Varsha G. Vimalananda MD, MPH
Associate Professor, Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management
Physician-Scientist, Center for Health Optimization & Implementation Research (CHOIR)
150 S Huntington Avenue | (617) 638-8530varsha.vimalananda@bmc.org
varsha.vimalananda@va.gov
varshav@bu.edu
Sections
Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition & Weight Management
Biography
I am an endocrinologist, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Boston University, and a Physician-Scientist at the Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR) at the VA Bedford Medical Center. I lead research to improve the quality of specialty health care delivery from patient and clinician perspectives.
My projects include work to:
- Develop and validate survey measures of specialty care coordination from patient and clinician perspectives
- Measure coordination of face-to-face care, telehealth, and cross-system care and examine their influences and outcomes in order to guide improvement work
- Identify and apply strategies to improve the efficiency and experience of e-consults and telehealth
- Ensure a clinical perspective in research on telehealth, secure messaging, text messaging, patient portals, and natural language processing to improve care for patients with diabetes
My research draws on my expertise in survey methods, qualitative methods, care coordination, patient-centered care, and endocrinology subspecialty care. I serve as a subject matter expert as a member of the Endocrine Society Research Affairs Core Committee and also for the American College of Physicians Council of Subspecialty Societies.
Websites
VA Boston Center for Healthcare Organization & Implementation Research
Interview with the Endocrine Society -- Mind the Gap: Health Services Research
Education
MD, Drexel University College of Medicine
Epidemiology, MPH, University of California, Berkeley
Anthropology, BA, University of Chicago
Publications
Vimalananda VG, Kragen B, Leibowitz AJ. Knowledge, Attitudes, and Training Needs for AI in Primary Care: National Survey Study of Clinicians in the Veterans Health Administration. JMIR Form Res. 2026 Apr 22; 10:e90641. PMID: 41894543.
Published on 3/19/2026Zogas A, Vimalananda VG, McCullough MB, Linsky AM, Chatelain LJ, Mattocks KM. A Qualitative Study of the Implementation of Referral Coordination for Specialty Care Referrals in the Veterans Health Administration. Med Care. 2026 May 01; 64(5):326-334. PMID: 41853896.
Published on 3/1/2026Vimalananda VG, Zocchi MS, Wormwood JB, Sitter KE, Meterko M, Benzer JK, Charns MP, Berlowitz D, Fincke BG. Coordinating specialty care across health systems: primary care provider survey. Am J Manag Care. 2026 Mar 01; 32(3):e83-e91. PMID: 41886343.
Published on 1/29/2026Bolton R, Dvorin K, Wu J, Abedin E, Vimalananda V. Expanding whole health access for rural veterans with pain: Virtual hub-and-spoke models. Am J Med. 2026 May; 139(5):659-663. PMID: 41619960.
Published on 1/13/2026Robinson SA, Shell P, Am L, Bilodeau CL, Gordon HS, Uphold CR, Vimalananda VG, Cutrona SL, Hogan TP, Smith B, Shimada SL. Developing a Customizable Texting Intervention for Diabetes Self-Management: Participatory Design Approach. JMIR Form Res. 2026 Jan 13; 10:e83144. PMID: 41528767.
Published on 10/15/2025Kragen B, Resnik J, Vimalananda VG, Sitter KE, Leibowitz AJ, Underwood PC, Kim B. Who is using continuous glucose monitoring for type 2 diabetes management? A scoping review protocol. BMJ Open. 2025 Oct 15; 15(10):e106809. PMID: 41093335.
Published on 9/26/2025Jasuja GK, Zocchi MS, Reisman JI, Brady JE, Livingston NA, Blosnich JR, Vimalananda VG, Singh RS, Goodman M, Silverberg MJ, Wormwood JB, Shipherd JC. Using Self-Identified Gender Identity Data to Advance Health Equity Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration. Med Care. 2025 Nov 01; 63(11):833-841. PMID: 41001883.
Published on 9/2/2025Sitter KE, Kragen B, Leibowitz AJ, Wormwood JB, Kim B, Vimalananda VG. Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Primary Care: A Survey of Primary Care Providers. J Gen Intern Med. 2026 Feb; 41(3):895-897. PMID: 40897967.
Published on 8/15/2025Pagliaro JA, Wash LK, Ly K, Mathew J, Leibowitz A, Cabrera R, Wormwood JB, Vimalananda VG. Enrollment and Retention Outcomes from the Veterans Health Administration for a Remote Digital Health Study: Multisite Observational Study. JMIR Form Res. 2025 Aug 15; 9:e68676. PMID: 40334212.
Published on 3/27/2025Mathew J, Pagliaro JA, Elumalai S, Wash LK, Ly K, Leibowitz AJ, Vimalananda VG. Developing a Multisensor-Based Machine Learning Technology (Aidar Decompensation Index) for Real-Time Automated Detection of Post-COVID-19 Condition: Protocol for an Observational Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2025 Mar 27; 14:e54993. PMID: 40146983.
Media Mentions
Published on 10/7/2022
Telehealth visits expected to remain important in endocrine care
Published on 10/4/2022
Fractures & Intellectual Disability; Incorporating Telehealth; Start Calcium Young?
Published on 4/14/2020
E-Consults May Be Appropriate Alternative to In-Person Specialist Visit
Published on 5/28/2019
US veterans with obesity underutilize weight management medications
View full list of 4 media mentions.