Kenneth B. Wells, M.D., MPH

Professor in Residence, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, Department of Health Services, UCLA School of Public Health Director of Health Services Research Center; Senior Scientist, RAND Health Services UCLA Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences BOX 957082, Ste 300, UCLA Wilshire Center Los Angeles, CA 90095-7082 310-794-3725 Fax (310) 794-3724 E-mail: kwells@ucla.edu

Biographical Information

Kenneth B. Wells, M.D., M.P.H., received his M.D. from UCSF and his M.P.H. from UCLA. He is a psychiatrist, a Senior Scientist at RAND, Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine and Professor of Health Services at the UCLA School of Public Health. He directs the Health Services Research Center of the Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, which focuses on improving quality of care for psychiatric and neurological disorders across the lifespan. He is the Principal Investigator of the NIMH-UCLA/RAND Center for Research on Quality in Managed Care and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Partnership Initiative. He is also Co-Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation UCLA Clinical Scholars Program and Chair of the Community Health Improvement Collaborative. Dr. Wells is an elected member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM). He was the first recipient of the Young Investigator Award and also received the Distinguished Investigator Award of Academy Health. In 2006, he received the American Psychiatric Association Award for Research. His current research interests focus on community-based participatory research methods for mental health services improvement in disadvantaged communities.  

Selected Publications

Wells KB. Caring for depression in primary care: defining and illustrating the policy context. J Clin Psychiatry. 1997;58 (suppl 1):24-7.

Sherbourne CD, Wells KB, Sturm R. Measuring health outcomes for depression. Eval Health Prof 1997;20(1):47-64.

Sturm R, Wells KB. Physician knowledge, financial incentives, and treatment decisions for depression. J Ment Health Policy Econ. 1998; 1 (2): 89-100.

Wells KB. Treatment research at the crossroads: the scientific interface of clinical trials and health services research. Am J Psychiatry. 1999; 156 (1): 5-10.

Wells KB. The design of Partners in Care: evaluating the cost-effectiveness of improving care for depression in primary care. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol. 1999; 34 (1): 20-9.

Wells KB, Schoenbaum M, Unutzer J, Lagomasino I, Rubenstein L. Quality of care for primary care patients with depression in managed care. Arch Fam Med. 1999; 8 (6): 529-36.

Wells KB, Sherbourne CD. Functioning and utility for current health of patients with depression or chronic medical conditions in managed, primary care practices. Arch Gen Psych. 1999; 56 (10): 897-904.

Sherbourne C, Keeler E, Unutzer J, Lenert L, Wells KB. Relationship between age and patients' current health state preferences. Gerontologist. 1999; 39 (3): 271-8.

Meredith L, Rubenstein LV, Rost K, Ford D, Gordon N, Nutting P, Camp P, Wells KB. Treating depression in staff model vs. network model managed care organizations: how do primary care providers differ in what they know, think, and do? J Gen Intern Med. 1999; 14 (1): 39-48.

Wells KB, Sherbourne CD, Schoenbaum M. Impact of disseminating quality improvement programs for depression in managed primary care: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2000; 283 (2): 212-20.