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)

Calculus formation: nurses' decision-making in abortion-related care

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Kools, S., & Levi, A. J. (2015). In Research in nursing & health (Vols. 38, Issues 3, pp. 222-31).
Abstract
Abstract
Nurses routinely provide care to patients in ethically challenging situations. To explore the continuum between conscientious objectors and designated staff in the provision of care to women seeking abortions, the aim of this study was to thickly describe decision-making, using abortion as the clinical context to elucidate how nurses approach ethically challenging work. A purposive sample of 25 nurses who worked in abortion clinics, emergency departments, intensive care units, labor, and delivery, operating rooms, and post anesthesia care units were interviewed. Qualitative description and thematic analysis were used to identify the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral processes in nurses' decisions to care for women needing abortions. Nurses developed and used multifaceted, real-time calculi when making decisions about their participation in emergent or routine abortion care. Nurses tacked back and forth between the personal and professional and/or held multiple contradictory positions simultaneously. Nurses weighed the role and opinion of others to determine if they know how to or know why they would provide abortion care to women, particularly in the elective abortion context. The parameters of the nurse-patient relationship were complex and specific to the experiences of both the nurse and patient. Findings from this study further develop the science of ethically challenging decision-making and expand our understanding of factors that influence how nurses develop relationships to ethically challenging work.

Evaluation of the East Bay Community Birth Support Project, a Community-Based Program to Decrease Recidivism in Previously Incarcerated Women

McLemore, M. R., Stanley, D., Sata, N., Oparah, J. C. C., & McLemore, M. R. (2015). In Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN (Vols. 44, Issues 6, pp. 743-50).
Abstract
Abstract
The East Bay Community Birth Support Project provides entry into the health professions for previously incarcerated women and enhances access to culturally appropriate doula support for low-income communities. Sixteen women of color were trained as doulas: eight were identified as low-income and eight were previously incarcerated. Qualitative focus group data from program participants showed an increase in empowerment, improved assessment of skills, and confidence in perceived ability to provide doula support. To date, no incidents of recidivism have occurred.

Radical or routine? Nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and physician assistants as abortion providers

McLemore, M. R., Freedman, L., Battistelli, M. F. F., Gerdts, C., & McLemore, M. (2015). In Reproductive health matters (Vols. 23, Issues 45, pp. 90-2).
Abstract
Abstract
In 2013 California passed legislation that expanded the pool of eligible aspiration abortion providers to include advanced practice nurses, nurse-midwives, and physician-assistants. This law, enacted in 2014, is based on evidence generated by the Health Workforce Pilot Project #171, which examined the safety and effectiveness of aspiration abortion care provided by these clinicians as well as patient acceptability and satisfaction. This evidence and the resulting policy change build on international research and established workforce strategies used to expand access to safe abortion services for women worldwide, representing a radical departure from the legislative trend of constricting access in the United States.

Recruitment and retention strategies for expert nurses in abortion care provision

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Levi, A., & James, E. A. A. (2015). In Contraception (Vols. 91, Issues 6, pp. 474-9).
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of this thematic analysis is to describe recruitment, retention and career development strategies for expert nurses in abortion care provision.

Women know best--findings from a thematic analysis of 5,214 surveys of abortion care experience

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Desai, S., Freedman, L., James, E. A. A., & Taylor, D. (2014). In Women’s health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women’s Health (Vols. 24, Issues 6, pp. 594-9).
Abstract
Abstract
Patient experience is an essential component of quality care. Few studies have comprehensively evaluated patient experiences of abortion care. The objectives of this study were to describe women's experiences of abortion care in their own words, and to determine themes across patient experiences.

A comparison of the cyclic variation in serum levels of CA125 across the menstrual cycle using two commercial assays

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Aouizerat, B. E., Lee, K. A., Chen, L.-M. M., Cooper, B., Tozzi, M., & Miaskowski, C. (2012). In Biological research for nursing (Vols. 14, Issues 3, pp. 250-6).
Abstract
Abstract
Clinicians use CA125, a tumor-associated antigen, primarily to monitor epithelial ovarian cancer. However, CA125 lacks the sensitivity and specificity necessary for population-based screening in healthy women. The purpose of this study was to determine if serum concentrations of CA125 differed across the three phases of the menstrual cycle in healthy, premenopausal women using two commercially available assays.

Nurses and care of women seeking abortions, 1971 to 2011

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M., & Levi, A. (2011). In Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing : JOGNN (Vols. 40, Issues 6, pp. 672-7).
Abstract
Abstract
In its first issue in 1972, JOGNN published a review article reporting surveillance data about abortions in the United States (Bourne, Kahn, Conger, & Tyler, 1972). This historical article predated Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. Since this landmark decision, numerous articles have addressed nurses' role in abortion care. We review current literature on nurses and abortion care and use thematic categories to highlight areas of investigation.

Epidemiological and genetic factors associated with ovarian cancer

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Miaskowski, C., Aouizerat, B. E., Chen, L.-M. M., & Dodd, M. J. (2009). In Cancer nursing (Vols. 32, Issues 4, pp. 281-8; quiz 289).
Abstract
Abstract
The purpose of this article was to provide a comprehensive review of the epidemiological and genetic factors associated with ovarian cancer. A more complete understanding of the determinants of ovarian cancer may lead to the development of better screening and detection methods for this disease. The first section of this article reviews current literature on screening and early detection of ovarian cancer. The second section reviews the epidemiology of ovarian cancer, specifically highlighting the risk factors associated with the development of this disease. The article concludes with a discussion of how oncology nurses can apply this information to improve patient care.

Rules of tumor cell development and their application to biomarkers for ovarian cancer

McLemore, M. R., McLemore, M. R., Miaskowski, C., Aouizerat, B. E., Chen, L.- ma M., & Dodd, M. (2008). In Oncology nursing forum (Vols. 35, Issues 3, pp. 403-9).
Abstract
Abstract
To apply the Hanahan and Weinberg conceptual framework for tumor development to the specific biomarkers observed or expressed in ovarian cancer.

Gardasil: Introducing the new human papillomavirus vaccine

McLemore, M. R., & McLemore, M. R. (2006). In Clinical journal of oncology nursing (Vols. 10, Issues 5, pp. 559-60).
Abstract
Abstract
In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer based on the molecular biology of the disease. Gardasil (quadrivalent human papillomavirus [HPV] [types 6, 11, 16, and 18] recombinant vaccine, Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ) combats the common types of HPV responsible for cervical cancer precursor lesions. This article provides a simple overview of the (a) epidemiology of HPV, (b) HPV vaccine, (c) dosing and administration, and (d) nursing implications about this possibly life-saving vaccine.