Amy Beck, MD, MPH

Associate Professor

I am a general pediatrician and health services researcher focused on improving the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity in safety-net clinical settings. In my research, I use both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to develop and test clinical interventions and to better understand the factors that contribute to disparities in children's cardiometabolic health.

Education
2017 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
General Academic Pediatrics Fellowship, 2014 - School of Medicine, University of California
Chief Resident, 2011 - School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco
Residency, 2010 - School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
MPH, 2007 - Graduate School, University of Connecticut
M.D., 2007 - School of Medicine, University of Connecticut
Publications

  1. Maxwell SL, Beck AL. Embedding Pediatric Obesity Treatment in Community-Based Settings: Opportunities and Challenges. Pediatrics 2025. PMID: 39923802


  2. Maxwell SL, Fernandez A, Martinez S, Beck AL. An Update on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Children's Health Behaviors. Academic pediatrics 2024. PMID: 39586570


  3. Maxwell SL, McCulloch CE, Fernandez A, Beck AL. Changes in BMI prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic among children: a retrospective cohort study in San Francisco, CA. BMC public health 2024. PMID: 39455995


  4. Finn EB, Keller CV, Gowey MA, Savoye M, Samuels S, Fleisch AF, Rogers VW, Grey M, Damschroder LJ, Beck A, Sharifi M. Improving access to first-line treatment for pediatric obesity: Lessons from the dissemination of SmartMoves. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 2024. PMID: 39192771


  5. Lambert JO, Beck A, Showell NN. Lifestyle Interventions in Pediatric Primary Care. Pediatric clinics of North America 2024. PMID: 39343503


  6. Beck AL, Fernandez A, Martinez SM. The 7-day Beverage Intake Questionnaire for Latino Children: Validation of a Culturally Tailored Tool. Volume 55 of Issue 8. Journal of nutrition education and behavior 2023. PMID: 37330709


  7. Beck AL, Mora R, Joseph G, Perrin E, Cabana M, Schickedanz A, Fernandez A. A Multimethod Evaluation of the Futuros Fuertes Intervention to Promote Healthy Feeding, Screen Time, and Sleep Practices. Volume 23 of Issue 7. Academic pediatrics 2023. PMID: 37211275


  8. Beck AL, Huang JC, Lendzion L, Fernandez A, Martinez S. Weight Gain during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a High-Risk Cohort of Children in San Francisco, CA. 2021. PMID: 34619035


  9. Finn EB, Beck A, Sharifi M. Equitable approaches to reducing the prevalence of pediatric obesity: school nutrition policies and beyond. International journal of obesity (2005) 2021. PMID: 34331000


  10. Beck AL, Huang JC, Lendzion L, Fernandez A, Martinez S. Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Parents' Perception of Health Behaviors in Children With Overweight and Obesity. 2021. PMID: 34023488


  11. Beck A, Gandhi M. Adjudicating Reasons for Hospitalization Reveals That Severe Illness From COVID-19 in Children Is Rare. Hospital pediatrics 2021. PMID: 34011568


  12. Vasquez T, Fernandez A, Haya-Fisher J, Kim S, Beck AL. A Qualitative Exploration of Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity Among Low-Income Latino Adolescents. Hispanic health care international : the official journal of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses 2020. PMID: 32911975


  13. Beck AL, Martinez S, Patel AI, Fernandez A. Trends in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among California children. 2020. PMID: 32597746


  14. Young CA, Burnett H, Ballinger A, Castro G, Steinberg S, Nau M, Bakken EH, Thomas M, Beck AL. Embedded Maternal Mental Health Care in a Pediatric Primary Care Clinic: A Qualitative Exploration of Mothers' Experiences. Volume 19 of Issue 8. Academic pediatrics 2019. PMID: 31425791


  15. Beck AL, Iturralde EM, Haya-Fisher J, Kim S, Keeton V, Fernandez A. Barriers and facilitators to healthy eating among low-income Latino adolescents. Appetite 2019. PMID: 30954634


  16. Cabana MD, McKean M, Beck AL, Flaherman V. Pilot Analysis of Early Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG for Infant Colic Prevention. Volume 68 of Issue 1. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition 2019. PMID: 30052571


  17. Beck AL, Hoeft KS, Takayama JI, Barker JC. Beliefs and practices regarding solid food introduction among Latino parents in Northern California. Volume 120. Appetite 2017. PMID: 28951238


  18. Beck AL, Heyman M, Chao C, Wojcicki J. Full fat milk consumption protects against severe childhood obesity in Latinos. Volume 8. Preventive medicine reports 2017. PMID: 28856083


  19. Beck AL, Fernandez A, Rojina J, Cabana M. Randomized Controlled Trial of a Clinic-Based Intervention to Promote Healthy Beverage Consumption Among Latino Children. Volume 56 of Issue 9. Clinical pediatrics 2017. PMID: 28553726


  20. Thimmig LM, Cabana MD, Bentz MG, Potocka K, Beck A, Fong L, Chao C, Caughey AB, Wong A, McKean M. Television During Meals in the First 4 Years of Life. Volume 56 of Issue 7. Clinical pediatrics 2016. PMID: 28503997


  21. Beck AL, Takayama J, Badiner N, Halpern-Felsher B. Latino Parents' Beliefs about Television Viewing by Infants and Toddlers. Volume 26 of Issue 2. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2015. PMID: 25913344


  22. Beck AL, Takayama JI, Halpern-Felsher B, Badiner N, Barker JC. Understanding how Latino parents choose beverages to serve to infants and toddlers. Volume 18 of Issue 6. Maternal and child health journal 2014. PMID: 24077961


  23. Beck AL, Patel A, Madsen K. Trends in sugar-sweetened beverage and 100% fruit juice consumption among California children. Volume 13 of Issue 4. Academic pediatrics 2013. PMID: 23688439


  24. Beck AL, Tschann J, Butte NF, Penilla C, Greenspan LC. Association of beverage consumption with obesity in Mexican American children. Volume 17 of Issue 2. Public health nutrition 2013. PMID: 23308395


  25. Beck AL, Cabrera L, Pan WK, Cama V, Friedland JS, Ghatei MA, Bloom SR, Lewis J, Gilman RH. Peptide YY: a gut hormone associated with anorexia during infectious diarrhea in children. Volume 153 of Issue 5. The Journal of pediatrics 2008. PMID: 18571670