon graduating in 2004, she has served as principal or co-investigator on almost 20 health services research-related studies. The studies, many of which focus on improving cardiovascular disease risk factors in diabetes patients, place an emphasis on research conducted in close partnership with health plans and clinicians. From 2007-2010, Dr. Schmittdiel was a K12 scholar through the NIH Office of Research in Women's Health 'Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health' (BIRCWH) program, administered by the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente and the University of California San Francisco. Dr. Schmittdiel currently serves as the director of the NIDDK-funded Health Delivery Systems Center for Diabetes Translational Research, which brings together researchers, health plans, community providers, patients, and other stakeholders to translate evidence-based diabetes care widely into practice