Part of UT Health San Antonio

Part of UT Health San Antonio

You are here

Kelly McGlothen-Bell

Contact

210-450-8518

mcglothen@uthscsa.edu

Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC

Assistant Professor

Dr. McGlothen-Bell is an Assistant Professor at UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing. Her research program is dedicated to improving health outcomes for mother-infant dyads affected by mental health and substance use disorders. Her work currently centers on investigating how early life exposures influence biological and behavioral mechanisms in infant health and neurobehavioral development from the newborn period through childhood. Dr. McGlothen-Bell’s research is driven by her goal of reducing the burden of maternal-infant health disparities. To do this, her research and clinical practice aims to address the optimization of family-centered care interventions, including infant feeding, to high-risk neonates, and to further investigate and determine the mechanism(s) by which human milk and other nutritional interventions protect infants and promote growth and development. Dr. McGlothen-Bell utilizes integrated approaches to a biological systems perspective, intersectionality, and community-engaged research to ensure that health interventions reach mother-infant dyads in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Her work is dedicated to protecting and promoting respectful maternity and neonatal care and birth and breastfeeding equity for all mothers and infants through advocacy, education, practice, and research. 

Dr. McGlothen-Bell has published numerous peer-reviewed articles related to developmental strategies for high-risk infants. She has also presented at regional, national, and international conferences. Dr. McGlothen-Bell has received numerous awards to include the 2019 National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Mentee/Mentor Grant Award. She was also selected as a 2017 Emerging Nurse Leader for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing and was a 2019-2021 Academy/Jonas Nurse Policy Scholar. 

  • Professional Background

    Education

    • 2017 - Doctor of Philosophy - Nursing - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
    • 2012 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
    • 2010 - Associates of Science - Pre-Nursing - Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX
    • 2010 - Associates of Art - Psychology - Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX

    Highlights

    Licensures and Certifications 

    • Registered Nurse 
    • IBCLC License

    Honors and Awards

    • 2019, American Academy of Nursing & Jonas Nurse Policy Scholar Fellowship  
    • 2019, Mentored Grant Award Recipient, National Association of Neonatal Nurses  

     

    Appointments

    • 2020-present - Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2017 - 2020 - NIDA Postdoctoral Training Fellow - UT Health San Antonio,
    • 2015 - 2017 - Graduate Research Assistant - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

  • Instruction & Training

    • 2021, NURS 3373: Family Nursing Care: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2021, NURS 7322 - DNP Healthcare: Policy Analysis & Advocacy , UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2021, NURS 3305 - Foundations of Nursing Care: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020, NURS 3371 - Foundations of Nursing Care: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
    • 2020, NURS 4533 - Disease Management III: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

  • Research & Grants

    Grants

    Currently Funded:  

    • 2019 - 2021, Funder: National Association of Neonatal Nurses Application Mentored Projects Dollars: $5,000. Title: Maternal Perceptions of Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure. Role: PI 
    • 2018 - 2021, Funder: Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) No. 2017-049623-002). Title: Substance Abuse-Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (SA/NAS). Role: Co-Investigator (PI: L. Cleveland) 
    • 2016 - 2021, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) 2017-050043-001. Title: Maternal Opioid Morbidity Study (MOMS). Role: Co-Investigator (PI: L. Cleveland) 

    Pending Submissions: 

    • 2021 - 2022, Funder: Nursing Advisory Council Grant Association. Dollars: $15,000. Title: Parent-Infant Interaction and Responsiveness during Feeding in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure. Role: PI 
    • 2021 - 2023, Funder: Mentored Research and Career Development (KL2) Program. Dollars: $189,500. Title: Early Life Stress and the Development of the Infant Gut Microbiota in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure.Role: PI 

    Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects: 

    • 2020 - 2022, Funder: NINR Diversity Supplement: 3 R01NR018192-01A1. Dollars: $179,500. Title:  Parent Interactions and Responsiveness with their Infants at Risk for Chronic Feeding Problems. Role: PI 
    • 2019 - 2021, Funder: Sigma/American Nurses Foundation. Dollars: $3,000. Title: Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure. Role: PI 
    • 2018 - 2019, Funder: ReACH/ IIMS Population Health Pilot Grant. Dollars: $15,000. Title: A Community-Academic Collaboration to Increase Breastfeeding among Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for an Opioid Use Disorder. Role: PI 

  • Service

    School

    Student Mentees/Trainees

    • 2022, Alonzo, A., Undergraduate Accelerated BSN student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA)
    • 2019, Crawford, A. Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Microaggressions in Childbearing Women 
    • 2019, Sanchez, L. International Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 
    • 2018, Davila, V. High school student, Voelcker Science Academy, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 
    • 2017, Crawford, A. Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 
    • 2017, Kyle, L. Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 

    Institutional

    • 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Council, Faculty Co-Chair 
    • 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing PhD Committee of Graduate Studies, Member 
    • 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing  Search Committee, Guest Member 

    Service to the Profession

    • 2022 – Editorial Advisory Board Member Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing 
    • 2021 – Consensus Panel Member Infant Family Centered Developmental Care (IFCDC) 
    • 2021 – Guest Reviewer Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing 
    • 2021, Guest Reviewer Nursing Research 
    • 2020, Respectful Maternity Care Association of Women’s Health, Framework Team Lead Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) 
    • 2019, PAC Member, AWHONN American Academy of Pediatrics Liaison (AAP) Physician Engagement & Training Focused on Infant Nutrition PAC 
    • 2018 – present, Guest Reviewer Advances of Neonatal Care 

    Professional Affiliations

    • 2021 - present, Member American Nurses Association (ANA)
    • 2019 – present, Member National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) 
    • 2018 – present, Guest Reviewer Advances of Neonatal Care 

    Community

    • 2021, Committee Co-Chair March of Dimes, SA, TX
    • 2017, Community Liaison Latched Support, SA, TX 
    • 2017, Regional Coordinator Postpartum Support International, San Antonio Region, SA, TX 
    • 2016, Community Lead African American Health Disparities, Council, SA, TX  

  • Publications

      Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

      • McGlothen-Bell, K., Groer, M., Gregory, K., Brownell, E.A., Francis, J., Crawford, A.D., Lopez, E., McGrath, J.M., (Under review, 2022). A scoping review of neonatal opioid withdrawal and the infant gut microbiome: Does human milk optimize infant outcomes?, Under Review; PLOS One 
      • Crawford, A. D., McGlothen-Bell, K. & Cleveland, L. (Under review, 2021). “I just did whatever they wanted me to do”: An examination of sexual violence in Latina mothers impacted by incarceration. Under review; BMC Public Health Journal  
      • Crawford, A. D., McGlothen-Bell, K. Marsh, N., & Cleveland, L. (Under review, 2021). “We’re still human!”: The experiences of Latina mothers impacted by incarceration using Reproductive Justice, Under Review; Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Violence  
      • McGlothen-Bell, K., Cleveland, L., Spencer, B., Crawford, A., Gill, S. (Under review, 2021). Intersectional Stigma and Infant Feeding in Childbearing Women with Opioid Use Disorder. Stigma and Health. 
      • Crawford, A. D., McGlothen-Bell, K., Recto, P., McGrath, J. M., Scott, L., Brownell, E. A., & Cleveland, L. M. (2022). Stigmatization of Pregnant Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder. Women's health reports (New Rochelle, N.Y.), 3(1), 172–179. https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2021.0112 
      • Estrem, H. H., Park, J., Thoyre, S., McComish, C., & McGlothen-Bell, K. (2022). Mapping the Gaps: A Scoping Review of Research on Pediatric Feeding Disorder. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 
      • Crawford, A. D., Darilek, U., McGlothen-Bell, K., Gill, S. L., Lopez, E., & Cleveland, L. (2022). Scoping Review of Microaggression as an Experience of Racism and Perinatal Health Outcomes. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing: JOGNN, S0884-2175(21)00334-8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2021.12.007 
      • Chu, L., McGrath, J. M., Oiao, J., Brownell, E., Recto, P., Cleveland, L. M., Lopez, E., Gelfond, J., Crawford, A., & McGlothen-Bell, K. (2021). A Meta-Analysis of Breastfeeding Effects for Infants With Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Nursing research, 10.1097/NNR.0000000000000555. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000555 
      • McGlothen-Bell K, Browne JV, Jaeger CB, Kenner C. Promoting Infant Mental Health in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit: Considerations in the Time of COVID-19. Adv Neonatal Care. 2021 Jun 1;21(3):169-170. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000883. PMID: 34010852. 
      • *McGlothen-Bell K, Recto P, McGrath JM, Brownell E, Cleveland LM. Recovering Together: Mothers' Experiences Providing Skin-to-Skin Care for Their Infants With NAS. Adv Neonatal Care. 2021 Feb 1;21(1):16-22. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000819. PMID: 33350710. 
      • *McGrath J.M., Bromiker R., Hanlon A., McGlothen-Bell K., Medoff-Cooper B. (2020, under review) Correlates and Trajectories of Preterm Infant Sucking Patterns and Sucking Organization at Term Age. (2020). Advances in Neonatal Care. 
      • *Apanovitch AR, McGrath JM, McGlothen-Bell K, Briere CE. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission Temperatures of Infants 1500 g or More: The Cold Truth. Adv Neonatal Care. 2020 Aug 19;PubMed PMID: 32826410 
      • *Recto P, McGlothen-Bell K, McGrath JM, Brownell E, Cleveland LM. The Role of Stigma in the Nursing Care of Families Impacted by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Adv Neonatal Care. 2020 Oct;20(5):354-363. PubMed PMID: 32868585.  
      • *McGlothen-Bell K, Cleveland LM, Recto P, Brownell E, McGrath J. Feeding Behaviors in Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure: An Integrative Review. Adv Neonatal Care. 2020 Oct;20(5):374-383. PubMed PMID: 32868587. 
      • *Cleveland LM, McGlothen-Bell K, Scott LA, Recto P. A life-course theory exploration of opioid-related maternal mortality in the United States. Addiction. 2020 Apr 12;PubMed PMID: 32279394.  
      • *Diallo AF, McGlothen-Bell K, Lucas R, Walsh S, Allen C, Henderson WA, Cong X, McGrath J. Feeding modes, duration, and diarrhea in infancy: Continued evidence of the protective effects of breastfeeding. Public Health Nurs. 2020 Mar;37(2):155-160. PubMed PMID: 31709650.  
      • *McGlothen-Bell, K., Cleveland, L., & Pados, B. F. (2019). To Consent, or Not to Consent, That Is the Question. Advances in Neonatal Care, 19(5), 371–375. doi: 10.1097/anc.0000000000000651 
      • *Pados, B. F., & McGlothen-Bell, K. (2019). Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the NICU. Nursing for Women’s Health, 23(3), 265-271. doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2019.03.004 
      • *McGlothen, K., & Cleveland, L. (2018). The right to Mother’s milk: A call for social justice that encourages breastfeeding for women receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Journal of Human Lactation, 0890334418789401. doi:10.1177/0890334418789401 
      • *McGlothen, K., Cleveland, L., & Gill, S. (2018). “I’m doing the best that I can for her”: Infant-feeding decisions of mothers receiving medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder. Journal of Human Lactation, 0890334417745521. 10.1177/0890334417745521   

      Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.) 

      Abstracts 

      • *McGlothen-Bell, K. & McGrath, J.M. (Accepted, 2022). A Scoping Review of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and the Infant Gut Microbiome: How Human Milk May Optimize Infant Outcomes. Advances in Neonatal Care. 
      • McGlothen, K., & Gill, S. (2017). Increasing Racial Equity/ Breastfeeding Beliefs and Attitudes among Black Americans. In P. Hall Smith, M. Labbok, & B. D. Chambers (Eds.), Breastfeeding, Social Justice, and Equity (pp. 79-86). Amarillo, TX: Praeclarus Press. 

      Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations) 

      • 2022 The Importance of Respectful Maternity Care for Women with Opioid Use Disorders, 2022 NAS Symposium, Virtual Conference 
      • 2022 Lactation and Substance Use Disorders, 2022 ACMT Annual Scientific Meeting & Symposium, Drug Science Meets Social Science - Substance Use, Pregnancy & the Baby, Virtual Conference 
      • 2022 Moving Beyond Labels to Deliver the Best Care for Pregnant People, Newborns, and Families, March of Dimes, Invited Panel Member, Virtual 
      • 2022 Respectful Maternity Care: Framework, Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline and Implementation Toolkit, Presented by AWHONN and sponsored by Huggies®.”  2022 Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Leadership Development Conference, Orlando, FA 
      • 2021 “Be the Change You Want to See! Introducing the Respectful Maternity Care Framework and Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline Presented by AWHONN and sponsored by Huggies®.”  2021 Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Annual Conference, Virtual Conference 
      • 2021 “Maternal Perceptions of Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure.” 2021 National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Annual Conference, Virtual Conference 
      • 2021, “Feeding Behaviors in the Opioid Exposed Infant.” GOLD Learning, Online Education 
      • 2021, “Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Pregnant Women.” TxMOUD Community of Practice ECHO, San Antonio, TX 
      • 2020, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Addressing Health Disparities.”  Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Texas Regional Conference, San Antonio, TX 
      • 2020, “Empowering Breastfeeding in Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Call for Policy Change.” GOLD Learning, Online Education 

      Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations  

      • 2018, “Ain’t I a mother:” Infant feeding in mothers participating in methadone maintenance treatment.” American Public Health Association, San Diego, CA 
      • 2018, “Infant feeding experiences of mothers receiving medication assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.” 2018 International Lactation Consultant Association Conference, Portland, Oregon 
      • 2018, “Adolescent Alcohol Use.” 8th Annual Voelcker Biosciences Teacher Academy (VBTA) Spring Conference, San Antonio, TX 
      • 2017, “Improving nursing care and outcomes for mother-infant dyads impacted by opioid use disorders.” Sigma Theta Tau International's 28th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland 
      • 2017, “I’m doing the best that I can for her: Infant feeding experiences of mothers receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for an opioid use disorder (OUD).” Postpartum Support International Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 
      • 2017, “Mothers and infants impacted by the opioid epidemic: A call for social justice.” Take Root conference, Norman, OK 
      • 2016, “Therapeutic techniques for reducing stress and improving attachment in opioid dependent mother-infant dyads.” International Zero to Three Conference, New Orleans, LA 
      • 2016, “I’m doing the best that I can for her: Infant feeding decision-making in opioid dependent mothers.” Breastfeeding and Feminism Conference, Durham, NC 

      Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations  

      • 2020, “Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure: An Integrated Review of the Literature.” 13th Biennial Conference of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Advocacy and Policy, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Meeting not held) 
      • 2020, “Ethical Issues in Informed Consent for the Use of Donor Human Milk in the NICU.” 13th Biennial Conference of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Advocacy and Policy, Chiang Mai, Thailand [meeting not held] 
      • 2020, “An Investigation of Breastfeeding Policies for Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders.” 2020 Human Milk Banking Association of North America Conference, Austin, TX. April 2020 [meeting not held] 
      • 2019, “An Integrated Review of Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure.” 2019 Advanced Methods Conference: The Expanding Science of Sensor Technology in Research, Washington, D.C 
      • 2019, “Infant feeding experiences of mothers receiving medication assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.” 2019 National Association of Neonatal Nurses Conference, Savannah, GA 
      • 2019, “The Impact of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on the Mother-Infant Dyad.” 2019 Zero to Three Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 
      • 2017, “I’m doing the best that I can for her: Infant feeding decision-making in mothers impacted by opioid use disorders.” Association for Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN), New Orleans, LA 
      • 2017, “Infant feeding decision-making in mothers receiving medication assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.” Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry Conference, San Antonio, TX 
      • 2016, “Infant feeding decisions among mothers receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT).” National Perinatal Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX 
      • 2016, “Infant feeding experiences among mothers enrolled in a methadone treatment program: An exploratory, sequential mixed methods study- the initial qualitative phase.” Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA) Conference, San Antonio, TX 

  • Clinical

    Hospital and Health Care Organization Service Responsibilities  

    • 2012 - 2015, University Hospital, Inpatient Secretary Women’s Health Breastfeeding Committee

Related media