Kathleen Nishida, PhD, CNM, RNContact Info

Kathleen Nishida, PhD, CNM, is a member of the Midwifery and Reproductive Health Care team. She attributes her work in health care, in part to a book she read as a teenager. “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” published by the Boston Women’s Health Collective, sparked her interest in reproductive health. This book helped her see reproductive health in a new light, focusing on feminist and social justice perspectives.

Kathleen has spent much of her career working with foreign-born, often newly immigrated, families. She has dedicated her work to helping these families navigate the healthcare system and feel loved and cared for. She applies this approach to all of her clients, providing prenatal care, contraceptive care, and treating many gynecological problems.

She believes that relationships matter. These relationships can be built over months or years, or sometimes they happen in a single encounter. “It is important to me that we both understand the goals of the visit and that my client leaves feeling that they got what they needed, that they were heard, and are clear on the next steps in their health plan,” she says.

Outside of work, Kathleen enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with family and friends. She likes to get out into nature for a variety of activities and sometimes with her dog. She recently moved back to Connecticut to live closer to family and is excited about this next chapter in her life. She is deeply passionate about race and gender equity and inclusion.