John Standish Adams, M.D., M.P.H.
Associate Clinical Professor
To see if John Standish Adams is accepting new patients, or for assistance finding a UC Davis doctor, please call 800-2-UCDAVIS (800-282-3284).
Locations and Contact
Philosophy of Care
As an adolescent medicine specialist, my role is to guide and support youth and their families as they navigate the transformative and sometimes treacherous waters of the transition to adulthood. I strive to understand not only the struggles and suffering that my patients face, but also their strength and resourcefulness. I approach each clinical encounter with humility, respect, and collaboration, partnering with youth to cultivate growth, confidence, and a sense of belonging in their lives.
Clinical Interests
Dr. John Adams is board certified in Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Adolescent Medicine and specializes in the treatment of youth from ages 10-26 years. His clinical interests include mental health (including the treatment of depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and substance use disorders), reproductive/sexual health, male health, the care of youth with chronic illness, and the care of LGBTQ+ youth. He has a particular interest in exploring how the tools of mindfulness and self-compassion can support youth as they develop the inner resources to become resilient, powerful, and positive forces in the world.
Research/Academic Interests
Dr. Adams's academic work centers on how systems of care can more effectively and equitably support the well-being of youth. He leads a project which aims to streamline the process of accessing mental health treatment among youth with chronic medical problems. He is also a certified mindfulness instructor and is interested in exploring how mindfulness and self-compassion-based groups might support long-term well-being in youth.
Division
Adolescent Medicine
Center/Program Affiliation
Undergraduate School
B.Sc., Cognitive Science, UC Berkeley, 2022
Medical School
M.D., UCSD, 2010
Other School
M.P.H., Quantitative Methods, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2018
Internship
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, UCSD Medical Center, 2010-11
Residency
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, UCSD Medical Center, 2011-2014
Fellowship
Underserved Health Care, UCSD Medical Center, 2014-2015
Fellowship
Adolescent Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 2015-2018
Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society, 2009
Roderick K. Calverley Humanitarian Service Award, 2010
UCSD Acquire Superior Knowledge (A.S.K.) Award, 2010, 2011, 2013
AAP Certificate of Recognition, Excellence in the care of Heme/Onc Patients, 2012
Arnold P. Gold Humanism Resident Teaching Award, 2012
Farley Fund Award for Fellow Scholarship, 2015
Von L. Meyer Award, Travel Scholarship, 2015
Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine Durant Award for Statistical Rigor (finalist), 2017
Pediatric Academic Societies Travel Grant, 2017
Adams JS, Chien, AT, Wisk LE. Mental illness among youth with chronic physical conditions. Pediatrics. 2019 144(1): e20181819. Pubmed PMID: 31201229.
Adams JS, Wisk LE. Using the Chronic Care Model to improve pediatric chronic illness care. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety. 2017 43(3):99-100. Pubmed PMID: 28334594.
Adams JS, Woods ER. Redesign of chronic illness care in children and adolescents: evidence for the Chronic Care Model (CCM). Current Opinions Pediatrics. 2016 28(4):428-33. Pubmed PMID: 27138998.
Adams JS, Auger J, Schiff D. Outcome of indwelling tunneled PleurX catheter placement in pediatric and young adult patients with malignant effusions. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2014 61(6):1118-20. Pubmed PMID: 24474328.
Adams PE, Adams JS, Nguyen DV, Hessl D, Brunberg JA, Tassone F, Zhang W, Koldewyn K, Rivera SM, Grigsby J, Zhang L, DeCarli C, Hagerman PJ, Hagerman RJ. Psychological symptoms correlate with reduced hippocampal volume in fragile X premutation carriers. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics. 2010 153B(3):775-85. Pubmed PMID: 19908235.
Koldewyn K, Hessl D, Adams JS, Tassone F, Hagerman PJ, Hagerman RJ, Rivera SM. Reduced hippocampal activation during recall is associated with elevated FMR1 mRNA and psychiatric symptoms in men with the Fragile X premutation. Brain Imaging and Behavior. 2008 2(2):105-116. Pubmed PMID: 19430586.
Tassone T, Adams JS, Berry-Kravis EM, Cohen SS, Brusco A, Leehey MA, Li L, Hagerman RJ, Hagerman PJ. CGG correlates with age of onset of motor signs of the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B: Neuropsychiatric Genetics. 2007 144B(4):566-9. Pubmed PMID: 17427188.
Adams JS, Adams PE, Nguyen D, Brunberg JA, Tassone F, Zhang W, Koldewyn K, Rivera SM, Grigsby J, Zhang L, DeCarli C, Hagerman PJ, Hagerman RJ. Volumetric brain changes in males and females with the fragile X associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Neurology. 2007 69(9):851-9. Pubmed PMID: 17724287.
Hessl D, Rivera S, Koldewyn K, Cordeiro L, Adams JS, Tassone F, Hagerman PJ, Hagerman RJ. Amygdala dysfunction in men with the fragile X premutation. Brain. 2007 130(Pt 2):404-16. Pubmed PMID: 17166860.
Cohen S, Mason K, Adams JS, Hessl D, Rivera S, Tassone F, Brunberg J, DeCarli C, Zhang L, Cogswell J, Loesch D, Leehey M, Grigsby J, Hagerman PJ, Hagerman R. Molecular and imaging correlates of the fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS). Neurology. 2006 67(8):1426-31. Pubmed PMID: 17060569.