Natasha J. Williams, EdD, MPH

I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Population Health and Institute for Excellence in Health Equity. I received my Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Michigan, Master of Public Health (MPH) from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, and my doctorate in health education and behavioral studies (EdD) from Teachers College, Columbia University. My work is grounded in community-based translational research in minoritized populations and demonstrates a long-term commitment to patient-oriented research to advance health equity. I have published in top peer reviewed journals including, Chest, Sleep Health, JAMA Open Network, American Journal of Public Health, and others. I have presented at dozens of scientific conferences and been featured in media outlets and magazines.  In 2020, I served as Multiple Principal Investigator (MPI) of two NIH Rapid Acceleration and Diagnostics for Underserved Populations (RADx-UP) studies to address disparities related to COVID-19. In addition, I was a member of the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Inclusive Participation Work Group. Since 2021 I have served as the Contact PI for the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), funded Maternal Health Community Implementation Project (MHCIP). MHCIP engages communities to implement evidence-based interventions in addressing poor maternal outcomes such as hypertension, obesity and gestational diabetes in minoritized populations. The program at NYULH called Just Mothers is currently being implemented at NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest municipal health system in the country, and at the Family Health Centers at NYULH (part of a national network of Federally Qualified Health Centers) in the Sunset Park and Flatbush neighborhoods in Brooklyn. My approach to community engagement with diverse partners has been widely recognized for its potential impact in advancing health equity.