Lillian Gelberg, MD
- Family Medicine
About
Dr. Lillian Gelberg is a prominent physician, professor, and health services researcher at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and Fielding School of Public Health, as well as the Greater Los Angeles VA. Her work focuses on healthcare for vulnerable populations, including low-income patients, homeless individuals, Veterans, and other underserved groups. For over three decades, she has conducted community-based research on health promotion, disease prevention, and access to care. Her work aims to address homelessness and integrate prevention into primary care to address substance use disorders, obesity, and metabolic diseases. Dr. Gelberg has been a principal investigator or co-investigator on over $121 million of research funding, published over 230 peer-reviewed papers, 16 book chapters, and mentored over 100 young investigators. Gelberg’s work has been funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), NIDA Clinical Trials Network, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), California Tobacco Related Disease Research Program, Veterans Affairs Health Systems Research and Development (VA HSR&D), National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and others. Additionally, Dr. Gelberg has served on numerous editorial boards and a broad range of NIH, NIDA, PCORI and academic committees. Dr. Gelberg’s work has been recognized by nomination to the National Academy of Medicine. She is an elected member of the Association of American Physicians since 2024. She received the Academy Health 1995 Young Investigator Award and 1997 Article of the Year Award, and in 2001 was the first recipient of the Family Practice Excellence in Research Award from the California Academy of Family Physicians. She was also the first recipient of the George F. Kneller Endowed Chair at the UCLA School of Medicine. She received the STFM’s 2009 Curtis Hames Research Award for Lifetime Contribution to Primary Care Research, and she is one of the US and Los Angeles’ Top Doctors and Exceptional Women in Medicine
Languages
Education
Medical Board Certification
Fellowship
Residency
Internship
Degree
Recognitions
- Super Doctors® Southern California, 2022
- 2018 Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctors
- Curtis G. Hames Research Award honors those individuals whose careers over the years exemplify dedication to research in family medicine, selected by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM), and North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) (2009)
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Locations
Hospital Affiliations
Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center
Areas of Focus
Research
Publications
- Javanbakht M, Takada S, Akabike W, Shoptaw S, Gelberg L. Cannabis use, comorbidities, and prescription medication use among older adults in a large healthcare system in Los Angeles, CA 2019-2020. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022.
- Kertesz SG, deRussy AJ, Kim YI, Hoge AE, Austin EL, Gordon AJ, Gelberg L, Gabrielian SE, Riggs KR, Blosnich JR, Montgomery AE, Holmes SK, Varley AL, Pollio DE, Gundlapalli AV, Jones AL. Comparison of Patient Experience Between Primary Care Settings Tailored for Homeless Clientele and Mainstream Care Settings. Med Care. 2021.
- Gelberg L, Edwards ST, Hooker ER, et al. Integrating Interprofessional Trainees into a Complex Care Program for Veterans Experiencing Homelessness: Effects on Health Services Utilization. J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Dec;36(12):3659-3664.
- Ijadi-Maghsoodi R, Feller S, Ryan GW, Altman L, Washington DL, Kataoka S, Gelberg L. A Sector Wheel Approach to Understanding the Needs and Barriers to Services among Homeless-Experienced Veteran Families. J Am Board Fam Med. 2021.
- Kuhn R, Henwood B, Lawton A, Kleva M, Murali K, King C, Gelberg L. COVID-19 vaccine access and attitudes among people experiencing homelessness from pilot mobile phone survey in Los Angeles, CA. PloS One. 2021.
- Gelberg L, Andersen, R, Leake B. The Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations: application to medical care use and outcomes. Health Serv Res 2000; 34(6):1273-1302.Gelberg L, Andersen RM, Afifi AA, et al. Project QUIT (Quit Using Drugs Intervention Trial): A randomized controlled trial of a primary care-based multi-component brief intervention to reduce risky drug use. Addiction. 2015.
Insurance
- Aetna
- Anthem Blue Cross
- Blue Shield of California
- Centivo
- Cigna
- First Health
- Health Net of California
- Interplan (part of HealthSmart)
- L.A. Care
- Medicare Advantage
- MultiPlan
- UFCM Health System
- Prime Health Services
- Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
- TRICARE
- UnitedHealthcare
The list of health care plans above may not be comprehensive and could change.
Please contact your benefits coordinator or health insurance company directly to verify coverage.
Visit our health insurance information page for more details.
Recognitions
- Super Doctors® Southern California, 2022
- 2018 Los Angeles Magazine Top Doctors
- Curtis G. Hames Research Award honors those individuals whose careers over the years exemplify dedication to research in family medicine, selected by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM), and North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG) (2009)
- Elected Member, National Academy of Medicine (NAM) (Institute of Medicine), National Academy of Sciences Engineering and Medicine (2003 to present)
- Family Practice Excellence in Research Award, California Academy of Family Physicians (2001).
- Fellow, American Academy of Family Physicians (2000 to present)
- Fellow, Academy Health (1997 to present)
- Article of the Year Award, Academy Health (1997)
- Young Investigator Award, Academy Health (1995)
- George F. Kneller Professor of Family Medicine, UCLA Department of Family Medicine
- Castle Connolly Award: Exceptional Women in Medicine
- Castle Connolly Award: Top Doctors
- Top Doctor, Los Angeles Magazine