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. Having both a public health and 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 health inequities among marginalized adolescents and adults. Additionally her work focuses on the ethical and legal issues involved in sexual health research and interventions with adolescents and ways to use technology effectively and ethically for data collection and health promotion interventions.

Publications

  • Published 10/18/2025

    Cheng, M., Levinson, E., Pierre, J., Reddy, D., Sattler, K., Siva, O., Wu, J., & Nelson, K.M. . Youth Voices are Needed Now More than Ever to Improve Adolescent Sexual Health Research: Lessons from Five Years with a Youth Advisory Board. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. 2025.

    Read at: Custom

  • Published 10/7/2025

    Knopf A, Macapagal K, Nelson KM. Ethical Implications of Study Terminations. Pediatrics. 2025 Oct 07. PMID: 41052787.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 9/12/2025

    Gray A, Sinclair S, Trepka MJ, Nelson KM. Exploring State- and Individual-Level Characteristics Associated with Perceived Barriers to Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Among Young Adult Black Women. J Sex Res. 2025 Sep 12; 1-14. PMID: 40937824.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 8/21/2025

    Nelson KM, Gray A, Haiken S, Underhill K. The State of Sexual Education: State Laws and Regulations Mandating Sexual Education in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2025 Oct; 115(10):1723-1733. PMID: 40839855.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 6/13/2025

    Mazon C, Badillo C, Polanco Walters F, Hughto JMW, Nelson KM, Gordon AR. Experiences of Gender and Racial/Ethnic Discrimination in Sexual Healthcare Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults of Color. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2025 Jun; 57(2):231-240. PMID: 40514048.

    Read at: PubMed

View All 87 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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