Jennifer Ames, PhD

Jennifer Ames, PhD, is a research scientist at Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, specializing in autism and environmental health. After completing her PhD in epidemiology at UC Berkeley, Ames transitioned into autism research through a postdoc under Lisa Croen. Her work focuses on prenatal environmental exposures, transitioning autistic patients from pediatric to adult care, and reproductive health for autistic individuals. Ames emphasizes the importance of mentorship and staying curious, while enjoying hiking, backpacking, and home improvement projects outside of her career.

Institution: Kaiser Permanente Northern California – Division of Research

Project Title: A Qualitative Study of Reproductive Health Care Experiences Among Autistic Adults

Project Overview: This project aims to identify barriers and facilitators to high-quality, accessible reproductive healthcare among autistic adults assigned female at birth (AFAB). The study seeks to enrich existing quantitative evidence by capturing the experiences of autistic patients directly through qualitative methods, addressing disparities in reproductive health care services.