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Whitney Wells

PhD Candidate in Social Epidemiology, University of California-San Francisco
Chapter Member: Bay Area SSN
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About Whitney

Wells’ research examines the health impacts of family support policies—such as access to early childhood education and social safety net policies—and the potential for these policies to address existing health inequities. Wells uses quasi-experimental methods and natural experiments to generate evidence to ultimately inform evidence-based policymaking.

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Contributions

Paid Family Leave Can Be a Lifeline

Commentary,

Publications

"Effects of US State Paid Family Leave Policies on Perinatal and Postpartum Health: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis" (with Justin S. White, Daniel F. Collin, Guangyi Wang, Sepideh Modrek, and Rita Hamad). American Journal of Epidemiology (2025).

Assesses the effects of state-level paid family leave (PFL) policies on maternal and infant health outcomes from 2004 to 2021. Findings suggest that PFL policies can improve key aspects of maternal health while underscoring the need for further research as more states and policymakers consider national paid leave legislation.

"Food Insufficiency Increased after The Expiration Of COVID-19 Emergency Allotments for SNAP Benefits In 2023" (with Kaitlyn Jackson, Cindy W. Leung, and Rita Hamad). Health Affairs 43, no. 10 (2024): 1464-1474.

Examines the impact of the March 2023 expiration of emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments on low-income households. Findings show that the loss of benefits led to significant rises in food insufficiency, food pantry use, and difficulty paying expenses. Additionally, non-Hispanic Black SNAP participants experienced a larger increase in anxiety symptoms than their White counterparts.