Kimberly M. Nelson, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor, Boston University School of Public Health

Biography

Kimberly M. Nelson, PhD, MPH earned her MPH in epidemiology from the University of Washington (UW) and a PhD in clinical psychology also from UW. She is also faculty of the Fordham University Research Ethics Training Institute and a Society of Behavioral Medicine Fellow. Having both a public health and clinical psychology background, Dr. Nelson's research focuses on understanding and intervening on psychological and structural determinants of health inequities with a particular focus on sexual and mental health inequities among marginalized adolescents and young adults. Her work also focuses on the ethical and legal issues involved in sexual health research, practice, and interventions with adolescents and ways to use technology effectively and ethically for data collection and health promotion interventions.

Dr. Nelson also co-directs the Healthy and Empowered Youth (HEY!) Lab at BUSPH and serves as the Director of the Community Health Sciences PhD Program.

Publications

  • Published 5/18/2026

    Nelson KM, Underhill K, Dunsiger SI, Bond JC, Haiken S, LaBranche C, Austin SB, Ybarra ML. Presence and Knowledge of Minor Consent Laws and STI Testing in US Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2026 May 18. PMID: 42144241.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/20/2026

    Gray A, Sinclair S, Trepka MJ, Nelson KM. Unmet sex education needs among young adult Black women in the United States: A qualitative exploration of perceived informational gaps in school-based sex education. Sex Res Social Policy. 2026 Apr 20. PMID: 42038965.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/3/2026

    Brown HL, Underhill K, Gradus JL, Nelson KM. History of Minor Consent Laws for Mental Health Treatment in the US. JAMA Health Forum. 2026 Apr 03; 7(4):e260927. PMID: 42030053.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 3/22/2026

    Nelson KM, Bond JC, Dunsiger SI, Haiken S, Alcid C, Ranker LR, Ybarra ML. Gathering Insights About Sexual Health Promotion From Adolescents' Adoption of COVID-19-Protective Behaviors. Health Educ Behav. 2026 Mar 22; 10901981261426309. PMID: 41865297.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/24/2026

    Gray A, Sinclair S, Trepka MJ, Nelson KM. Awareness of state-level abortion policy climates among young adult Black women: Examining agreement between state classifications and participant perceptions. Sex Res Social Policy. 2026 Feb 24. PMID: 41822871.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 96 Publications:   View Full Profile in BUMC

Other Positions

  • Associate Professor, Psychiatry
    Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
  • Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research
    Boston University

Websites

Education

  • University of Washington, PhD
  • University of Washington, MS
  • University of Washington, MPH
  • Wesleyan University, BA

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