Maya Kumar, MD, FAAP


​Dr. Maya Kumar is an adolescent medicine pediatrician and assistant professor at UC San Diego. She believes that adolescence is one of the most critical developmental periods in the lifespan, and that compassionate, developmentally appropriate, and trauma-informed care for adolescents can create positive health outcomes for generations to come. She provides primary and subspecialty care for adolescents of diverse backgrounds in the Rady Children’s Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult Clinic and provides attending coverage on the Medical-Behavioral Unit, a multidisciplinary eating disorder inpatient unit at Rady Children’s Hospital. 

She is active in teaching medical students and residents and coordinates adolescent health rotations for trainees at the UCSD School of Medicine. She is often invited as a guest lecturer for general pediatricians and allied health trainees. Her scholarly interests include nutritional disorders and reproductive health in adolescents.
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email: m8kumar@health.ucsd.edu
admin email: kbordeleau@rchsd.org


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Undergraduate Education: Bachelor of Medical Sciences, University of Alberta (Canada)
Medical Degree: University of Alberta (Canada)
Residency: Pediatrics, Western University (Canada)
Fellowships:
  • Adolescent Medicine Fellowship, University of Toronto (Canada) - 2 years
  • Adolescent Medicine Fellowship, Children's Hospital Los Angeles - 1 year

Special Certifications:
  • Board Certified in Adolescent Medicine and General Pediatrics, American Board of Pediatrics
  • Board Certified in Adolescent Medicine and General Pediatrics, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
  • Provider of Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs) including subdermal implants and intrauterine systems

Areas of Interest

  • Nutritional Disorders in Adolescents
  • Adolescent Reproductive Health
  • Adolescents with Chronic Health Conditions

5 Most Relevant Publications

  1. Kumar MM.  Culturally appropriate care.  In: Evans YN, Dixon Docter A, ed.  Adolescent Nutrition.  1st ed.  Zurich, Switzerland: Springer, 2020. 
  2. Kumar MM, Boies EG, Sawyer MH, Kennedy M, Williams C, Rhee KE. A brief provider training video improves comfort with recommending the human papillomavirus vaccine. Clinical Pediatrics, 2019; 58(1):17-23.
  3. Kumar MM, Al-Buhairain F, Galagali P, Docter-Dixon A, Weiss A, Keough L. Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine Position Statement: Addressing nutritional disorders in adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health and Medicine, 2018; 63(1):120-123.
  4. Kumar MM. Long-acting reversible contraception for adolescents: More complex than ‘first-line.’ JAMA Pediatrics, 2018; 172(1): 6-7.
  5. Maginot TR, Kumar MM, Shiels J, Kaye WE, Rhee KE. Outcomes of an inpatient refeeding protocol in youth with anorexia nervosa: Rady Children's Hospital San Diego/University of California, San Diego. Journal of Eating Disorders, 2017;5:1.

5 Most Relevant Peer-Reviewed Presentations

  1. Kumar MM, Argo T, Chang J, Docter-Dixon A, Key J, Knatz-Peck S, Galagali P, Weiss A.  Keto, Paleo, and Whole30, Oh My!  Addressing Fad Dieting in Adolescence.  Workshop, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine 2020 Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.  Scheduled for March 11, 2020. 
  2. Evans Y, Dixon-Docter A, Kumar MM, Wignall J.  The Intersection of Culturally Appropriate Care and Equity: A Window into Our Roles as Clinicians and Advocates. Workshop, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine 2020 Annual Conference, San Diego, CA.  Scheduled for March 13, 2020. 
  3. Kumar MM, Argo T, Chang J, Chermak R, Docter-Dixon A, Key J, Galagali P, Schlocker E, Weiss A.  Adolescent Obesity 2.0: Essential Psychological, Social, and Cultural Considerations.  Workshop, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine 2019 Annual Conference, Washington, DC.  March 9, 2019.
  4. Docter-Dixon A, Evans Y, Kumar M, Galagali P, Handschin S, Mozer L, Rice L.  The Role of a Certified Nutrition Professional in Adolescent Nutritional Disorders.  Workshop, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine 2018 Annual Conference, Seattle, WA.  March 15, 2018.
  5. Kumar M, Borzutzky C, Docter-Dixon A, Radzik M, Steinegger C, Taylor S.  From Feast to Famine: Preventing Disordered Eating in Overweight Adolescents.  Workshop, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine 2016 Annual Conference, Washington, DC.  March 10, 2016. 

Teaching

  • Adolescent Medicine Rotation Director, UCSD/Rady Children’s Hospital, UCSD Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology, and Medicine/Pediatrics Residency Programs
  • Preceptor, Ambulatory Care Apprenticeship Program, UCSD School of Medicine
  • Preceptor, Careers in Medicine Program, UCSD School of Medicine
  • Independent Study Project Committee Chair/Member for multiple students from the UCSD School of Medicine
  • Clinical preceptor for medical students and residents in the Rady Children’s Hospital Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Clinic and the Medical-Behavioral Eating Disorder Inpatient Unit at Rady Children’s Hospital
  • Founder of the American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 3 “Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll” adolescent health seminar series, attended by general pediatricians and trainees
  • Lecturer for UCSD undergraduate course PSYC134: Eating Disorders
  • Frequent CME lectures for general pediatricians
  • Frequent invited lectures for medical students at all levels, resident physicians, allied health professionals and trainees, general pediatricians, and subspecialty pediatricians
  • Creator of multiple online adolescent medicine teaching modules for use in the UCSD Pediatric Residency Continuity Clinic Program

Advocacy

  • Chair, Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine Nutrition Committee, 2019-2023
  • Chair, Adolescent Health Committee, American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 3
  • Early Career Physician Representative, American Academy of Pediatrics California Chapter 3
  • Advisory Board Member, First 5 First Steps Home Visiting Program for vulnerable families including those with adolescent parents

Service

  • Core Faculty, UCSD Pediatric Residency Program Evaluation Committee
  • Mentor, UCSD Pediatrics Residency Mentorship Program
  • Website Champion, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, UCSD Department of Pediatrics
  • Committee Member, Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Annual Conference Program Committee
  • Organizer of Mock Interview Nights with physician and medical student volunteers for low-income adolescents and adults receiving vocational training at San Diego Job Corps
  • Reviewer for several peer reviewed journals
  • Organizer, Annual Holiday Food Drive, UCSD Department of Pediatrics