Meet the Experts: Bessie Young, MD, MPH, Associate Professor

Bessie Young, MD, MPH, Associate Professor
Assistant Professor, General Internal Medicine,
University of Washington
Investigator, Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center (ERIC), Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA Nephrologist, Northwest Kidney Centers, Seattle, WA

Research Interests:

Dr. Bessie Young is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington, practicing nephrologist (kidney specialist) at Northwest Kidney Centers and researcher at VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle. Her research involves the investigation of racial and ethnic differences in kidney disease presentation and progression, specifically diabetic nephropathy epidemiology, disease progression and disease management.

Dr. Young received her M.D. from the University of Washington where she also did her internship, residency and nephrology fellowship. Her M.P.H. in epidemiology is from the UW School of Public Health and Community Medicine. She also received a Robert Wood Johnson Minority Faculty Development Fellowship from 2002 to 2006.

Dr. Young was recently awarded the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Community Action Award, which recognizes people and organizations making a difference in health-care access, education, and reduction of disparities in care. Young's record of community service includes organizing screening events at African-American churches and health fairs to bring awareness of kidney problems directly to the population at risk.