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Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC

Assistant Professor

As a nurse scientist, Dr. Kelly McGlothen-Bell’s program of research is grounded in reproductive justice principles and guided by a commitment to research ethics and equity. Her work centers on policy-focused implementation science to reduce health disparities and improve health equity for communities of color and families affected by trauma and substance use. She specifically aims to: 1) address health inequities in historically underserved families, 2) translate research into ethical and equitable policy, and 3) optimize community–research partnerships to drive systems change. As one of a small handful of researchers in the United States examining how public health policy can improve health and safety for mother–infant dyads affected by substance exposure, her approach is deeply community-engaged and justice-oriented.

For over a decade, Dr. McGlothen-Bell has advanced community-informed health outcomes research, developing a nuanced understanding of how health policy and advocacy shape outcomes. Her work addresses critical gaps in reproductive rights and child welfare laws that impact pregnant and parenting people, leveraging partnerships to build evidence for policies that foster nurturing, equitable environments for mothers and infants. Currently, she is investigating how discrimination, intersectional stigma, and mandatory reporting policies influence access to obstetrical care and treatment services among pregnant and parenting people who use substances.

Dr. McGlothen-Bell has published more than 35 peer-reviewed articles on infant feeding, stigma, respectful maternity care, and family-centered neonatal care, and has presented at regional, national, and international conferences. Her leadership has been recognized through awards including the 2023 Inaugural Equity-Minded Nurse Rising Star Award, a 2023 Fellowship in the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (FAWHONN), a 2022–2024 Zero to Three Fellowship, and selection as a 2019–2021 Academy/Jonas Nurse Policy Scholar.

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