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 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 2/10/2026

    Yockey RA, Barroso CS, Nelson KM. Trends in Suicidal Behaviors among Hispanic Individuals: Differences by Sexual Orientation, 2015-2019, USA. Hisp Health Care Int. 2026 Feb 10; 15404153261419402. PMID: 41666109.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 2/3/2026

    Gray A, Sinclair S, Trepka MJ, Nelson KM. School-based sex education experiences among young adult Black women ages 18 to 22: Does state-level sex education policy matter? Am J Sex Educ. 2026 Feb 03. PMID: 41728339.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/1/2025

    Nelson KM, Edison B, Haiken S, Knapp-Broas H, Loret de Mola E, Perry NS. Adolescent Sexual Minority Males Engage in Sexual Behaviors With Both Male and Female Partners: Implications for HIV Prevention. AIDS Educ Prev. 2025 Dec; 37(6):462-472. PMID: 41428493.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/1/2025

    Schmit CD, Burris S, Abdool Karim S, Barsky BA, Grant S, Schnake-Mahl A, Tonti L, Douglas MD, Nelson KM, Goodin AJ, Underhill K, Poirier MJP, Bae JY, Piekarz-Porter E, Weber-Fares R, Ingber SZ, Chriqui JF. A Call for Formal Reporting Standards for Legal Research in Public Health Studies. Am J Public Health. 2025 Nov; 115(11):1779-1782. PMID: 41061211.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 93 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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