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)

Listening to Women: Recommendations from Women of Color to Improve Experiences in Pregnancy and Birth Care

McLemore, M. R., Altman, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Oseguera, T., Lyndon, A., & Franck, L. S. (2020). In Journal of midwifery & women’s health (Vols. 65, Issues 4, pp. 466-473).
Abstract
Abstract
Women of color are at increased risk for poor birth outcomes, often driven by upstream social determinants and socially structured systems. Given the increasing rate of maternal mortality in the United States, particularly for women of color, there is a pressing need to find solutions to improving care quality and access for racially marginalized communities. This study aims to describe and thematically analyze the recommendations to improve pregnancy and birth care made by women of color with lived experience of perinatal health care.

Mexican-Born Women's Experiences of Perinatal Care in the United States

McLemore, M. R., Trainor, L., Frickberg-Middleton, E., McLemore, M., & Franck, L. (2020). In Journal of patient experience (Vols. 7, Issues 6, pp. 941-945).
Abstract
Abstract
Mexican-born women represent a significant proportion of the obstetric patient population in California and have higher incidence of adverse obstetric outcomes than white women, including maternal postpartum hemorrhage and perinatal depression. Little is known, however, about Mexican-born women's experiences of maternity care in the United States. Qualitative methods were used to conduct a secondary analysis of interview transcripts, field notes, original photographs, and analytic memos from a study of 7 Mexican-born women's birth experiences. Participants reported social isolation influenced their expectations of maternity care. Disconnection, characterized by unmet physical and relational needs, yielded negative experiences of maternity care, while positive experiences were the result of attentive care wherein they felt providers cared about them as individuals.

Pregnant Women's Acceptability of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drug Use Screening and Willingness to Disclose Use in Prenatal Care

McLemore, M. R., Toquinto, S. M., Berglas, N. F., McLemore, M. R., Delgado, A., & Roberts, S. C. M. (2020). In Women’s health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health (Vols. 30, Issues 5, pp. 345-352).
Abstract
Abstract
Despite the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) use screening as part of prenatal care, pregnant women's perspectives on screening are largely absent from research and clinical practice. This study examines pregnant women's acceptability of ATOD screening and willingness to disclose their ATOD use in prenatal care.

Preterm birth and nativity among Black women with gestational diabetes in California, 2013-2017: a population-based retrospective cohort study

McLemore, M. R., Scott, K. A., Chambers, B. D., Baer, R. J., Ryckman, K. K., McLemore, M. R., & Jelliffe-Pawlowski, L. L. (2020). In BMC pregnancy and childbirth (Vols. 20, Issue 1, p. 593).
Abstract
Abstract
Despite the disproportionate prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) and preterm birth (PTB) and their associated adverse perinatal outcomes among Black women, little is known about PTB among Black women with GDM. Specifically, the relationship between PTB by subtype (defined as indicated PTB and spontaneous PT labor) and severity, GDM, and nativity has not been well characterized. Here we examine the risk of PTB by severity (early

Reflecting on Equity in Perinatal Care During a Pandemic

McLemore, M. R., Niles, P. M. M., Asiodu, I. V., Crear-Perry, J., Julian, Z., Lyndon, A., McLemore, M. R., Planey, A. M., Scott, K. A., & Vedam, S. (2020). In Health equity (Vols. 4, Issue 1, pp. 330-333).
Abstract
Abstract
Growing discourse around maternity care during the pandemic offers an opportunity to reflect on how this crisis has amplified inequities in health care. We argue that policies upholding the rights of birthing people, and policies decreasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission are not mutually exclusive. The explicit lack of standardization of evidence-based maternity care, whether expressed in clinical protocols or institutional policy, has disproportionately impacted marginalized communities. If these factors remain unexamined, then it would seem that equity is not the priority, but retaining power and control is. We advocate for a comprehensive understanding of how this pandemic has revealed our deepest failures.

Research priorities of women at risk for preterm birth: findings and a call to action

McLemore, M. R., Franck, L. S., McLemore, M. R., Williams, S., Millar, K., Gordon, A. Y., Williams, S., Woods, N., Edwards, L., Pacheco, T., Padilla, A., Nelson, F., & Rand, L. (2020). In BMC pregnancy and childbirth (Vols. 20, Issue 1, p. 10).
Abstract
Abstract
Traditional hierarchical approaches to research give privilege to small groups with decision-making power, without direct input from those with lived experience of illness who bear the burden of disease. A Research Justice framework values the expertise of patients and communities as well as their power in creating knowledge and in decisions about what research is conducted. Preterm birth has persisted at epidemic levels in the United States for decades and disproportionately affects women of color, especially Black women. Women of color have not been included in setting the agenda regarding preterm birth research.

A Transdisciplinary Conceptual Framework of Contextualized Resilience for Reducing Adverse Birth Outcomes

McLemore, M. R., Sumbul, T., Spellen, S., & McLemore, M. R. (2020). In Qualitative health research (Vols. 30, Issue 1, pp. 105-118).
Abstract
Abstract
Research in preterm birth has focused on the disparate outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and Latina women as compared with White women. However, research studies have not focused on centering these women in frameworks that discuss how resilience is embodied. This article is a presentation of our transdisciplinary contextual framework of resilience, building on work that centers Black, Hispanic, and Latina women, as well as historical oppression and trauma resilience frameworks developed by transcultural psychiatry, psychology, public health, anthropology, medicine, nursing, sociology, and social work. To develop the model, we reviewed 115 articles and books (1977-2019), which were then evaluated and synthesized to develop a transdisciplinary framework of contextualized resilience to enable a better understanding of the complex interplay of medical and social conditions influencing preterm birth. The framework includes multiple ecological layers that cross the individual, familial and intimate, community, structural, policy and law, and hegemonic domains.

What about the men? Perinatal experiences of men of color whose partners were at risk for preterm birth, a qualitative study

McLemore, M. R., Edwards, B. N., McLemore, M. R., Baltzell, K., Hodgkin, A., Nunez, O., & Franck, L. S. (2020). In BMC pregnancy and childbirth (Vols. 20, Issue 1, p. 91).
Abstract
Abstract
Preterm birth in the United States is associated with maternal clinical factors such as diabetes, hypertension and social factors including race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. In California, 8.7% of all live births are preterm, with African American and Black families experiencing the greatest burden. The impact of paternal factors on birth outcomes has been studied, but little is known about the experience of men of color (MOC). The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of MOC who are partners to women at medical and social risk for preterm birth.

Establishing an Evidence Base for Meeting the Reproductive Health Needs of Immigrants

McLemore, M. R., & McLemore, M. R. (2019). In Journal of women’s health (2002) (Vols. 28, Issues 11, pp. 1456-1457).
Abstract
Abstract
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The Ethics of Perinatal Care for Black Women: Dismantling the Structural Racism in "Mother Blame" Narratives

McLemore, M. R., Scott, K. A., Britton, L., & McLemore, M. R. (2019). In The Journal of perinatal & neonatal nursing (Vols. 33, Issues 2, pp. 108-115).
Abstract
Abstract
Perinatal and neonatal nurses have a critical role to play in effectively addressing the disproportionate prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes experienced by black childbearing families. Upstream inequities in maternal health must be better understood and addressed to achieve this goal. The importance of maternal health before, during, and after pregnancy is illustrated with the growing and inequitable prevalence of 2 common illnesses, pregestational diabetes and chronic hypertension, and 2 common conditions during and after pregnancy, gestational diabetes and preterm birth. New care models are needed and must be structured on appropriate ethical principles for serving black families in partnership with nurses. The overarching purpose of this article is to describe the ethics of perinatal care for black women; to discuss how social determinants of health, health disparities, and health inequities affecting women contribute to poor outcomes among their children; and to provide tools to dismantle structural racism specific to "mother blame" narratives." Finally, strategies are presented to enhance the provision of ethical perinatal care for black women by nurses.