Vanessa Nicholson

Dr. Vanessa Nicholson Robinson is an Assistant Professor at Tufts University's School of Medicine. As a health equity research scientist, she translates theory to practical outcomes in maternal health and nutritional justice fields. Dr. Robinson is credited as a co-author of the proposal for the inaugural Tufts Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice via her advisement, arrangement, and writing of the Center's initial budget and original unit lead positions. In collaboration with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, she is the Chief Report Editor and Lead Technical Writer of a report that discusses barriers and recommendations for addressing racial inequities in maternal health for the state of Massachusetts. This report precedes the written law known as the Act for Promoting Access to Midwifery Care and Out-of-Hospital Birth Options. Other reflections of her leadership include her role as Public Health Advisor of the birthing app known as Birth-by-Us- a management tool used to help Black birthing moms navigate their reproductive experience from pre-pregnancy through post-partum. She is also the Principal Investigator of the Black Rainbow Justice Initiative (BRJI) study. The study explores the perspectives and experiences of Black LGBT people desiring to build their families. Dr. Robinson is a former advisor of Vital Village's Birth Equity Coalition Governance Design Team for the Greater Boston area.

Within the realm of food equity and justice, Dr. Robinson is a Co-Investigator and Food Justice & Equity Advisor of a $6M NIH-funded Food is Medicine Initiative known as Delta GREENS (Growing a Resilient, Enriching, Equitable Nourishing food System). This ongoing FIM project aims to boost the MS Delta's local food economy and address chronic health disparities. She is also co-author of the 2024 Research Action Plan delivered by the Aspen Institute. The nationwide action plan communicates to readers a list of recommendations for addressing nutritional health needs for all. A few media outlets for which Dr. Robinson has communicated her knowledge and expertise include features on CBS News, Boston University, the Birth Squad Podcast, Tufts Now, the Aspen Institute, Massachusetts Hospital Association, and the Crossing the Chasm podcast channel.

Other university affiliations include her partnership with Prairie View A&M's School of Public and Allied Health where she consults on the research and advisory council.