Profiles

Judith A. Bernstein, PhD

Emeritus Professor, Community Health Sciences - Boston University School of Public Health

jbernste@bu.edu
Crosstown Center - CT431B
View Full Profile at BUMC

Biography

Dr. Bernstein is Emeritus Professor of Community Health Sciences at Boston University School of Public Health and Professor of Emergency Medicine at Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine. As both nurse and public health professional for the past 60 years, she has worked with both inner-city and rural communities to develop comprehensive, equitable and integrated approaches to women's health. Dr. Bernstein holds an MSN in psychiatric nursing and a doctorate in health policy, is certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and is the 1995 recipient of the prestigious National NCC award. Her research focuses on prevention strategies that bring public health into the medical setting, including implementation of 'in-reach'--peer model interventions to bridge the cultural, language and knowledge gaps between patients and providers. She has worked closely with communities, starting in the early 70’s with development of a doula model for a birth center in rural NM that continues to exist today. She also co-originated Project Assert, a program that brings community peers into the ED at Boston Medical Center and other institutions as members of the clinical team.

Her research (>130 peer reviewed papers) sounds an alarm about failure to follow women with gestational diabetes after delivery, and details the impact of substance abuse disorder on the health of women in Massachusetts aged 15-49 and their neonates, looking specifically at social and policy barriers to parental custody post-delivery. She coauthored a key document setting the national agenda for women’s health across the age continuum, and provided the data for passage of a MA bill to require interpretation for patients in all EDs. Dr. Bernstein was a member of the Committee on Ethics of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists for 15 years. She currently consults, mentors former students, and reviews for peer journals.

Other Positions

  • Professor, Emergency Medicine - Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine

Education

  • Brandeis University, PhD Field of Study: Health Policy Management
  • University of New Mexico, MSN Field of Study: Nursing
  • Stanford University, BA Field of Study: Japanese
  • University of New Mexico, ADN Field of Study: Nursing

Websites

Publications

  • Published on 7/11/2024

    De La Hoz A, Graves K, Bernstein JA, Assoumou SA. HIV and hepatitis C virus-related misinformation may contribute to rising rates of infection and suboptimal clinical outcomes among persons with substance use. AIDS Care. 2024 Dec; 36(12):1771-1780. PMID: 38991115.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 6/17/2024

    Assoumou SA, Bonilla HV, Ruiz-Mercado G, Von Lossnitzer M, Baker R, Crawford ND, Bernstein JA. Community-based HIV Self-testing for Persons Who Use Drugs Can Contribute to Reaching Ending the HIV Epidemic in the US (EHE) Goals. Open Forum Infect Dis. 2024 Jun; 11(6):ofae189. PMID: 38887480.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 5/23/2024

    Schiff DM, Li WZM, Work EC, Goullaud L, Vazquez J, Paulet T, Dorfman S, Selk S, Hoeppner BB, Wilens T, Bernstein JA, Diop H. Multiple marginalized identities: A qualitative exploration of intersectional perinatal experiences of birthing people of color with substance use disorder in Massachusetts. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Aug; 163:209346. PMID: 38789329.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 11/22/2023

    Schiff DM, Muftu S, MacMillan KDL, Work EC, Hoeppner BB, Greenfield SF, Schwartz L, Chaiyachati B, Wilens TE, Bernstein JA. Mutual Mistrust: The Multilayered Experiences at the Intersection of Healthcare and Early Parenting Among Mothers With Opioid Use Disorder. J Addict Med. 2024 Jan-Feb 01; 18(1):55-61. PMID: 37994464.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 6/6/2023

    Lemansky MG, Martin AK, Bernstein JA, Assoumou SA. Research Compensation and Enhanced Contacts in Studies With Persons Who Use Drugs: Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic Demand a Reset. Subst Abuse. 2023; 17:11782218231179039. PMID: 37309367.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/5/2023

    Martin AK, Perryman T, Bernstein JA, Taylor JL, Cruz R, Muroff J, Samet JH, Assoumou SA. Peer recovery coaching for comprehensive HIV, hepatitis C, and opioid use disorder management: The CHORUS pilot study. Drug Alcohol Depend Rep. 2023 Jun; 7:100156. PMID: 37113387.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 9/1/2022

    David AR, Sian CR, Gebel CM, Linas BP, Samet JH, Sprague Martinez LS, Muroff J, Bernstein JA, Assoumou SA. Barriers to accessing treatment for substance use after inpatient managed withdrawal (Detox): A qualitative study. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2022 Nov; 142:108870. PMID: 36084559.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 3/1/2022

    Schiff DM, Work EC, Foley B, Applewhite R, Diop H, Goullaud L, Gupta M, Hoeppner BB, Peacock-Chambers E, Vilsaint CL, Bernstein JA, Bryant AS. Perinatal Opioid Use Disorder Research, Race, and Racism: A Scoping Review. Pediatrics. 2022 03 01; 149(3). PMID: 35156121.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 2/2/2022

    Massey ESG, Bazzi AR, Sian CR, Gebel CM, Bernstein JA, Assoumou SA. "I've been 95% safe": perspectives on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis at a drug detoxification center: a qualitative study. AIDS Care. 2023 Apr; 35(4):461-465. PMID: 35109737.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/24/2021

    Schiff DM, Partridge S, Gummadi NH, Gray JR, Stulac S, Costello E, Wachman EM, Jones HE, Greenfield SF, Taveras EM, Bernstein JA. Caring for Families Impacted by Opioid Use: A Qualitative Analysis of Integrated Program Designs. Acad Pediatr. 2022 Jan-Feb; 22(1):125-136. PMID: 33901729.

     Read At: PubMed

View 127 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC

News & In the Media

View all profiles