Monica McLemore, RN, PhD, FAAN

Associate Professor

At the University of California, San Francisco, Monica McLemore is a tenured associate professor in the Family Health Care Nursing Department, an affiliated scientist with Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, and a member of the Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health. I retired from clinical practice as a public health and staff nurse after a 28-year clinical nursing career. My program of research is grounded in reproductive justice, a lens I use to understand reproductive health and rights for people with the capacity for pregnancy. My work is grounded in the hypothesis that if we center the most marginalized people, care improves for everyone.

I conduct research across the reproductive spectrum including abortion, birth, cancer risk, contraception, family planning, and healthy sexuality, pleasure, and consent. My work exemplifies the combination of nursing, public health, and policy research using community engaged and embedded methods to develop programs to test and deliver interventions.

I am fortunate to lead many learners at the masters, PhD, MD, postdoctoral and early career faculty development levels. The program I lead is geared toward rigorous science and translation of that work to the public. We maintain a commitment to social media and science communication as well as open source access of community members to conduct research analyses important to them. I currently am leading or collaborating on 8 funded studies from anonymous donors to PCORI to Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and believe that public scholarship is essential for authentic community engagement.

I currently have 81 peer reviewed articles, OpEds and commentaries and my research has been cited in the Huffington Post, Lavender Health, four amicus briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States, and a National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine report. My work has appeared in publications such as Dame Magazine, Politico, ProPublica/NPR and I made a voice appearance in Terrance Nance’s HBO series Random Acts of Flyness. My work was published in the 2019 Future of Medicine edition of Scientific American as a data visualization project entitled How To Fix Maternal Mortality: The First Step is to stop blaming women. I am an elected member of the governing council for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) section of the American Public Health Association and am current chair of the SRH section (2020-2022). Finally, I am the recipient of numerous awards and was inducted into the American Academy of Nursing in October, 2019.
Education
Ph.D., 2010 - Nursing, University of California, San Francisco
MPH, 2002 - Health Education, San Francisco State University
BSN, 1993 - Nursing, The College of New Jersey
Honors and Awards
  • Partner, Social Venture Partners, 2022-2024
  • Thelma Shobe Endowed Chair, University of California, San Francisco, 2021-now
  • 2021 MCH Section Outstanding Leadership/Advocacy Award, American Public Health Association, 2021
  • Co-Director of the Birth Equity Research Scholars Program, National Birth Equity Collaborative, 2021
  • Best Research Article of the Year, American College of Nurse Midwives, 2020-2021
  • CTSI - RAP grant (Tober PI), University of California, San Francisco, 2020-2021
  • Distinguished Leadership Award, The College of New Jersey - 50th year anniversary gala, 2020
  • 2020 UCSF Campaign Alumni Award - Category-Audacious, University of California, San Francisco, 2020
  • Fellow, American Academy of Nursing, 2019
  • Excellence in Leadership, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses, 2019
  • Thomas N. Burnbridge Public Service Award, UCSF Office of the Chancellor, 2019
  • Person of the Year, Abortion Care Network, 2018
  • Agent - Provocateur of the Year Award, The Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health, 2017
  • Amazing Women in Reproductive Health, Association for Reproductive Health Professionals, 2017
  • Margretta Madden Styles Award, Sigma Theta Tau International - The Honor Society in Nursing, 2017
  • PTBi - RAP grant, University of California, San Francisco, 2016-2018
  • Hellman Family Awards for Early Career Faculty, Hellman Family Fellows Fund, 2015-2017
  • Speaking Race to Power Fellow, CoreAlign, 2015-2016
  • School of Nursing Intramural Research Award, University of California, San Francisco, 2015-2016
  • Excellence in Teaching Award, American College of Nurse Midwifery, 2015
  • Research Grant, Anonymous Funder, 2015
  • Culture of Health: Breakthrough Leaders in Nursing Award, Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, 2015
  • CTSI - RAP grant (McLemore PI), University of California, San Francisco, 2014-2015
  • Leadership Hall of Fame Inductee, Sigma Theta Tau International - The Honor Society in Nursing, Alpha Eta Chapter, 2014
  • Innovations in Reentry Grantee, Alameda County Public Health Department, 2013-2015
  • Research Grant, Sigma Theta Tau International - The Honor Society in Nursing, 2013-2014
  • Dean's Initiative, University of California San Francisco, 2013-2014
  • CTSI - RAP grant (McLemore PI), University of California, San Francisco, 2013-2014
  • Research Grant, Anonymous Funder, 2013
Websites
Publications

  1. Chambers, BD, Taylor, B, Nelson, T, Harrison, J, Bell, A, O'Leary, A, Arega, HA, Hashemi, S, McKenzie-Sampson, S, Scott, KA, Raine-Bennett, T, Jackson, AV, Kuppermann, M, McLemore, MR. Clinicians' Perspectives on Racism and Black Women's Maternal Health 2022. PMID:


  2. Brown K, Plummer M, Bell A, Combs M, Gates-Burgess B, Mitchell A, Sparks M, McLemore MR, Jackson A. Black Women's Lived Experiences of Abortion. 2022. PMID: 35537214


  4. Lett E, Adekunle D, McMurray P, Asabor EN, Irie W, Simon MA, Hardeman R, McLemore MR. Health Equity Tourism: Ravaging the Justice Landscape. 2022. PMID: 35150324


  5. Mehra R, Alspaugh A, Franck LS, McLemore MR, Kershaw TS, Ickovics JR, Keene DE, Sewell AA. "Police shootings, now that seems to be the main issue" - Black pregnant women's anticipation of police brutality towards their children. 2022. PMID: 35057776


  7. Alspaugh A, Mehra R, Coleman-Minahan K, Hoffmann TJ, Burton CW, Eagen-Torkko M, Bond TM, Franck LS, Olseon LC, Lanshaw N, Rychnovsky JD, McLemore MR. The Space in the Middle: Attitudes of Women's Health and Neonatal Nurses in the United States about Abortion. 2021. PMID: 34844851


  8. Carpenter JS, Zegers CA, Petrofsky DV. Leadership corner: Maternal infant health 2021. PMID:


  9. Battisto J, Casellas-Barnes M, Landau R, Lyndon A, Niles, P.; Editors Sullivan-Marx, E & McLemore MR.. MATERNAL HEALTH, THE FOURTH TRIMESTER AND BEYOND: The Case for Transformative Investments and Solutions in Maternal and Child Health 2021. PMID:


  11. Foster VA, Harrison JM, Williams CR, Asiodu IV, Ayala S, Getrouw-Moore J, Davis NK, Davis W, Mahdi IK, Nedhari A, Niles PM, Peprah S, Perritt JB, McLemore MR, Mask Jackson F. Reimagining Perinatal Mental Health: An Expansive Vision For Structural Change. 2021. PMID: 34606355


  12. Karasek D, Baer RJ, McLemore MR, Bell AJ, Blebu BE, Casey JA, Coleman-Phox K, Costello JM, Felder JN, Flowers E, Fuchs JD, Gomez AM, Karvonen K, Kuppermann M, Liang L, McKenzie-Sampson S, McCulloch CE, Oltman SP, Pantell MS, Piao X, Prather AA, Schmidt RJ, Scott KA, Spellen S, Stookey JD, Tesfalul M, Rand L, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL. The association of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy with preterm birth: A retrospective cohort study in California. 2021. PMID: 34642685


  15. Anand ST, Chrischilles EA, Baer RJ, Charlton ME, Breheny PJ, Terry WW, McLemore MR, Karasek DA, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL, Ryckman KK. The risk of preterm birth among women with a history of leukemia or lymphoma. 2021. PMID: 33832388


  16. Julian Z, Mengesha B, McLemore MR, Steinauer J. Community-Engaged Curriculum Development in Sexual and Reproductive Health Equity: Structures and Self. 2021. PMID: 33706348


  17. Fauteux, Nicole. American Journal of Nursing 2021. PMID:


  18. Taylor, J., Asiodu, IV., Mehra, R., Alspaugh, A., Bond, T., Franck, LS., McLemore, MR.. We Must Extend Postpartum Medicaid Coverage 2021. PMID:


  19. Chambers BD, Arega HA, Arabia SE, Taylor B, Barron RG, Gates B, Scruggs-Leach L, Scott KA, McLemore MR. Black Women's Perspectives on Structural Racism across the Reproductive Lifespan: A Conceptual Framework for Measurement Development. 2021. PMID: 33398713


  20. Black Mamas Matter Alliance Research Working Group
    Angela Aina, Ifeyinwa Asiodu, Philicia Castillo, Jill Denson, Courtney Drayton, Rose Aka James, Inas Mahdi, Nia Mitchell, Bella Morgan, Ayanna Robinson, Karen Scott, Caitlin Williams

    Black Scholars Group
    Helen A Arega, Abigail Aiyepola, Brittany D Chambers, Joia Crear-Perry, Ana Delgado, Kemi Doll, Nikia Grayson, Andrea Jackson, Cassondra (Cassie) Marshall, Zoë Julian, Monica R. McLemore, Biftu Mengesha, Sayida Peprah, Jessica Roach, Lynn Roberts, Didi Saint Louis, Sanithia Williams, Taida Wolfe. Black Maternal Health Research Re- Envisioned: Best Practices for the Conduct of Research With, For, and By Black Mamas 2020. PMID:


  21. Crear-Perry J, Correa-de-Araujo R, Lewis Johnson T, McLemore MR, Neilson E, Wallace M. Social and Structural Determinants of Health Inequities in Maternal Health. 2020. PMID: 33181043


  22. Trainor L, Frickberg-Middleton E, McLemore M, Franck L. Mexican-Born Women's Experiences of Perinatal Care in the United States. 2020. PMID: 33457525


  23. McLemore MR, Berkowitz RL, Oltman SP, Baer RJ, Franck L, Fuchs J, Karasek DA, Kuppermann M, McKenzie-Sampson S, Melbourne D, Taylor B, Williams S, Rand L, Chambers BD, Scott K, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL. Risk and Protective Factors for Preterm Birth Among Black Women in Oakland, California. 2020. PMID: 33034878


  24. Scott KA, Chambers BD, Baer RJ, Ryckman KK, McLemore MR, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL. Preterm birth and nativity among Black women with gestational diabetes in California, 2013-2017: a population-based retrospective cohort study. 2020. PMID: 33023524


  25. McSpedon, C. American Journal of Nursing 2020. PMID:


  26. Swartz A, Hoffmann TJ, Cretti E, Burton CW, Eagen-Torkko M, Levi AJ, Aztlan EA, McLemore MR. Attitudes of California Registered Nurses About Abortion. 2020. PMID: 32783889


  27. Niles PM, Asiodu IV, Crear-Perry J, Julian Z, Lyndon A, McLemore MR, Planey AM, Scott KA, Vedam S. Reflecting on Equity in Perinatal Care During a Pandemic. 2020. PMID: 32775943


  28. Boyd RW, Lindo EG, Weeks LD, McLemore MR. On Racism: A New Standard For Publishing On Racial Health Inequities 2020. PMID:


  29. Toquinto SM, Berglas NF, McLemore MR, Delgado A, Roberts SCM. Pregnant Women's Acceptability of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use Screening and Willingness to Disclose Use in Prenatal Care. 2020. PMID: 32622582


  30. Altman MR, McLemore MR, Oseguera T, Lyndon A, Franck LS. Listening to Women: Recommendations from Women of Color to Improve Experiences in Pregnancy and Birth Care. 2020. PMID: 32558179


  33. Edwards BN, McLemore MR, Baltzell K, Hodgkin A, Nunez O, Franck LS. What about the men? Perinatal experiences of men of color whose partners were at risk for preterm birth, a qualitative study. 2020. PMID: 32041561


  34. Britton LE, Alspaugh A, Greene MZ, McLemore MR. CE: An Evidence-Based Update on Contraception. 2020. PMID: 31977414


  35. Chambers BD, Arabia SE, Arega HA, Altman MR, Berkowitz R, Feuer SK, Franck LS, Gomez AM, Kober K, Pacheco-Werner T, Paynter RA, Prather AA, Spellen SA, Stanley D, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL, McLemore MR. Exposures to Structural Racism and Racial Discrimination among Pregnant and Early Postpartum Black Women living in Oakland, California. 2020. PMID: 31919987


  36. Franck LS, McLemore MR, Williams S, Millar K, Gordon AY, Williams S, Woods N, Edwards L, Pacheco T, Padilla A, Nelson F, Rand L. Research priorities of women at risk for preterm birth: findings and a call to action. 2020. PMID: 31928534


  38. McLemore MR, Choo EK. The right decisions need the right voices. 2019. PMID: 31571595


  40. Altman MR, Oseguera T, McLemore MR, Kantrowitz-Gordon I, Franck LS, Lyndon A. Information and power: Women of color's experiences interacting with health care providers in pregnancy and birth. Volume 238. 2019. PMID: 31434029


  41. McLemore MR, Asiodu I, Crear-Perry J, Davis DA, Drew M, Hardeman RR, Mendez DD, Roberts L, Scott KA. Race, Research, and Women's Health: Best Practice Guidelines for Investigators. Volume 134 of Issue 2. 2019. PMID: 31348216


  42. Ross KM, Dunkel Schetter C, McLemore MR, Chambers BD, Paynter RA, Baer R, Feuer SK, Flowers E, Karasek D, Pantell M, Prather AA, Ryckman K, Jelliffe-Pawlowski L. Socioeconomic Status, Preeclampsia Risk and Gestational Length in Black and White Women. 2019. PMID: 31368002


  43. Vedam S, Stoll K, Taiwo TK, Rubashkin N, Cheyney M, Strauss N, McLemore M, Cadena M, Nethery E, Rushton E, Schummers L, Declercq E. The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States. Volume 16 of Issue 1. 2019. PMID: 31182118


  45. Baer RJ, Berghella V, Muglia LJ, Norton ME, Rand L, Ryckman KK, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL, McLemore MR. Previous Adverse Outcome of Term Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Birth in Subsequent Pregnancy. Volume 23 of Issue 4. 2019. PMID: 30539421


  46. Scott KA, Britton L, McLemore MR. The Ethics of Perinatal Care for Black Women: Dismantling the Structural Racism in "Mother Blame" Narratives. Volume 33 of Issue 2. 2019. PMID: 31021935


  48. Baer RJ, McLemore MR, Adler N, Oltman SP, Chambers BD, Kuppermann M, Pantell MS, Rogers EE, Ryckman KK, Sirota M, Rand L, Jelliffe-Pawlowski LL. Pre-pregnancy or first-trimester risk scoring to identify women at high risk of preterm birth. Volume 231. 2018. PMID: 30439652


  49. Scott, KA, Bray, SRM, Asiodu, IV, McLemore, MR. An inconvenient truth: You have no answer that Black women don’t already possess 2018. PMID:


  50. Rebecca J. Baer, Lauren Lessard, Marta Jankowska, James G. Anderson, Jessica Block, Christina D. Chambers, Jonathan Fuchs, Miriam Kuppermann, Monica R. McLemore, Gail Newel, Scott P. Oltman, Elizabeth E. Rogers, Kelli K. Ryckman, Martina A. Steurer, Jiue-An Yang, Linda S. Franck, Larry Rand, Laura L. Jelliffe-Pawlowski. Comparison of risk and protective factors for preterm birth in rural, suburban, and urban Fresno County, California 2018. PMID:


  51. McLemore MR, Altman MR, Cooper N, Williams S, Rand L, Franck L. Health care experiences of pregnant, birthing and postnatal women of color at risk for preterm birth. Volume 201. 2018. PMID: 29494846


  52. Franck LS, McLemore MR, Cooper N, De Castro B, Gordon AY, Williams S, Williams S, Rand L. A Novel Method for Involving Women of Color at High Risk for Preterm Birth in Research Priority Setting. of Issue 131. 2018. PMID: 29364217


  53. Sarp Aksel MD Montefiore Medical Center, Lauren Broussard MSW, MPH DrPH(c) Columbia University, Meghan Eagen-Torkko PhD, CNM University of Washington, Bothell, Cynthia Greenlee PhD Independent scholar, Grace Howard PhD University of Southern Indiana, Frances E. Likis DrPH, NP, CNM Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health and Vanderbilt University, Monica McLemore PhD, MPH, RN University of California, San Francisco, Ghazaleh Moayedi, DO University of Hawai?i, Ashish Premkumar MD Northwestern University, Jessica Roach MPH(c) Independent scholar, Mona Shattell PhD, RN, FAAN Rush University and Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, Jenna Shaw-Battista PhD, CNM University of California, Davis, Diane Tober PhD University of California, San Francisco and Michelle Wright PhD, RN Emory University.. The Structure Of Scientific Devolutions: An Open Letter From Concerned Scholars 2017. PMID:


  55. Roach, J, Wingard, DL, McLemore, M.. Ohio Religious Coalition For Reproductive Choice 2017. PMID:


  56. Dr. Ifeyinwa Asiodu (University of California at San Francisco); Dr. Sarp Aksel (Montefiore Medical Center, New York); Dr. Jessica Draughon Moret (Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at University of California at Davis); Dr. Meghan Eagen-Torkko (University of Washington at Bothell); Yonah EtShalom, clinician and public health advocate (MSN, FNP); Dr. Monica R. McLemore (University of California at San Francisco); Dr. Ashish Premkumar (Northwestern University); Jessica Roach (MPH and public health advocate); Dr. Mona Shattell (Rush University); and Dr. Stephanie Tillman (University of Illinois at Chicago).. Who is the ‘Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act’ Protecting? 2017. PMID:


  57. Asiodu, I., Baltzell, K., Chen, A., Eagen-Torkko, M., Fuentes, L., Ghedi-Ehrlich, E., Greenlee, C., McLemore, M., Shattell, M., & Taylor, D.. Why Graham-Cassidy is a disaster for reproductive health and an assault on reproductive justice 2017. PMID:


  59. Taylor, D. Olshansky, EF, Johnson Mallard, V, Woods, NF, McLemore, MR, Shattell, M. (2017 July 23).. How Repealing the Affordable Care Act Threatens Women, Families, and Health 2017. PMID:


  60. McLemore MR, Aztlan EA. Retrospective Evaluation of the Procedural Sedation Practices of Expert Nurses During Abortion Care. Volume 46 of Issue 5. 2017. PMID: 28727994


  61. Baltzell K, McLemore M, Shattell M, Rankin S. Impacts on Global Health from Nursing Research. Volume 96 of Issue 4. 2017. PMID: 28219991


  62. McLemore MR, Levi AJ. Expanding Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services Through Nursing Education. Volume 46 of Issue 5. 2017. PMID: 28499751


  63. Burton CW, McLemore MR, Perry L, Carrick J, Shattell M. Social Media Awareness and Implications in Nursing Leadership. Volume 17 of Issue 4. 2017. PMID: 28558603


  64. Aztlan-James EA, McLemore M, Taylor D. Multiple Unintended Pregnancies in U.S. Women: A Systematic Review. Volume 27 of Issue 4. 2017. PMID: 28284587


  65. Dubbin L, McLemore M, Shim JK. Illness Narratives of African Americans Living With Coronary Heart Disease: A Critical Interactionist Analysis. Volume 27 of Issue 4. 2016. PMID: 27117961


  67. Taylor, D, McLemore M, Burton C, Hagan, T, Shattell, M.. Nurses Oppose Political Interference in Reproductive Health Care 2016. PMID:


  68. McLemore, M., Baltzell, K., Burton, C., Shattell, M., Taylor, D.. 'Mid-Level and Primary Care 'Providers': Nomenclature that Stings 2016. PMID:


  69. Perry, L., Carrick, J., McLemore, M., Burton, C., Apold, S., & Shattell, M.. How to infuse social media into a conference of tech-naive attendees 2015. PMID:


  70. Taylor, D., McLemore, M., Burton, C., Olshansky, E., Berg, J., Levi, A., Woods, N., & Shattell, M.. Missouri shreds academic freedom 2015. PMID:


  72. Shattell, M., McLemore, M.R., Burton, C.. Scientists Should Contribute to, Not Shun, Social Media 2015. PMID:


  73. Freedman L, Battistelli MF, Gerdts C, McLemore M. Radical or routine? Nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and physician assistants as abortion providers. Volume 23 of Issue 45. 2015. PMID: 26278836


  74. McLemore, M., Burton, C., & Shattell, M.. What’s sexual orientation got to do with it? LGBTQI reproductive health 2015. PMID:


  76. Shattell, M., McLemore, M., & Burton, C.. Twitter basics: Five simple steps to get you started 2015. PMID:


  77. McLemore, M., Burton, C., & Shattell, M.. What are the five best practices for tweeting from conferences 2015. PMID:


  78. Burton, C., McLemore, M., Shattell, M. Why Nurses Need Twitter. Huffington Post Tech 2015. PMID:


  79. McLemore MR, Kools S, Levi AJ. Calculus formation: nurses' decision-making in abortion-related care. Volume 38 of Issue 3. 2015. PMID: 25820100


  80. McLemore MR, Levi A, James EA. Recruitment and retention strategies for expert nurses in abortion care provision. Volume 91 of Issue 6. 2015. PMID: 25708505


  81. McLemore MR, Miaskowski C, Lee K, Chen LM, Aouizerat BE. Differences in the Molecular Species of CA125 Across the Phases of the Menstrual Cycle. Volume 18 of Issue 1. 2015. PMID: 25566791


  82. McLemore MR, Desai S, Freedman L, James EA, Taylor D. Women know best--findings from a thematic analysis of 5,214 surveys of abortion care experience. Volume 24 of Issue 6. 2014. PMID: 25442704


  83. McLemore M, Levi A. Nurses and care of women seeking abortions, 1971 to 2011. Volume 40 of Issue 6. 2011. PMID: 22273447


  84. McLemore MR, Aouizerat BE, Lee KA, Chen LM, Cooper B, Tozzi M, Miaskowski C. A comparison of the cyclic variation in serum levels of CA125 across the menstrual cycle using two commercial assays. Volume 14 of Issue 3. 2011. PMID: 21765119


  86. McLemore MR, Miaskowski C, Aouizerat BE, Chen LM, Dodd MJ. Epidemiological and genetic factors associated with ovarian cancer. Volume 32 of Issue 4. 2009. PMID: 19444085


  87. McLemore MR, Miaskowski C, Aouizerat BE, Chen LM, Dodd M. Rules of tumor cell development and their application to biomarkers for ovarian cancer. Volume 35 of Issue 3. 2008. PMID: 18467290


  88. McLemore MR. Gardasil: Introducing the new human papillomavirus vaccine. Volume 10 of Issue 5. 2006. PMID: 17063609


  89. McLemore MR. Workplace aggression: beginning a dialogue. Volume 10 of Issue 4. 2006. PMID: 16927896


  91. McLemore MR, Aouizerat B. Introducing the MUC16 gene: implications for prevention and early detection in epithelial ovarian cancer. Volume 6 of Issue 4. 2005. PMID: 15788735