
Kimberly M Nelson, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor, Community Health Sciences - 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.
Other Positions
- Associate Professor, Psychiatry - Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
- Member, Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research - Boston University
Education
- University of Washington, PhD Field of Study: Clinical/Counseling Psychology
- University of Washington, MS Field of Study: Clinical/Counseling Psychology
- University of Washington, MPH Field of Study: Epidemiology
- Wesleyan University, BA Field of Study: Psychology
Websites
Classes Taught
- SPHSB821
Publications
- Published on 2/1/2025
Underhill K, Nelson KM. Pulling Out the Rug on Informed Consent - New Legal Threats to Clinicians and Patients. N Engl J Med. 2025 Feb 01. PMID: 39899893.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 1/1/2025
Maas, M.K., Wright, P.J., Rothman, E.F., Nelson, K.M., Weigle, P., & Herbenick, D. In: Christakis DA, Hale L, eds. Children and Screens: A Handbook on Digital Media and the Development, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents. Pornography Use During Adolescence: The Current State of Knowledge and Recommendations. Springer. New York, NY. 2025.
Read At: Custom
- Published on 1/1/2025
Ranker, L.R., Korkodilos, R., Conti, J., Nelson, K.M., Xuan, Z., Gordon, A.R., & Katz-Wise, S.L. One-in-ten adolescents and young adults report changes in their sexual orientation identity over 2-month follow-up: Results from a longitudinal cohort study. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. 2025; Epub ahead of print. .
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- Published on 1/1/2025
Macapagal, K., Wongsomboon, V., Gordon, J.D., Nelson, K.M., & Widman, LM. In: Christakis DA, Hale L, eds. Children and Screens: A Handbook on Digital Media and the Development, Health, and Well-being of Children and Adolescents. Online sexual communication and partner seeking among adolescents. Springer. New York, NY. 2025.
Read At: Custom
- Published on 12/12/2024
Hughto JMW, Hughes LD, Nelson KM, Perry NS, Mimiaga MJ, Biello KB, Bailey A, Pantalone DW. An initial randomized controlled trial of a Combined Medication and Behavioral Activation Treatment (CoMBAT) for people with opioid use disorder. J Subst Use Addict Treat. 2024 Dec 12; 169:209602. PMID: 39672333.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 9/19/2024
Underhill K, Earnshaw VA, Nelson KM. The Synergistic Health Threats of State Laws Targeting Marginalized Groups in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2024 Dec; 114(12):1335-1343. PMID: 39298696.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 8/2/2024
Gordon AR, Haiken S, Murchison GR, Agénor M, Hughto JMW, Nelson KM. Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Perceptions and Preferences Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults in the United States. Qual Health Res. 2025 Jan; 35(1):74-87. PMID: 39095331.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 4/4/2024
Katz-Wise SL, Ranker LR, Korkodilos R, Conti J, Nelson KM, Xuan Z, Gordon AR. Will all youth answer sexual orientation and gender-related survey questions? An analysis of missingness in a large U.S. survey of adolescents and young adults. Psychol Methods. 2024 Apr 04. PMID: 38573664.
Read At: PubMed
- Published on 3/4/2024
Nelson, KM, Campbell, JK, Rahimian, AN, Frieson, TM, Moslander, DE, Victoria E. Richardson, VE, & Rothman, EF. “We’re All Still Learning About How to Talk About Porn”: Teacher and Administrator Perspectives About Inclusion of Education About Pornography in Massachusetts High School Sex Education Programs. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. 2024; ePub Online.
Read At: Custom
- Published on 2/5/2024
Stout CD, Ybarra ML, Mitchell KJ, Nelson KM. "An escape from the isolation": Youth thoughts about the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent sexual behavior and alcohol use. J Adolesc. 2024 Jun; 96(4):865-873. PMID: 38311967.
Read At: PubMed
View 68 more publications:View Full Profile at BUMC
News & In the Media
- Published on February 4, 2025
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Published on September 20, 2024
Surge in Discriminatory State Laws Threatens the Health of Multiple Marginalized Groups
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Published on May 31, 2024
Majority of Youth Are Willing to Answer Questions About Their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity
- Published on May 30, 2024
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Published on September 1, 2023
Massachusetts Is Updating Its Sex Ed Guidelines for the First Time in 24 Years
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Published on February 28, 2023
Despite Increased Minor Consent Laws for STI, HIV Services, Barriers Persist
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Published on February 6, 2023
Minor Consent Laws for STI/HIV Services Increased across Us, but Limitations Persist
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Published on February 3, 2023
Minor Consent Laws for STI/HIV Services Have Increased Across US, but Limitations Persist
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Published on September 9, 2022
Too Many Youth and Their Doctors Are Unaware of Minor Consent Laws
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Published on September 24, 2021
Professor Receives $3.2M NIH Grant to Study COVID-19 Impact on Adolescent Health
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Published on July 13, 2021
Popular Gay Dating App Grindr Poses Exploitation Risk to Minors
- Published on November 24, 2020
- Published on May 29, 2020
- Published on May 29, 2020
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Published on May 4, 2020
Stuck at Home and Online, How Are Queer Teens Handling COVID-19?
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Published on February 6, 2020
Professor Receives $2.7 Million to Study Impact of Minor Consent Laws
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Published on January 13, 2020
Researchers Opinion Regarding Pornography as a Public Health Crisis
- Published on January 13, 2020
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Published on January 13, 2020
Pornography Is Not Public Health Crisis, Says Boston University Study
- Published on January 10, 2020
- Published on January 10, 2020
- Published on January 9, 2020