Kristen M J Azar, RN, MSN, MPH

Kristen M.J. Azar, R.N., MSN/MPH, is an Investigator at the Sutter Health Center for Health Systems Research (East Campus, currently operating as Sutter's Research Development and Dissemination) and has worked with Sutter’s Research Enterprise since 2009.

She has diverse clinical experience as a public health and preventive cardiology nurse domestically and abroad, and has worked with racial/ethnic and socioeconomically diverse populations.

Her research interests include the prevention and management of chronic illnesses such as cardiometabolic diseases and mental illness. Ms. Azar’s research is aimed at identifying and addressing health disparities and examining the impact of social determinants of health on chronic disease risk and management. She helps develop and evaluate innovative behavioral interventions and explores how technology can enhance the effectiveness of these interventions in changing health behaviors.

Ms. Azar leads a study at Sutter Health called ELEVATE-DP, or Evaluation of a Lifestyle Intervention Adapted for Clinical Practice for Diabetes Prevention. The National Institutes of Health, NIDDK-funded study was launched to examine the effectiveness of a 12-month lifestyle change program for patients at high risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Ms. Azar completed graduate training at Johns Hopkins University with a joint degree in Nursing (MSN) and Public Health (MPH) from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health respectively. She completed undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley (BA) and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing as well as the Delta Omega Honor Society for Public Health.