Elizabeth Burner

Dr. Elizabeth Burner serves as Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine and Research Director for the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. She concurrently directs the KL2/Mentored Career Development Program for the Southern California Clinical and Translational Science Institute (SC CTSI). Since joining the faculty in 2013, Dr. Burner maintains active clinical practice at Los Angeles General Medical Center (formerly LAC+USC), the Jail Urgent Care in LA County Twin Towers Correctional Facility, and multiple Los Angeles community hospitals.

Her research program investigates emergent health communication tools for high-need populations, substance use disorder interventions in emergency settings, and strategies for connecting chronic disease patients to patient-centered medical homes. Employing mixed methods approaches, she examines perspectives of vulnerable groups—particularly safety-net emergency department patients—with emphasis on diabetes management, mobile health applications, and health behavior modification. Dr. Burner's work consistently addresses structural barriers to care for marginalized communities including immigrants, homeless individuals, and incarcerated populations.

Recent publication trends reveal three dominant research trajectories: 1) Mobile health interventions for diabetes management using text-based social support systems in safety-net settings; 2) Analysis of mortality patterns and medical mismanagement in immigration detention facilities; 3) EMS responses to homelessness including naloxone distribution programs and prehospital care challenges. Her scholarship bridges emergency medicine practice with public health implementation science.

Scientific recognition includes:

• KL2 Mentored Career Development Award in Clinical Translational Science (2013-2016)

Dr. Burner's research portfolio is supported by multiple NIH grants, institutional funding, and local awards. As KL2 Program Director, she mentors early-career clinical investigators while leading initiatives to address racism in emergency medicine research through the 2022 consensus conference. Her work on EMTALA violations, telehealth integration, and trauma resuscitation leadership further demonstrates her commitment to systemic improvements in emergency care delivery for underserved populations.

Her operational framework involves close collaboration with Los Angeles General Medical Center's emergency department and community organizations serving high-need populations. Current projects focus on text-message interventions for pre-diabetes management, housing-status analysis in naloxone programs, and updates to ICE detention mortality data through FY2023.