Veronica Yank, MD

Associate Professor in RES

I am a primary care physician-investigator. My research focuses on informal (family/friend) caregivers and on improving care to prevent and manage chronic conditions in primary care, community, and home-based settings, particularly conditions associated with older adults, heavy caregiver burden (e.g., dementia), or elevated cardiovascular disease risk (e.g., chronic kidney disease).

Currently, I lead an ongoing hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial of an online self-management and skills-building workshop for geographically isolated and under-resourced family caregivers of people living with dementia in rural regions across the U.S. I also lead a community partnership project to improve primary care access and quality for ethnically and linguistically diverse adult patients with disabilities.

I also serve as a research and career mentor to trainees and faculty as:
- Associate Director of the UCSF National Clinician Scholars Program
- Site Director of the UCSF Primary Care Research Fellowship
- Core faculty of the UCSF Multiethnic Health Equity Research Center
- Supervisor for San Francisco State undergraduate students in public health degree program

Education
- BA, History and Literature, Harvard
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, Stanford
- MD, UCSF
- Internal Medicine Residency, University of Washington
Honors and Awards
  • UCSF-Coro Faculty Leadership Collaborative, UCSF, 2022
  • Robert H. Crede Award for Excellence in Research, UCSF, 2019
  • Fellow, American College of Physicians, 2011
  • Award for Excellence in Medical Education, Stanford, 2010
Websites
Publications

  1. Gidwani R, Yank V, Burgette L, Kofner A, Asch SM, Wagner Z. The impact of telehealth cost-sharing on healthcare utilization: Evidence from high-deductible health plans. Health services research 2024. PMID: 39135532


  2. Colley A, Dillon E, Yank V, Keny C, Finlayson E, Dutt M, Tang V. PMID: 38886320. Clinician Perspectives on How Family Support and Psychological Distress Influence Older Adults' Recovery After Major Surgery J Gen Intern Med 2024. PMID:


  3. Colley A, Dillon E, Yank V, Keny C, Finlayson E, Dutt M, Tang V. Clinician Perspectives on How Family Support and Psychological Distress Influence Older Adults' Recovery After Major Surgery. Journal of general internal medicine 2024. PMID: 38886320


  4. Kata A, Dillon EC, Christina Keny RN, Yank V, Covinsky KE, Raue PJ, Sandhu HK, Tang VL. "There's So Much That They're Enduring": Experiences of Older Adults Undergoing Major Elective Surgery. Annals of surgery 2024. PMID: 38591223


  5. Semere W, Yank V, Lisha NE, Lindquist LA, Huang AJ. Older adults with overlapping caregiving responsibilities and care needs in a U.S. national community-based sample. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2024. PMID: 38344822


  6. Santoyo-Olsson J, Covinsky KE, Chesla CA, Lorig K, Gallagher Thompson D, Cheng J, Luzanilla M, Macias Romo E, Aguayo Ramirez G, Karliner L, Yank V. Predictors of psychological distress among rural family/friend caregivers of people living with dementia in the United States: Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2023. PMID: 37897201


  7. Keny C, Dillon EC, Russell MM, Colley A, Yank V, Tang V. "It's Incapacitated me in so Many Ways": Older Adults' Lived Experience with Postoperative Symptoms at Home Following Major Elective Surgery. Annals of surgery 2023. PMID: 38050761


  8. Williams MF, Yank V, O'Sullivan P, Alldredge B, Feldman MD. Faculty knowledge, actions, and perceptions of sponsorship: an institutional survey study. Medical education online 2023. PMID: 37335821


  9. Nyarko-Odoom A, Kotwal A, Lisha NE, Yank V, Huang AJ. Social strain and conflict among older community-dwelling adults serving as caregivers: Findings from a national sample. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2023. PMID: 37578382


  10. Wiese LAK, Gibson A, Guest MA, Nelson AR, Weaver R, Gupta A, Carmichael O, Lewis JP, Lindauer A, Loi S, Peterson R, Radford K, Rhodus EK, Wong CG, Zuelsdorff M, Saidi LG, Valdivieso-Mora E, Franzen S, Pope CN, Killian TS, Shrestha HL, Heyn PC, Ng TKS, Prusaczyk B, John S, Kulshreshtha A, Sheffler JL, Besser L, Daniel V, Tolea MI, Miller J, Musyimi C, Corkey J, Yank V, Williams CL, Rahemi Z, Park J, Magzamen S, Newton RL, Harrington C, Flatt JD, Arora S, Walter S, Griffin P, Babulal GM. Global rural health disparities in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias: State of the science. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2023. PMID: 37218539


  11. Nyarko-Odoom A, Lisha NE, Yank V, Kotwal A, Balogun S, Huang AJ. Elder Mistreatment Experienced by Older Caregiving Adults: Results from a National Community-Based Sample. Journal of general internal medicine 2023. PMID: 36717433


  12. Santoyo-Olsson J, Lorig K, Romo EM, Luzanilla M, Ramirez GA, Cheng J, Chesla C, Covinsky KE, Karliner L, Thompson DG, Fahrenwald N, Yank V. Study protocol for a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of the Building Better Caregivers online workshop for rural family/friend caregivers of people living with dementia. Contemporary clinical trials 2022. PMID: 36057375


  13. Yank V, Gale RC, Nevedal A, Okwara L, Koenig CJ, Trivedi RB, Dupke NJ, Kabat M, Asch SM. Improving Uptake of a National Web-Based Psychoeducational Workshop for Informal Caregivers of Veterans: Mixed Methods Implementation Evaluation. Journal of medical Internet research 2021. PMID: 33410759


  14. Yank V, Rennels C, Linos E, Choo EK, Jagsi R, Mangurian C. Behavioral Health and Burnout Among Physician Mothers Who Care for a Person With a Serious Health Problem, Long-term Illness, or Disability. JAMA internal medicine 2019. PMID: 30688972


  15. Yoo J, Halley MC, Lown EA, Yank V, Ort K, Cowan MJ, Dorsey MJ, Smith H, Iyengar S, Scalchunes C, Mangurian C. Supporting caregivers during hematopoietic cell transplantation for children with primary immunodeficiency disorders. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology 2018. PMID: 31178019


  16. Lorig K, Ritter PL, Laurent DD, Yank V. Building Better Caregivers: A Pragmatic 12-Month Trial of a Community-Based Workshop for Caregivers of Cognitively Impaired Adults. Journal of applied gerontology : the official journal of the Southern Gerontological Society 2017. PMID: 29165000


  17. Yank V, Agarwal S, Loftus P, Asch S, Rehkopf D. Crowdsourced Health Data: Comparability to a US National Survey, 2013-2015. American journal of public health 2017. PMID: 28640681


  18. Liu CK, Milton J, Hsu FC, Beavers KM, Yank V, Church T, Shegog JD, Kashaf S, Nayfield S, Newman A, Stafford RS, Nicklas B, Weiner DE, Fielding RA. The Effect of Chronic Kidney Disease on a Physical Activity Intervention: Impact on Physical Function, Adherence, and Safety. Journal of clinical nephrology and renal care 2017. PMID: 29745380


  19. Rosas LG, Lv N, Azar K, Xiao L, Yank V, Ma J. Applying the Pragmatic-Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary Model in a Primary Care-Based Lifestyle Intervention Trial. American journal of preventive medicine 2015. PMID: 26296556


  20. Ma J, Yank V, Lv N, Goldhaber-Fiebert JD, Lewis MA, Kramer MK, Snowden MB, Rosas LG, Xiao L, Blonstein AC. Research aimed at improving both mood and weight (RAINBOW) in primary care: A type 1 hybrid design randomized controlled trial. Contemporary clinical trials 2015. PMID: 26096714


  21. Yank V, Tribett E, Green L, Pettis J. Learning from marketing: Rapid development of medication messages that engage patients. Patient education and counseling 2015. PMID: 25913245


  22. Fitzgerald JD, Johnson L, Hire DG, Ambrosius WT, Anton SD, Dodson JA, Marsh AP, McDermott MM, Nocera JR, Tudor-Locke C, White DK, Yank V, Pahor M, Manini TM, Buford TW. Association of objectively measured physical activity with cardiovascular risk in mobility-limited older adults. Journal of the American Heart Association 2015. PMID: 25696062


  23. Rosas LG, Thiyagarajan S, Goldstein BA, Drieling RL, Romero PP, Ma J, Yank V, Stafford RS. The effectiveness of two community-based weight loss strategies among obese, low-income US Latinos. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 2015. PMID: 25578925


  24. Thomas W Buford, Don G Hire, Walter T Ambrosius, Stephen D Anton, Timothy S Church, John A Dodson, Anthony P Marsh, Mary M McDermott, Joe R Nocera, Daniel K White, Veronica Yank, Marco Pahor, Todd M Manini. Abstract MP01: Association of Objectively-measured Physical Activity with Cardiovascular Risk in Mobility-limited Older Adults. Circulation 2014. PMID:


  25. Buford TW, Hsu FC, Brinkley TE, Carter CS, Church TS, Dodson JA, Goodpaster BH, McDermott MM, Nicklas BJ, Yank V, Johnson JA, Pahor M. Genetic influence on exercise-induced changes in physical function among mobility-limited older adults. Physiological genomics 2014. PMID: 24423970


  26. Yank V, Xiao L, Wilson SR, Stafford RS, Rosas LG, Ma J. Short-term weight loss patterns, baseline predictors, and longer-term follow-up within a randomized controlled trial. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 2013. PMID: 23740619


  27. Xiao L, Huang Q, Yank V, Ma J. An easily accessible Web-based minimization random allocation system for clinical trials. Journal of medical Internet research 2013. PMID: 23872035


  28. Xiao L, Yank V, Wilson SR, Lavori PW, Ma J. Two-year weight-loss maintenance in primary care-based Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle interventions. Nutrition & diabetes 2013. PMID: 23797383


  29. Ma J, Xiao L, Yank V. Variations between obese Latinos and whites in weight-related counseling during preventive clinical visits in the United States. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.) 2013. PMID: 23696497


  30. Blonstein AC, Yank V, Stafford RS, Wilson SR, Rosas LG, Ma J. Translating an evidence-based lifestyle intervention program into primary care: lessons learned. Health promotion practice 2013. PMID: 23539264


  31. Ma J, Yank V, Xiao L, Lavori PW, Wilson SR, Rosas LG, Stafford RS. Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle intervention for weight loss into primary care: a randomized trial. JAMA internal medicine 2013. PMID: 23229846


  32. Beavers KM, Hsu FC, Serra MC, Yank V, Pahor M, Nicklas BJ. The effects of a long-term physical activity intervention on serum uric acid in older adults at risk for physical disability. Journal of aging and physical activity 2013. PMID: 23295313


  33. Yank V, Stafford RS, Rosas LG, Ma J. Baseline reach and adoption characteristics in a randomized controlled trial of two weight loss interventions translated into primary care: a structured report of real-world applicability. Contemporary clinical trials 2012. PMID: 23124047


  34. Yank V, Laurent D, Plant K, Lorig K. Web-based self-management support training for health professionals: a pilot study. Patient education and counseling 2012. PMID: 23031610


  35. Xiao L, Yank V, Ma J. Algorithm for balancing both continuous and categorical covariates in randomized controlled trials. Computer methods and programs in biomedicine 2012. PMID: 22727633


  36. Knowles JW, Assimes TL, Kiernan M, Pavlovic A, Goldstein BA, Yank V, McConnell MV, Absher D, Bustamante C, Ashley EA, Ioannidis JP. Randomized trial of personal genomics for preventive cardiology: design and challenges. Circulation. Cardiovascular genetics 2012. PMID: 22715281


  37. Veronica Yank, Lan Xiao, Lisa Goldman Rosas, Randall S Stafford, Sandra Wilson, Qiwen Huang, Jun Ma. Abstract P374: Short-term Weight Loss Patterns and Physical and Psychological Predictors within a Randomized Trial. Circulation 2012. PMID:


  38. Veronica Yank, Aaron C. Logan, Randall S. Stafford. Off-Label Use of Recombinant Factor VIIa. Annals of internal medicine 2011. PMID:


  39. Logan AC, Yank V, Stafford RS. Off-label use of recombinant factor VIIa in U.S. hospitals: analysis of hospital records. Volume 154 of Issue 8. Annals of internal medicine 2011. PMID: 21502649


  40. Yank V, Tuohy CV, Logan AC, Bravata DM, Staudenmayer K, Eisenhut R, Sundaram V, McMahon D, Olkin I, McDonald KM, Owens DK, Stafford RS. Systematic review: benefits and harms of in-hospital use of recombinant factor VIIa for off-label indications. Volume 154 of Issue 8. Annals of internal medicine 2011. PMID: 21502651


  41. Yank V, Stafford RS. Safety of recombinant activated factor VII in randomized clinical trials. The New England journal of medicine 2011. PMID: 21306248


  42. Yank V, Tuohy CV, Logan AC, Bravata DM, Staudenmayer K, Eisenhut R, Sundaram V, McMahon D, Stave CD, Zehnder JL, Olkin I, McDonald KM, Owens DK, Stafford RS. Comparative Effectiveness of In-Hospital Use of Recombinant Factor VIIa for Off-Label Indications vs. Usual Care Comparative Effectiveness of In-Hospital Use of Recombinant Factor VIIa for Off-Label Indications vs. Usual Care 2010. PMID:


  43. Yank V, Rennie D, Bero LA. Financial ties and concordance between results and conclusions in meta-analyses: retrospective cohort study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.) 2007. PMID: 18024482


  44. Slatore CG, Yank V, Jewell KD, Fligner CL. Bronchial-pulmonary artery fistula with fatal massive hemoptysis caused by anastomotic bronchial Aspergillus infection in a lung transplant recipient. Respiratory care 2007. PMID: 17971258


  45. Yank V, Barnes D. Consensus and contention regarding redundant publications in clinical research: cross-sectional survey of editors and authors. Journal of medical ethics 2003. PMID: 12672892


  46. Mowatt G, Shirran L, Grimshaw JM, Rennie D, Flanagin A, Yank V, MacLennan G, Gøtzsche PC, Bero LA. Prevalence of honorary and ghost authorship in Cochrane reviews. JAMA 2002. PMID: 12038907


  47. Yank V, Rennie D. Reporting of informed consent and ethics committee approval in clinical trials. JAMA 2002. PMID: 12038927


  48. Ober M, Shohara R, Rennie D, Yank V, Bero LA. The Criticism Management System for the Cochrane Library. Evaluation & the health professions 2002. PMID: 11868449


  49. Rennie D, Flanagin A, Yank V. The contributions of authors. JAMA 2000. PMID: 10872020


  50. Yank V, Rennie D. Disclosure of researcher contributions: a study of original research articles in The Lancet. Annals of internal medicine 1999. PMID: 10215563


  51. Rennie D, Yank V. If authors became contributors, everyone would gain, especially the reader. American journal of public health 1998. PMID: 9585760


  52. Rennie D, Yank V, Emanuel L. When authorship fails. A proposal to make contributors accountable. JAMA 1997. PMID: 9268280


  53. Rennie D, Yank V. Disclosure to the reader of institutional review board approval and informed consent. JAMA 1997. PMID: 9062333