Martha M. Vibbert, PhD

Clinical Associate Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Vibbert is a licensed clinical psychologist at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics at Boston University’s Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. She currently serves on the faculty of BMC’s Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology in the Dept. of Psychiatry, and she contributes to a variety of healthcare and training initiatives in both Psychiatry and Pediatrics. She is the former Executive Director (1996-2021) of BMC's SPARK Community Early Childhood Center (formerly known as the Children’s AIDS Program).

Dr. Vibbert’s clinical interests include innovating behavioral health assessment and two-generation therapy services for young children and their caregivers within non-traditional settings that minimize stigma and increase access for under-resourced families. Her research has focused on early cognition and language acquisition; parent-child interaction; and the impacts of prenatal risks, HIV disease, parental substance use disorder, and trauma on early development She is co-founder and USA director of the Universal Baby project that partners with community providers, families, and child development experts to create culturally-authentic and strength-based videos to educate and coach parents---in any language and global setting—about infant-caregiver interaction that promotes healthy neurodevelopment and relational health.

Publications

  • Published 12/3/2025

    Nelson AK, Frías MP, Vibbert M, Kendall C, Sánchez-Vincitore L, Luft H, Susana MM, Theall K, Castro A. Adverse childhood experiences and use of corporal punishment among women in low-resource settings: a convergent mixed methods study with mothers of children under five in the Dominican Republic. BMC Womens Health. 2025 Dec 03; 25(1):591. PMID: 41339832.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/11/2025

    Nelson AK, Sánchez-Vincitore L, Patricia Frias M, Susana MM, Kendall C, Theall K, Vibbert M, Luft H, Castro A. Home-based nurturing care practices for children under five with low socioeconomic position in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. PLoS One. 2025; 20(2):e0314432. PMID: 39932980.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/1/2025

    Nelson AK, Griest CJ, Munoz LM, Rumaldo N, Miller AC, Soplapuco GM, Lecca L, Shin SS, Acuña LR, Valdivia YV, Ramos AR, Ahumada DG, Ramos BRH, Mejia SA, Serrano EO, Castro WH, Oliva VE, Heyman AS, Hartwell LP, Blackwell RL, Diaz DF, Vibbert MM. Proof of concept of the Universal Baby video innovation for early child development in Lima, Peru. J Pediatr Psychol. 2025 Jan 01; 50(1):51-62. PMID: 38872286.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/11/2021

    Miller AC, Rumaldo N, Soplapuco G, Condeso A, Kammerer B, Lundy S, Faiffer F, Montañez A, Ramos K, Rojas N, Contreras C, Muñoz M, Valdivia H, Vilca D, Córdova N, Hilario P, Vibbert M, Lecca L, Shin S. Success at Scale: Outcomes of Community-Based Neurodevelopment Intervention (CASITA) for Children Ages 6-20 months With Risk of Delay in Lima, Peru. Child Dev. 2021 11; 92(6):e1275-e1289. PMID: 34114651.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/20/2019

    Rose-Jacobs R, Trevino-Talbot M, Vibbert M, Lloyd-Travaglini C, Cabral HJ. Pregnant women in treatment for opioid use disorder: Material hardships and psychosocial factors. Addict Behav. 2019 11; 98:106030. PMID: 31301645.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 12 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Websites

Education

  • New York University, PhD
  • New York University, MA
  • Harvard University, EdM
  • Connecticut College, BA

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