Casey Lion, MD, MPH

Casey Lion, MD, MPH

General Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine

On staff since August 2010

Children's Title: Research Director, Center for Diversity and Health Equity; Attending Physician, General Pediatrics

Academic Title: Assistant Professor

Research Center: Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development

Language (Other than English): Spanish

  • Biography

    K. Casey Lion, MD, MPH, is an associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of General Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine; research director for Seattle Children’s Center for Diversity and Health Equity; and an investigator at Seattle Children's Research Institute. She co-directs the Health Services and Quality of Care Research Fellowship. Dr. Lion is an NIH-funded health services researcher whose work focuses on healthcare equity, language access, patient-provider communication and health system navigation. In her work, she partners with families and providers to design interventions to improve healthcare experiences and outcomes for children and families, especially those who use languages other than English for medical care. Her methodological expertise includes the rigorous evaluation of quality improvement interventions, with a particular focus on QI and healthcare equity. She is passionate about creating systems to support equity-focused research; equitable inclusion in all research; and inclusion and belonging throughout the research workforce. Clinically, she sees patients and supervises residents in the pediatric primary care clinic at the UW Medical Center.

    She earned her medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, and a master's in public health at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. She completed her residency and Health Services and Quality of Care Research fellowship at Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academic Pediatric Association.

    • Related Pages

    • ENCORE Lab

      ENCORE Lab

      The Equity, Navigation, Communication, and healthcare Outcomes REsearch (ENCORE) lab is an NIH-funded research lab founded by Dr. Casey Lion that aims to achieve equitable healthcare outcomes for children from historically marginalized populations.

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  • Publications

    Manuscripts in Refereed Journals

    • Chisholm H, Kershaw T, Sotelo Guerra L, Bocek K, Garcia Y, Casey Lion K
      A Realist Evaluation Analysis of a Novel Multi-Faceted Inpatient Patient Navigation Program.
      34551342 Academic pediatrics, 2021 Sep 19
    • Miller TL, Desai AD, Garrison MM, Lee D, Muir A, Lion KC
      Drivers of Variation in Diagnosis and Management of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Survey of Pediatric Gastroenterologists.
      33974186 Digestive diseases and sciences, 2021 May 11
    • Lion KC, Gritton J, Scannell J, Brown JC, Ebel BE, Klein EJ, Mangione-Smith R
      Patterns and Predictors of Professional Interpreter Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
      33468598 Pediatrics, 2021 Feb. : 147(2) PMCID:PMC7906072
    • Gutman CK, Klein EJ, Follmer K, Brown JC, Ebel BE, Lion KC
      Deficiencies in Provider-Reported Interpreter Use in a Clinical Trial Comparing Telephonic and Video Interpretation in a Pediatric Emergency Department.
      32888814 Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety, 2020 Oct. : 46(10)573-580 PMCID:PMC7530022
    • Desai AD, Zhou C, Haaland W, Johnson J, Lion KC, Lopez MA, Williams DJ, Kenyon CC, Mangione-Smith R, Johnson DP
      Social Disadvantage, Access to Care, and Disparities in Physical Functioning Among Children Hospitalized with Respiratory Illness.
      32118564 Journal of hospital medicine, 2020 Apr 1 : 15(4)211-218 PMCID:PMC7153490
    • Connell SK, Rutman LE, Whitlock KB, Haviland MJ, Simmons S, Schloredt K, Ramos J, Brewer K, Augustine M, Lion KC
      Health Care Reform, Length of Stay, and Readmissions for Child Mental Health Hospitalizations.
      32014883 Hospital pediatrics, 2020 March : 10(3)238-245
    • Lion KC, Zhou C, Ebel BE, Penfold RB, Mangione-Smith R
      Identifying Modifiable Health Care Barriers to Improve Health Equity for Hospitalized Children.
      31801795 Hospital pediatrics, 2020 Jan. : 10(1)1-11 PMCID:PMC6931033
    • Davis SH, Rosenberg J, Nguyen J, Jimenez M, Lion KC, Jenicek G, Dallmann H, Yun K
      Translating Discharge Instructions for Limited English-Proficient Families: Strategies and Barriers.
      31562199 Hospital pediatrics, 2019 Oct. : 9(10)779-787 PMCID:PMC6876295
    • Lion KC, Kieran K, Desai A, Hencz P, Ebel BE, Adem A, Forbes S, Kraus J, Gutman C, Horn I
      Audio-Recorded Discharge Instructions for Limited English Proficient Parents: A Pilot Study.
      30126714 Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety, 2019 Feb. : 45(2)98-107 PMCID:PMC6378142
    • Gutman CK, Cousins L, Gritton J, Klein EJ, Brown JC, Scannell J, Lion KC
      Professional Interpreter Use and Discharge Communication in the Pediatric Emergency Department.
      30048713 Academic pediatrics, 2018 Nov. : 18(8)935-943 PMCID:PMC6855246
    • Parast L, Burkhart Q, Gidengil C, Schneider EC, Mangione-Smith R, Lion C, McGlynn EA, Carle A, Britto MT, Elliott MN
      Validation of New Care Coordination Quality Measures for Children with Medical Complexity.
      29550397 Academic pediatrics, 2018 July : 18(5)581-588 PMCID:PMC6152933
    • Rutman L, Wright DR, OʼCallaghan J, Spencer S, Lion KC, Kronman MP, Zhou C, Mangione-Smith R
      A Comprehensive Approach to Pediatric Pneumonia: Relationship Between Standardization, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Clinical Testing, and Cost.
      27811579 Journal for healthcare quality : official publication of the National Association for Healthcare Quality, 2017 July : 39(4)e59-e69
    • Lion KC, Wright DR, Desai AD, Mangione-Smith R
      Costs of Care for Hospitalized Children Associated With Preferred Language and Insurance Type.
      28073815 Hospital pediatrics, 2017 Feb. : 7(2)70-78 PMCID:PMC5535794
    • Rutman L, Atkins RC, Migita R, Foti J, Spencer S, Lion KC, Wright DR, Leu MG, Zhou C, Mangione-Smith R
      Modification of an Established Pediatric Asthma Pathway Improves Evidence-Based, Efficient Care.
      27940683 Pediatrics, 2016 Dec. : 138(6)
    • Lion KC, Wright DR, Spencer S, Zhou C, Del Beccaro M, Mangione-Smith R
      Standardized Clinical Pathways for Hospitalized Children and Outcomes.
      27002007 Pediatrics, 2016 April : 137(4) PMCID:PMC5531174
    • Lion KC, Brown JC, Ebel BE, Klein EJ, Strelitz B, Gutman CK, Hencz P, Fernandez J, Mangione-Smith R
      Effect of Telephone vs Video Interpretation on Parent Comprehension, Communication, and Utilization in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
      26501862 JAMA pediatrics, 2015 Dec. : 169(12)1117-25 PMCID:PMC5524209
    • Chan T, Lion KC, Mangione-Smith R
      Racial disparities in failure-to-rescue among children undergoing congenital heart surgery.
      25556012 The Journal of pediatrics, 2015 April : 166(4)812-8.e1-4
    • Chan T | Lion KC | Mangione-Smith R
      Racial disparities in failure-to-rescue among children undergoing congenital heart surgery.
      The Journal of pediatrics, 2015 April : 166(4)812-8.e1-4
    • Lion KC | Ebel BE | Rafton S | Zhou C | Hencz P | Mangione-Smith R
      Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to increase use of telephonic interpretation.
      Pediatrics, 2015 March : 135(3)e709-16
    • Lion KC, Ebel BE, Rafton S, Zhou C, Hencz P, Mangione-Smith R
      Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to increase use of telephonic interpretation.
      25713276 Pediatrics, 2015 March : 135(3)e709-16
    • Lion KC | Raphael JL
      Partnering health disparities research with quality improvement science in pediatrics.
      PMC4306804 Pediatrics, 2015 Feb. : 135(2)354-61
    • Lion KC, Mangione-Smith R, Britto MT
      Individualized plans of care to improve outcomes among children and adults with chronic illness: a systematic review.
      24761537 Care management journals : Journal of case management ; The journal of long term home health care, 2014 : 15(1)11-25
    • Lion KC, Thompson DA, Cowden JD, Michel E, Rafton SA, Hamdy RF, Killough EF, Fernandez J, Ebel BE
      Clinical Spanish use and language proficiency testing among pediatric residents.
      23969350 Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 2013 Oct. : 88(10)1478-84
    • Raphael JL, Rueda A, Lion KC, Giordano TP
      The role of lay health workers in pediatric chronic disease: a systematic review.
      24011745 Academic pediatrics, 2013 Sept. : 13(5)408-20 PMCID:PMC3802546
    • Lion KC, Rafton SA, Shafii J, Brownstein D, Michel E, Tolman M, Ebel BE
      Association between language, serious adverse events, and length of stay among hospitalized children.
      24313090 Hospital pediatrics, 2013 July : 3(3)219-25
    • Lion KC, Rafton SA, Shafii J, Brownstein D, Michel E, Tolman M, Ebel BE
      Association between language, serious adverse events, and length of stay among hospitalized children.
      24313090 Hospital pediatrics, 2013 July : 3(3)219-25
    • Lion KC, Mangione-Smith R, Martyn M, Hencz P, Fernandez J, Tamura G
      Comprehension on family-centered rounds for limited English proficient families.
      23491584 Academic pediatrics, 2013 May : 13(3)236-42
    • Lion KC, Mangione-Smith R, Martyn M, Hencz P, Fernandez J, Tamura G
      Comprehension on family-centered rounds for limited English proficient families.
      23491584 Academic pediatrics, 2013 May : 13(3)236-42
    • Lion KC, Thompson DA, Cowden JD, Michel E, Rafton SA, Hamdy RF, Killough EF, Fernandez J, Ebel BE
      Impact of language proficiency testing on provider use of Spanish for clinical care.
      22689864 Pediatrics, 2012 July : 130(1)e80-7
    • Lion KC, Thompson DA, Cowden JD, Michel E, Rafton SA, Hamdy RF, Killough EF, Fernandez J, Ebel BE
      Impact of language proficiency testing on provider use of Spanish for clinical care.
      22689864 Pediatrics, 2012 July : 130(1)e80-7
    • Lion KC, Prata N, Stewart C
      Adolescent childbearing in Nicaragua: a quantitative assessment of associated factors.
      19620093 International perspectives on sexual and reproductive health, 2009 June : 91-6

    Other Publications

    • Journal of Pediatrics Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives Task Force., Fisher PG, Long SS, Cole CR, Cohran VC, Fuentes-Afflick E, Krantz I, Lion KC, McDevitt M, Ott MA, Ross LF, Toltzis P, Washington RL, Welch TR, Balistreri WF
      Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in The Journal of Pediatrics.
      34274308 The Journal of pediatrics, 2021 Sept. : 2364
    • Lion KC, DeCamp LR
      Inpatient Language Barriers: An Old Problem in Need of Novel Solutions.
      31577222 Journal of hospital medicine, 2019 Oct. : 14(10)640-641 PMCID:PMC6817306
    • Raphael JL, Lion KC, Bearer CF
      Policy solutions to recruiting and retaining minority children in research.
      28590464 Pediatric research, 2017 Aug. : 82(2)180-182
    • Lion KC
      Caring for Children and Families With Limited English Proficiency: Current Challenges and an Agenda for the Future.
      27979993 Hospital pediatrics, 2017 Jan. : 7(1)59-61

  • Research Funding

    Grant Title Grantor Amount Award Date
    Mobile Video Interpreting to Optimize Communication Across Language Barriers—mVOCAL National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities/ NIH $4,062,657 2021 - 2026
    Recordable Cards for Optimizing Outcomes and Reducing Disparities after ED Discharge: The RECORD-ED Pilot Study National Institute of Nursing Research/ NIH $275,000 2020 - 2022
    Targeted Inpatient Navigation to Improve Care for Minority Children and Families National Institute of Child Health and Human Development $628,146 Sept. 2014 - July 2019
    Understanding Patterns of Interpreter Use in the Pediatric Emergency Department Center for Diversity and Health Equity, Seattle Children's Hospital $10,000 Nov. 2013

Overview

Board Certification(s)

Pediatrics

Medical/Professional School

University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA

Residency

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

Fellowship

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA

Research Description

Dr. Lion's NIH-funded research program focuses on the interactions between patient-provider communication, health system navigation, and healthcare equity, with a particular focus on improving care for families that use a language other than English for medical care. In her research, she partners with multidisciplinary stakeholders, including parents and community partners, to design and test interventions aimed at improving healthcare experiences and outcomes for children and families from historically marginalized populations. She has additional methodologic expertise related to QI research methods and the effect of QI on health equity.