Monica Rose McLemore

Faculty

Monica McLemore headshot

Monica Rose McLemore

PhD RN MPH FADLN

Professor

1 212 998 5319

433 FIRST AVENUE
NEW YORK, NY 10010
United States

Prof. Monica R. McLemore is a Visiting Professor at NYU Meyers and is a noted scholar of antiracist birth equity research and national expert on reproductive health, rights, and justice.

Prior to joining NYU Meyers, McLemore was a tenured professor, holding the Endowed Chair for Health Promotion and is Director of the Manning-Price Spratlan Center for Anti-Racism and Equity in Nursing at the University of Washington (UW). Before UW, she was a tenured associate professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing, and held the Thelma Shobe Endowed Chair in Ethics and Spirituality.

Over a career spanning more than three decades, McLemore has distinguished herself as a scientist and clinical nurse whose work advancing understanding of reproductive health and justice has been cited in varied ways across many platforms, including six amicus briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court and publications ranging from Politico to Scientific American. She made a voice appearance on the Peabody Award-winning HBO series “Random Acts of Flyness”, and is editor-in-chief of the journal, Health Equity. 

McLemore also has an impressive record of mentoring diverse scholars and students, and in expanding the use of community-engaged research methods, in particular involving underrepresented groups in the research process.

Among her many awards, McLemore was recognized as the Society of Family Planning’s Mentor of the Year and honored with the American Public Health Association's Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Award for her work on maternal child health.

PhD, University of California
MPH, San Francisco State University
Minority Training Program in Cancer Control Research
BSN, The College Of New Jersey
Research Fellow, NINR Summer Genetics Institute
Anti-Racism and Equity
Health Equity
Health Policy
Reproductive Health
Society of Family Planning
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Washington State Nurses Association
Academy Health
Abortion Access Front
Health Equity Journal
Fellow, New York Academy of Medicine (2025)
Trailblazer Award, National Black Nurses Association (2025)
Harriet Cook Carter Lecture, Duke University (2025)
Inaugural Recipient of the SFGH Catalyst Award, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital First Annual Nursing Research Symposium (2025)
National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellowship, Reproductive Justice Unit (2025)
Fellow, Academy of Diverse Leaders in Nursing (2024)
2024 STATUS List, Stat News (2024)
McCausland Visiting Scholars, University of South Carolina (2024)
Excellence in Promoting Diversity Through Teaching Award, University of Washington School of Nursing (2024)
Researcher of the Year, Washington State Nurses Association (2023)
Legacy Award, Marcus Foster Education Institute’s 100 for the 100th Legacy Award recipients (2023)
Nurse Influencer on Social Media, Berxi (2023)
Mentor of the Year, Society of Family Planning (2022)
Alumni of the Year, The College of New Jersey School of Nursing (2022)
Maternal Child Health Section Outstanding Leadership and Advocacy Award, American Public Health Association (2021)
Nurse Influencer on Social Media, Berxi (2021)
Nursing Mutual Aid #2020: Global Hero Award, The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (2020)
Distinguished Leadership Award, The College of New Jersey (Alumni) (2020)
The Audacious Award, Alumni Association UCSF Foundation (2020)
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing (2019)
Excellence in Leadership Award, AWHONN (2019)
Thomas N. Burbridge Award, UCSF Chancellor's University Service Award (2019)
Person of the Year, Abortion Care Network (2018)
Association for Reproductive Health Professionals, Amazing Women in Reproductive Health (2017)
The Association for Wholistic Maternal and Newborn Health, Agent - Provocateur of the Year Award (2017)
Margretta Madden Styles Award, Sigma Theta Tau International (2017)
Excellence in Teaching Award, American College of Nurse Midwives (2015)
Speaking Race to Power Fellow, CoreAlign (2015)
Breakthrough Leaders in Nursing Award, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (2015)
UCSF Alpha Eta Leadership Hall of Fame, Sigma Theta Tau International (2014)
Doctoral Scholarship in Nursing, American Cancer Society (2007)
National Institute for General Medical Sciences Fellowship, UCSF (2003)
Cota Robles Regents Fellowship, UCSF (2002)
Outstanding Service Award, The Resident Staff of the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Stanford University School of Medicine (2000)
New Jersey Garden State Scholarship Program (1998)

Health Equity Tourism: Ravaging the Justice Landscape

McLemore, M. R., Lett, E., Adekunle, D., McMurray, P., Asabor, E. N. N., Irie, W., Simon, M. A., Hardeman, R., & McLemore, M. R. (2022). In Journal of medical systems (Vols. 46, Issues 3, p. 17).
Abstract
Abstract
As the long-standing and ubiquitous racial inequities of the United States reached national attention, the public health community has witnessed the rise of "health equity tourism". This phenomenon is the process of previously unengaged investigators pivoting into health equity research without developing the necessary scientific expertise for high-quality work. In this essay, we define the phenomenon and provide an explanation of the antecedent conditions that facilitated its development. We also describe the consequences of health equity tourism - namely, recapitulating systems of inequity within the academy and the dilution of a landscape carefully curated by scholars who have demonstrated sustained commitments to equity research as a primary scientific discipline and praxis. Lastly, we provide a set of principles that can guide novice equity researchers to becoming community members rather than mere tourists of health equity.

How a Public Health Crisis Created an Impetus for Change: The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's National Commission to Transform Public Health Data Systems: Expert Roundtable

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M., Robles, J., Schubert, K. G., & Whitt-Glover, M. C. (2022). In Health equity (Vols. 6, Issue 1, pp. 777-786).
Abstract
Abstract
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Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among women with a history of leukemia or lymphoma

McLemore, M. R., Anand, S. T., Ryckman, K. K., Baer, R. J., Charlton, M. E., Breheny, P. J., Terry, W. W., McLemore, M. R., Karasek, D. A., Jelliffe-Pawlowski, L. L., & Chrischilles, E. A. (2022). In Pregnancy hypertension (Vols. 29, pp. 101-107).
Abstract
Abstract
Hypertension during pregnancy can adversely affect maternal and fetal health. This study assessed whether diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma prior to pregnancy is associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy including gestational hypertension, preeclampsia and eclampsia.

Mental Health Implications of Abortion Restrictions for Historically Marginalized Populations

McLemore, M. R., Ogbu-Nwobodo, L., Shim, R. S., Vinson, S. Y., Fitelson, E. M., Biggs, M. A. A., McLemore, M. R., Thomas, M., Godzich, M., & Mangurian, C. (2022). In The New England journal of medicine (Vols. 387, Issues 17, pp. 1613-1617).
Abstract
Abstract
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"Police shootings, now that seems to be the main issue" - Black pregnant women's anticipation of police brutality towards their children

McLemore, M. R., Mehra, R., Alspaugh, A., Franck, L. S., McLemore, M. R., Kershaw, T. S., Ickovics, J. R., Keene, D. E., & Sewell, A. A. (2022). In BMC public health (Vols. 22, Issue 1, p. 146).
Abstract
Abstract
A disproportionate number of people who are killed by police each year are Black. While much attention rightly remains on victims of police brutality, there is a sparse literature on police brutality and perinatal health outcomes. We aimed to explore how Black pregnant women perceive police brutality affects them during pregnancy and might affect their children.

The Problem with “Justifying” Abortion: Why Real Reproductive Justice Cannot Be Achieved by Theorizing the Legitimacy of Abortion,  

McLemore, M. R. (2022). (1st ed., Vols. 9).
Abstract
Abstract
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The risk of preterm birth among women with a history of leukemia or lymphoma

McLemore, M. R., Anand, S. T., Chrischilles, E. A., Baer, R. J., Charlton, M. E., Breheny, P. J., Terry, W. W., McLemore, M. R., Karasek, D. A., Jelliffe-Pawlowski, L. L., & Ryckman, K. K. (2022). In The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine : the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians (Vols. 35, Issues 25, pp. 6115-6123).
Abstract
Abstract
Leukemia and lymphoma are top cancers affecting children, adolescents and young adults with high five-year survival rates. Late effects of these cancers are a concern in reproductive-age patients, including pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. Our study aimed to evaluate whether diagnosis of leukemia or lymphoma prior to pregnancy was associated with preterm birth (

Social Construction of Target Populations: A Theoretical Framework for Understanding Policy Approaches to Perinatal Illicit Substance Screening

McLemore, M. R., Cooper, N. M., Lyndon, A., McLemore, M. R., & Asiodu, I. V. (2022). In Policy, politics & nursing practice (Vols. 23, Issue 1, pp. 56-66).
Abstract
Abstract
Perinatal illicit substance use is a nursing and public health issue. Current screening policies have significant consequences for birthing individuals and their families. Racial disparities exist in spite of targeted and universal screening policies and practices. Thus, new theoretical approaches are needed to investigate perinatal illicit substance use screening in hospital settings. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the social construction of target populations theory in the context of perinatal illicit substance use screening. Using the theoretical insights of this theory to interrogate the approaches taken by policy makers to address perinatal illicit substance use and screening provides the contextual framework needed to understand why specific policy tools were selected when designing public policy to address these issues. The analysis and evaluation of this theory was conducted using the theory description and critical reflection model.

The Space in the Middle: Attitudes of Women's Health and Neonatal Nurses in the United States about Abortion

McLemore, M. R., Alspaugh, A., Mehra, R., Coleman-Minahan, K., Hoffmann, T. J., Burton, C. W., Eagen-Torkko, M., Bond, T. M., Franck, L. S., Olseon, L. C. C., Lanshaw, N., Rychnovsky, J. D., & McLemore, M. R. (2022). In Women’s health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health (Vols. 32, Issues 2, pp. 130-139).
Abstract
Abstract
Despite playing an integral part in sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion care, nurses are rarely the focus of research regarding their attitudes about abortion.

Systematic review of transcriptome and microRNAome associations with gestational diabetes mellitus

McLemore, M. R., Lewis, K. A., Chang, L., Cheung, J., Aouizerat, B. E., Jelliffe-Pawlowski, L. L., McLemore, M. R., Piening, B., Rand, L., Ryckman, K. K., & Flowers, E. (2022). In Frontiers in endocrinology (Vols. 13, p. 971354).
Abstract
Abstract
Gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with increased risk for preterm birth and related complications for both the pregnant person and newborn. Changes in gene expression have the potential to characterize complex interactions between genetic and behavioral/environmental risk factors for GDM. Our goal was to summarize the state of the science about changes in gene expression and GDM.