Kelly Knight, PhD

Professor

Research Interests: The social construction and experience of addiction; Co-morbidity (HIV, substance abuse, mental illness), homelessness, and US urban health; Chronic non-cancer pain, clinical uncertainty, and scientific evidence; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bi-polar disorder, and the US welfare state; Gender, reproduction, motherhood and citizenship.

Education
2017 - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training, University of California
PhD, 2010 - Graduate Division (Medical Anthropology), University of California, San Francisco
EdM, 1993 - Human Development and Psychology, Harvard University
BA, 1991 - Philosophy, Psychology, Theology, Georgetown University
Honors and Awards
  • Bridges Curriculum Teaching Award: Excellence in Innovative Teaching Modalities, UCSF School of Medicine, 2018
  • Foundation for the Sociology of Health and Illness Book Award, British Sociological Association, 2016
  • Honorable Mention, Eileen Basker Memorial Prize, Society for Medical Anthropology, 2016
  • Finalist (5/94), C. Wright Mills Award, Society for the Study of Social Problems, 2015
  • Chancellor’s Graduate Research Fellowship, UCSF, 2008
Websites
Publications

  1. Hargrave AS, Knight KR, Dhatt ZK, Taylor G, Martinez D, Kushel M. The Impact of Intimate Partner Violence on Homelessness and Returns to Housing: A Qualitative Analysis From the California Statewide Study of People Experiencing Homelessness. Journal of interpersonal violence 2024. PMID: 39008369


  2. Jones BLH, Geier M, Neuhaus J, Coffin PO, Snyder HR, Soran CS, Knight KR, Suen LW. Withdrawal during outpatient low dose buprenorphine initiation in people who use fentanyl: a retrospective cohort study. Harm reduction journal 2024. PMID: 38594721


  3. Wenger LD, Morris T, Knight KR, Megerian CE, Davidson PJ, Suen LW, Majano V, Lambdin BH, Kral AH. Radical hospitality: Innovative programming to build community and meet the needs of people who use drugs at a government-sanctioned overdose prevention site in San Francisco, California. The International journal on drug policy 2024. PMID: 38492432


  4. Nguemeni Tiako MJ, Knight KR, Schiff DM. Prenatal Opioid Use Disorder Treatment-the Importance of Shared Decision-Making. JAMA internal medicine 2024. PMID: 38252420


  5. Yuan Y, Knight KR, Weeks J, King S, Olsen P, Kushel M. Loneliness among homeless-experienced older adults with cognitive or functional impairments: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study. BMC public health 2024. PMID: 38388904


  6. Fraimow-Wong L, Martín M, Thomas L, Giuliano R, Nguyen OK, Knight K, Suen LW. Patient and Staff Perspectives on the Impacts and Challenges of Hospital-Based Harm Reduction. JAMA network open 2024. PMID: 38386317


  7. Fleming T, Boyd J, Chayama KL, Knight KR, McNeil R. Using alone at home: What's missing in housing-based responses to the overdose crisis? Harm reduction journal 2024. PMID: 38281992


  10. Yuan Y, Knight KR, Weeks J, King S, Olsen P, Kushel M. Loneliness among older adults who have experienced homelessness: qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study. Research square 2023. PMID: 38014138


  11. Suen LW, Steiger S, Shapiro B, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Lambdin BH, Knight KR. "Get in and get out, get on with life": Patient and provider perspectives on methadone van implementation for opioid use disorder treatment. The International journal on drug policy 2023. PMID: 37778132


  13. Cooke A, Castellanos S, Koenders S, Joshi N, Enriquez C, Olsen P, Miaskowski C, Kushel M, Knight KR. The intersection of drug use discrimination and racial discrimination in the management of chronic non-cancer pain in United States primary care safety-net clinics: Implications for healthcare system and clinic-level changes. Drug and alcohol dependence 2023. PMID: 37459819


  14. Textor L, Friedman J, Bourgois P, Aronowitz S, Simon C, Jauffret-Roustide M, Namirembe S, Brothers S, McNeil R, Knight KR, Hansen H. Rethinking urban-rural designations in public health surveillance of the overdose crisis and crafting an agenda for future monitoring. The International journal on drug policy 2023. PMID: 37327697


  15. Olding M, Joshi N, Castellanos S, Valadao E, Hall L, Guzman L, Knight K. Saving lives in our homes: Qualitative evaluation of a tenant overdose response program in supportive, single-room occupancy (SRO) housing. The International journal on drug policy 2023. PMID: 37300920


  16. Fleming T, Collins AB, Boyd J, Knight KR, McNeil R. "It's no foundation, there's no stabilization, you're just scattered": A qualitative study of the institutional circuit of recently-evicted people who use drugs. Social science & medicine (1982) 2023. PMID: 37044003


  17. Cooke A, Castellanos S, Enriquez C, Olsen P, Miaskowski C, Kushel M, Knight KR. Telehealth for management of chronic non-cancer pain and opioid use disorder in safety net primary care. BMC health services research 2023. PMID: 37005610


  18. Aronowitz SV, Carroll JJ, Hansen H, Jauffret-Roustide M, Parker CM, Suhail-Sindhu S, Albizu-Garcia C, Alegria M, Arrendondo J, Baldacchino A, Bluthenthal R, Bourgois P, Burraway J, Chen JS, Ekhtiari H, Elkhoy H, Farhoudian A, Friedman J, Jordan A, Kato L, Knight K, Martinez C, McNeil R, Murray H, Namirembe S, Radfar R, Roe L, Sarang A, Scherz C, Tay Wee Teck J, Textor L, Thi Hai Oanh K. Substance use policy and practice in the COVID-19 pandemic: Learning from early pandemic responses through internationally comparative field data. Global public health 2023. PMID: 36692903


  19. Qi D, Abri K, Mukherjee MR, Rosenwohl-Mack A, Khoeur L, Barnard L, Knight KR. Health Impact of Street Sweeps from the Perspective of Healthcare Providers. Journal of general internal medicine 2022. PMID: 35296981


  20. Hargrave AS, Garcia CM, Lightfoot M, Handley MA, Weeks J, Olsen P, Knight KR, Kushel MB. "We Remember the Pain": A qualitative study of intergenerational trauma among older adults experiencing homelessness in the HOPE HOME study. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless 2022. PMID: 38948456


  21. Wyatt JP, Suen LW, Coe WH, Adams ZM, Gandhi M, Batchelor HM, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Satterwhite S, Pérez-Rodríguez R, Rodríguez-Guerra E, Albizu-Garcia CE, Knight KR, Jordan A. Federal and State Regulatory Changes to Methadone Take-Home Doses: Impact of Sociostructural Factors. American journal of public health 2022. PMID: 35349318


  22. Suen LW, Coe WH, Wyatt JP, Adams ZM, Gandhi M, Batchelor HM, Castellanos S, Joshi N, Satterwhite S, Pérez-Rodríguez R, Rodríguez-Guerra E, Albizu-Garcia CE, Knight KR, Jordan A. Structural Adaptations to Methadone Maintenance Treatment and Take-Home Dosing for Opioid Use Disorder in the Era of COVID-19. American journal of public health 2022. PMID: 35349324


  23. Cai C, Knight KR, Olsen P, Weeks J, Handley MA, Kushel MB. Barriers and Facilitators to Resolving Older Adult Homelessness through Stays with Family: Qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME Study. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless 2022. PMID: 38144397


  26. Handley MA, Kushel M, Weeks J, Olsen P, Castillo J, Knight KR. Ground-Truthing the Experiences of Homeless Older Adults' Recent Stays with Family and Friends: A Case Study of Participatory Data Analysis. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved 2022. PMID: 35153219


  27. Suen LW, McMahan VM, Rowe C, Bhardwaj S, Knight K, Kushel MB, Santos GM, Coffin P. Factors Associated with Pain Treatment Satisfaction Among Patients with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain and Substance Use. TO REMOVE 2021. PMID: 34772764


  28. Knight KR, Duke MR, Carey CA, Pruss G, Garcia CM, Lightfoot M, Imbert E, Kushel M. COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Acceptability Among Homeless-Experienced Adults: Qualitative Data from Two Samples. TO REMOVE 2021. PMID: 34704204


  29. Knight KR, Weiser J, Handley MA, Olsen P, Weeks J, Kushel M. Temporary stays with housed family and friends among older adults experiencing homelessness: Qualitative findings from the HOPE HOME study. Qualitative social work : QSW : research and practice 2021. PMID: 35706979


  30. Haq N, McMahan VM, Torres A, Santos GM, Knight K, Kushel M, Coffin PO. Race, pain, and opioids among patients with chronic pain in a safety-net health system. Drug and alcohol dependence 2021. PMID: 33810908


  31. Mehtani NJ, Ristau JT, Snyder H, Surlyn C, Eveland J, Smith-Bernardin S, Knight KR. COVID-19: A catalyst for change in telehealth service delivery for opioid use disorder management. Substance abuse 2021. PMID: 33684331


  32. Servis M, Fishman SM, Wallace MS, Henry SG, Ziedonis D, Ciccarone D, Knight KR, Shoptaw S, Dowling P, Suchard JR, Shah S, Singh N, Cedarquist LC, Alem N, Copenhaver DJ, Westervelt M, Willis BC. Responding to the Opioid Epidemic: Educational Competencies for Pain and Substance Use Disorder from the Medical Schools of the University of California. Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.) 2021. PMID: 33316051


  33. Harvey M, Neff J, Knight KR, Mukherjee JS, Shamasunder S, Le PV, Tittle R, Jain Y, Carrasco H, Bernal-Serrano D, Goronga T, Holmes SM. Structural competency and global health education. Global public health 2020. PMID: 33351721


  34. Paul DW, Knight KR, Campbell A, Aronson L. Beyond a Moment - Reckoning with Our History and Embracing Antiracism in Medicine. The New England journal of medicine 2020. PMID: 32722907


  36. Neff J, Holmes SM, Knight KR, Strong S, Thompson-Lastad A, McGuinness C, Duncan L, Saxena N, Harvey MJ, Langford A, Carey-Simms KL, Minahan SN, Satterwhite S, Ruppel C, Lee S, Walkover L, De Avila J, Lewis B, Matthews J, Nelson N. Structural Competency: Curriculum for Medical Students, Residents, and Interprofessional Teams on the Structural Factors That Produce Health Disparities. MedEdPORTAL : the journal of teaching and learning resources 2020. PMID: 32342010


  37. Rosenwohl-Mack S, Kushel M, Ramsey C, Handley M, Knight KR. "We Really Help, Taking Care of Each Other": Older Homeless Adults as Caregivers. Gerontology & geriatric medicine 2019. PMID: 31903411


  38. Paul DW, Knight KR, Olsen P, Weeks J, Yen IH, Kushel MB. Racial Discrimination in the Life Course of Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness: Results from the HOPE HOME Study. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless 2019. PMID: 33727778


  39. Knight KR, Duncan LG, Szilvasi M, Premkumar A, Matache M, Jackson A. Reproductive (In)justice - Two Patients with Avoidable Poor Reproductive Outcomes. The New England journal of medicine 2019. PMID: 31412176


  40. Bruns EB, Befus D, Wismer B, Knight K, Adler SR, Leonoudakis-Watts K, Thompson-Lastad A, Chao MT. Vulnerable Patients' Psychosocial Experiences in a Group-Based, Integrative Pain Management Program. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2019. PMID: 31314560


  41. Satterwhite S, Knight KR, Miaskowski C, Chang JS, Ceasar R, Zamora K, Kushel M. Sources and Impact of Time Pressure on Opioid Management in the Safety-Net. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine : JABFM 2019. PMID: 31068401


  42. Donald C; Fernandez F; Hsiang E; Mesina, O; Rosenwohl-Mack S; Medeiros A; Knight KR. “Reflections on the Intersection of Student Activism and Structural Competency Training in a New Medical School Curriculum” Structural Competency in Mental Health and Medicine: A Case-Based Approach to Treating the Social Determinants of Health, edited by Metzl and Hansen. 2019. PMID:


  43. Neff J; Holmes S; Strong S; Chin G; De Avila J; Dubal S; Duncan L; Halpern J; Harvey M; Knight KR; Lemay E; Lewis B; Matthews J; Nelson N; Satterwhite S; Thompson-Lastad A; Walkover L. “The Structural Competency Working Group: Lessons from Iterative, Interdisciplinary Development of a Structural Competency Training Module” Structural Competency in Mental Health and Medicine: A Case-Based Approach to Treating the Social Determinants of Health, edited by Metzl and Hansen. 2019. PMID:


  44. Cooke AC, Knight KR, Miaskowski C. Patients' and clinicians' perspectives of co-use of cannabis and opioids for chronic non-cancer pain management in primary care. The International journal on drug policy 2018. PMID: 30472467


  46. Knight KR, Kushel M, Chang JS, Zamora K, Ceasar R, Hurstak E, Miaskowski C. Opioid pharmacovigilance: A clinical-social history of the changes in opioid prescribing for patients with co-occurring chronic non-cancer pain and substance use. Volume 186. Social science & medicine (1982) 2017. PMID: 28599142


  47. Hurstak EE, Kushel M, Chang J, Ceasar R, Zamora K, Miaskowski C, Knight K. The risks of opioid treatment: Perspectives of primary care practitioners and patients from safety-net clinics. Volume 38 of Issue 2. Substance abuse 2017. PMID: 28394752


  48. Neff J, Knight KR, Satterwhite S, Nelson N, Matthews J, Holmes SM. Teaching Structure: A Qualitative Evaluation of a Structural Competency Training for Resident Physicians. Volume 32 of Issue 4. Journal of general internal medicine 2016. PMID: 27896692


  49. Chang JS, Kushel M, Miaskowski C, Ceasar R, Zamora K, Hurstak E, Knight KR. Provider Experiences With the Identification, Management, and Treatment of Co-occurring Chronic Noncancer Pain and Substance Use in the Safety Net. Volume 52 of Issue 2. Substance use & misuse 2016. PMID: 27754719


  50. Ceasar R, Chang J, Zamora K, Hurstak E, Kushel M, Miaskowski C, Knight K. Primary care providers' experiences with urine toxicology tests to manage prescription opioid misuse and substance use among chronic noncancer pain patients in safety net health care settings. Volume 37 of Issue 1. Substance abuse 2016. PMID: 26682471


  51. Knight, KR. addicted.pregnant.poor. Duke University Press addicted.pregnant.poor. Duke University Press. 2015. PMID:


  52. Riley ED, Shumway M, Knight KR, Guzman D, Cohen J, Weiser SD. Risk factors for stimulant use among homeless and unstably housed adult women. Volume 153. Drug and alcohol dependence 2015. PMID: 26070454


  53. Mizuno Y, Purcell DW, Knowlton AR, Wilkinson JD, Gourevitch MN, Knight KR. Syndemic vulnerability, sexual and injection risk behaviors, and HIV continuum of care outcomes in HIV-positive injection drug users. Volume 19 of Issue 4. AIDS and behavior 2015. PMID: 25249392


  54. Riley ED, Cohen J, Knight KR, Decker A, Marson K, Shumway M. Recent violence in a community-based sample of homeless and unstably housed women with high levels of psychiatric comorbidity. Volume 104 of Issue 9. American journal of public health 2014. PMID: 25033127


  55. Knight KR, Das M, DeMicco E, Raiford JL, Matheson T, Shook A, Antunez E, Santos GM, Dadasovich R, Dilley JW, Colfax GN, Herbst JH. A roadmap for adapting an evidence-based HIV prevention intervention: personal cognitive counseling (PCC) for episodic substance-using men who have sex with men. Volume 15 of Issue 3. Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research 2014. PMID: 23412947


  56. Knight KR, Lopez AM, Comfort M, Shumway M, Cohen J, Riley ED. Single room occupancy (SRO) hotels as mental health risk environments among impoverished women: the intersection of policy, drug use, trauma, and urban space. Volume 25 of Issue 3. The International journal on drug policy 2013. PMID: 24411945


  57. Mackenzie S, Pearson C, Frye V, Gómez CA, Latka MH, Purcell DW, Knowlton AR, Metsch LR, Tobin KE, Valverde EE, Knight KR. Agents of change: peer mentorship as HIV prevention among HIV-positive injection drug users. Volume 47 of Issue 5. Substance use & misuse 2012. PMID: 22428820


  58. Knight, KR. San Francisco and the Biomedicalization of Poverty American Ethnological Society Section. Anthropology News. 2012. PMID:


  59. Knight, KR. The public life of sex work: risk, politics, and public health Western Humanities Review 2012. PMID:


  60. Rose CD, Courtenay-Quirk C, Knight K, Shade SB, Vittinghoff E, Gomez C, Lum PJ, Bacon O, Colfax G. HIV intervention for providers study: a randomized controlled trial of a clinician-delivered HIV risk-reduction intervention for HIV-positive people. Volume 55 of Issue 5. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2010. PMID: 20827218


  61. Latkin CA, Buchanan AS, Metsch LR, Knight K, Latka MH, Mizuno Y, Knowlton AR. Predictors of sharing injection equipment by HIV-seropositive injection drug users. Volume 49 of Issue 4. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2008. PMID: 19186356


  62. Mizuno Y, Purcell DW, Zhang J, Knowlton AR, De Varona M, Arnsten JH, Knight KR. Predictors of current housing status among HIV-seropositive injection drug users (IDUs): results from a 1-year study. Volume 13 of Issue 1. AIDS and behavior 2008. PMID: 18247113


  63. Arnsten JH, Li X, Mizuno Y, Knowlton AR, Gourevitch MN, Handley K, Knight KR, Metsch LR. Factors associated with antiretroviral therapy adherence and medication errors among HIV-infected injection drug users. Volume 46 Suppl 2. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2007. PMID: 18089986


  64. Frye V, Latka MH, Wu Y, Valverde EE, Knowlton AR, Knight KR, Arnsten JH, O'Leary A. Intimate partner violence perpetration against main female partners among HIV-positive male injection drug users. Volume 46 Suppl 2. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2007. PMID: 18089979


  65. Purcell DW, Latka MH, Metsch LR, Latkin CA, Gómez CA, Mizuno Y, Arnsten JH, Wilkinson JD, Knight KR, Knowlton AR, Santibanez S, Tobin KE, Rose CD, Valverde EE, Gourevitch MN, Eldred L, Borkowf CB. Results from a randomized controlled trial of a peer-mentoring intervention to reduce HIV transmission and increase access to care and adherence to HIV medications among HIV-seropositive injection drug users. Volume 46 Suppl 2. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2007. PMID: 18089983


  66. Knight KR, Shade SB, Purcell DW, Rose CD, Metsch LR, Latka MH, Latkin CA, Gómez CA. Sexual transmission risk behavior reported among behaviorally bisexual HIV-positive injection drug-using men. Volume 46 Suppl 2. Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999) 2007. PMID: 18089988


  67. Purcell DW, Mizuno Y, Metsch LR, Garfein R, Tobin K, Knight K, Latka MH. Unprotected sexual behavior among heterosexual HIV-positive injection drug using men: associations by partner type and partner serostatus. Volume 83 of Issue 4. Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine 2006. PMID: 16736116


  68. Missildine, W., Parsons, J.T., Knight, KR. Split Ends: Masculinity, sexuality and emotional intimacy among HIV-positive heterosexual men. Men and Masculinities 8:309-320 Split Ends: Masculinity, sexuality and emotional intimacy among HIV-positive heterosexual men. Men and Masculinities 8:309-320. 2006. PMID:


  69. Comfort M, Grinstead O, McCartney K, Bourgois P, Knight K. "You cannot do nothing in this damn place": sex and intimacy among couples with an incarcerated male partner. Volume 42 of Issue 1. Journal of sex research 2005. PMID: 15795799


  70. Knight KR, Purcell D, Dawson-Rose C, Halkitis PN, Gomez CA. Sexual risk taking among HIV-positive injection drug users: contexts, characteristics, and implications for prevention. Volume 17 of Issue 1 Suppl A. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education 2005. PMID: 15843119


  71. Dawson Rose, C.S., Shade, S.B., Lum, P.J., Knight, K.R., Purcell, D.P., & Parsons, J.. The Health Care Experience of HIV Positive Injection Drug Users. Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health, 11(1): 23-30 The Health Care Experience of HIV Positive Injection Drug Users. Journal of Multicultural Nursing and Health, 11(1): 23-30. 2005. PMID:


  72. Knight, KR.. With a little help from my friends: community affiliation and social support among HIV-positive gay and bisexual men HIV + sex: The psychological and interpersonal dynamics of HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men's relationships. Halkitis, P.N., Gomez, C., & Wolitski, R. APA Press 2005. PMID:


  73. Mizuno Y, Purcell D, Borkowski TM, Knight K. The life priorities of HIV-seropositive injection drug users: findings from a community-based sample. Volume 7 of Issue 4. AIDS and behavior 2003. PMID: 14707536


  74. Downing M, Knight K, Reiss TH, Vernon K, Mulia N, Ferreboeuf M, Carroll A, Vu C. Drug users talk about HIV testing: motivating and deterring factors. Volume 13 of Issue 5. AIDS care 2001. PMID: 11571004


  75. Vernon KA, Mulia N, Downing M, Knight K, Riess T. "I don't know when it might pop up": understanding repeat HIV testing and perceptions of HIV among drug users. Volume 13 of Issue 1-2. Journal of substance abuse 2001. PMID: 11547621


  76. Downing M, Mulia N, Vernon K, Knight K, Ferreboeuf M, Carroll A. Voices from the field: providers discuss HIV counseling and testing programs for drug users. Volume 15 of Issue 2. AIDS & public policy journal 2000. PMID: 11519367


  77. Downing M, Knight KR, Vernon KA, Seigel S, Ajaniku I, Acosta PS, Thomas L, Porter S. This is my story: a descriptive analysis of a peer education HIV/STD risk reduction program for women living in housing developments. Volume 11 of Issue 3. AIDS education and prevention : official publication of the International Society for AIDS Education 1999. PMID: 10407458


  78. van der Straten A, Vernon KA, Knight KR, Gómez CA, Padian NS. Managing HIV among serodiscordant heterosexual couples: serostatus, stigma and sex. Volume 10 of Issue 5. AIDS care 1998. PMID: 9828951


  79. Knight, K.R.; Rosenbaum, M.; Kelley, M.S.; Irwin, J.; Washburn, A.; Wenger, L.. Defunding the poor: the impact of lost access to subsidized methadone maintenance treatment on women injection drug users. Journal of Drug Issues. 26(4): 923-942 Defunding the poor: the impact of lost access to subsidized methadone maintenance treatment on women injection drug users. Journal of Drug Issues. 26(4): 923-942. 1996. PMID:


  80. Knight, K.R.; Rosenbaum, M.; Irwin, J.; Kelley, M.S.; Wenger, L.; Washburn, A.. Involuntary verses voluntary detoxification from methadone maintenance treatment: the importance of choice. Addiction Research 3(4): 351-362 Involuntary verses voluntary detoxification from methadone maintenance treatment: the importance of choice. Addiction Research 3(4): 351-362. 1996. PMID:


  81. Rosenbaum, M.; Washburn, A.; Knight, K.R.; Kelley, M.S.; Irwin, J. Methadone maintenance: treatment as harm reduction, defunding as harm maximization. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 28(3) Methadone maintenance: treatment as harm reduction, defunding as harm maximization. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 28(3). 1996. PMID:


  82. Kelley, M.S.; Rosenbaum, M.; Knight, K.R.; Irwin, J.; Washburn, A.. Violence: a barrier to methadone maintenance treatment for women injection drug users. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 16(5): 143-164 Violence: a barrier to methadone maintenance treatment for women injection drug users. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy 16(5): 143-164. 1996. PMID: