Kimberly Nelson
Profiles

Kimberly M Nelson, PhD, MPH

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

(617) 358-1482
knel@bu.edu
Crosstown Center
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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.

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 5/18/2026

    Nelson KM, Underhill K, Dunsiger SI, Bond JC, Haiken S, LaBranche C, Austin SB, Ybarra ML. Presence and Knowledge of Minor Consent Laws and STI Testing in US Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2026 May 18. PMID: 42144241.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 4/3/2026

    Brown HL, Underhill K, Gradus JL, Nelson KM. History of Minor Consent Laws for Mental Health Treatment in the US. JAMA Health Forum. 2026 Apr 03; 7(4):e260927. PMID: 42030053.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 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 on 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 on 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 on 1/26/2026

    Bond JC, Ybarra ML, Ranker LR, Nelson KM. Consistency of Adolescent Self-Report of Age at First Engagement in Five Sexual Behaviors. J Sex Res. 2026 Jan 26; 1-8. PMID: 41587090.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 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 on 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
  • Published on 11/1/2025

    Knopf A, Macapagal K, Nelson KM. Ethical Implications of Study Terminations. Pediatrics. 2025 Nov 01; 156(5). PMID: 41052787.

     Read At: PubMed
  • Published on 10/18/2025

    Cheng M, Levinson E, Pierre J, Reddy D, Sattler K, Siva O, Wu J, Nelson KM. Youth voices are needed now more than ever to improve adolescent sexual health research: Lessons from five years with a youth advisory board. Sex Res Social Policy. 2025 Oct 18. PMID: 41541233.

     Read At: PubMed

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