Skip to main content

Kathryn
Spielman
, PhD, MPH

Assistant Scientist

Departmental Affiliations

Primary
Division
Global Disease Epidemiology and Control

Contact Info

Research Interests

Maternal Health; Newborn Health; Child Health; Reproductive Health; Nutrition; Quality of Care; Health Systems Research; Quality Improvement; Program Evaluation; Implementation Science

Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
PhD
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
2025
MPH
Boston University School of Public Health
2014
BA
Boston College
2012
Overview

My research aims to improve health outcomes for mothers, infants, and children globally by strengthening health monitoring systems, evaluating and improving quality of care, and applying evidence-based approaches to assess public health programs. My current research focuses on measuring maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in Nigeria. 

Honors & Awards

Delta Omega Alpha Inductee (2025)

Nancy Stephens Award (2024)

Harry D. Kruse Doctoral Award in Human Nutrition (2023)

Center for Qualitative Studies in Health and Medicine’s Dissertation Enhancement Award (2022)

Select Publications

Recent Publications

  • Dougherty L, Mathur S, Gul X, Spielman K, Tripathi V, Wakefield C, and Silva M. A scoping review of methods and measures to assess health provider behavioral outcomes related to reproductive, maternal, and child health. Global Health: Science and Practice, Jul 2023, doi: 10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00407.

  • Palmer, AC, Ndubani, P, Sauer, M, Spielman, KL, Hamangaba, F, Moyo, N, Munsanje, B, Moss, WJ, & Sutcliffe, CG. (2024). Food and water insecurity in households of children and adolescents living with HIV and receiving care in a rural Zambian hospital: A mixed-methods study. PloS One19(6), e0300033. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300033.

  • Lozada-Tequeanes, AL, Rosas Magallanes, C, Spielman, KL, & Bonvecchio Arenas, A. (2024). Massive open online course on breastfeeding during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Global health promotion31(4), 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1177/17579759241248171

  • Runyon, MC, Burgess, A, & Spielman, KL. (2025). Attitudes About Trauma-Informed Care Among Nurse and Physician Leaders in Birthing Hospitals in Maryland. Journal of obstetric, gynecologic, and neonatal nursing: JOGNN, S0884-2175(25)00308-9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2025.11.005.