Kiarra Levesque, MD

My research and clinical work focus on improving access to care and strengthening health systems for individuals with developmental disabilities and chronic disease in both U.S. and global settings. Inspired by family experiences, I have a longstanding commitment to advancing healthcare and resources for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

As part of a research team at the University of Washington Autism Center, I worked on a case-control study examining pragmatic language skills in twins on the Autism Spectrum compared with neurotypical twins, contributing to a better understanding of the broader autism phenotype. In a separate qualitative project, I interviewed siblings and caregivers of individuals with Autism to explore their experiences and the challenges families face in accessing healthcare and educational resources.

I later expanded my research training at Columbia University, where I investigated metabolic outcomes in type 2 diabetes following bariatric surgery, contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications, and developed expertise in protocol design, IRB management, and laboratory analysis.

During residency at NYU, I deepened my interest in chronic disease care through longitudinal work in heart failure and asthma clinics. I now serve as Medicine Team Lead with AMPATH Ghana at Tamale Teaching Hospital, where my role combines clinical care, resident education, and collaborative partnerships to strengthen healthcare delivery in northern Ghana.