Nicole Z. Spence, MD

Assistant Professor, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Biography

Dr. Nicole Spence received her medical degree from Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School before completing her anesthesiology residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University in New York, NY. She went on to pursue advanced training through an accredited fellowship in Regional Anesthesiology and Acute Pain Management at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. She is a board-certified anesthesiologist.

With a strong dedication to advancing perioperative care, Dr. Spence focuses on improving pain control, enhancing patient satisfaction, and implementing opioid-sparing strategies through the use of regional anesthetic techniques. Her academic interests include anesthesia in women’s health, innovation in pain management, and medical education.

In her clinical practice, Dr. Spence specializes in orthopedic, obstetric, regional, and perioperative anesthesiology. She has significant expertise in caring for complex obstetric patients, including those with high-risk comorbidities including substance use disorders, ensuring safe and compassionate management during childbirth. She is deeply committed to teaching and mentoring students and trainees, and she has authored numerous institutional guidelines designed to standardize practice, optimize safety, and elevate patient outcomes.

Publications

  • Published 2/1/2025

    Schwartz DM, Leiba R, Feldman CL, Spence NZ, Oratz R, Wald HS, Roth S. Correction to: Social Media, Survey, and Medical Literature Data Reveal Escalating Antisemitism Within the United States Healthcare Community. J Relig Health. 2025 Feb; 64(1):224. PMID: 39913026.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 12/1/2024

    Schwartz DM, Leiba R, Feldman CL, Spence NZ, Oratz R, Wald HS, Roth S. Social Media, Survey, and Medical Literature Data Reveal Escalating Antisemitism Within the United States Healthcare Community. J Relig Health. 2025 Feb; 64(1):206-223. PMID: 39616591.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 11/18/2024

    Feldman CL, Spence NZ. Responsibilities of Medical Professionals Amidst Geopolitical Conflict. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Apr; 40(5):1169-1174. PMID: 39557749.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 4/9/2024

    Roth S, Wald HS, Spence NZ, Oratz R, Schwartz DM. Hypocrisy of moral imperatives in the Israel-Hamas war. Lancet. 2024 Apr 20; 403(10436):1542. PMID: 38608685.

    Read at: PubMed

  • Published 1/1/2024

    Das S, Vasudevan A, Nieves-Rivera A, Edwards H, Spence NZ. Perceptions about perioperative communication among anesthesiologists and surgeons and the impact of perceived status hierarchies on teamwork in the operating room. JCA Advances. 2024; 10012.

    Read at: Custom

Education

  • Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, MD
  • Emory University, BS