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Center for Healthy Communities and Research
David Nelson, PhD, MS

David Nelson, PhD, MS

Professor, Family & ٍٍٍ½خر Medicine; Director, Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Biography

Using his training, education, and experience, Dr. Nelson seeks to develop policy and systems of change to support health equity for all people. Dr. Nelson has advanced training in community-engaged research, a doctorate in education, and experience in a variety of leadership roles across the country provide a framework for engaging in systems change at the organizational, community, or national level.

His educational degrees were obtained from the University of Illinois, the University of Northern Colorado, the University of Tennessee Knoxville, and the ٍٍٍ½خر. This education has led him to 17 years as a faculty member at the ٍٍٍ½خر. His primary teaching responsibilities focus on public health at the master’s and doctorate level and mentoring medical students. He supports education for the current and next generation of students.

By taking a mid-career sabbatical allowed, Dr. Nelson developed additional skills and scholarship in community engagement. Following a three-year fellowship, he initiated funding at multiple levels that engaged community and academics for mutual benefit in various areas.

Decades of experience have well-positioned him to lead groups through policy and systems change at various levels and areas. His team continues to develop community engagement at the ٍٍٍ½خر for individuals, departments, and the institution. By working with communities throughout Wisconsin, his teams have built systems of change in education, food systems, healthcare systems, and community-based organizations. These experiences are not separate, but intentionally connected to support equity for all people. Dr. Nelson has served on local boards of directors and co-founded the nonprofit organization StreetLife Communities, which supports those presently or at risk of being unhoused.

In addition to a professional platform for systems change, his mission and service success at the field and board level support the needed change for equity within the community. His work has built greater awareness of issues facing communities, along with additional funding, transparency, and metrics that support processes and outcomes. Through these efforts, more local, regional, or national changes can be implemented.

Publications

  • (Nataliansyah MM, Anguzu R, Iregbu SC, Sharda M, Amjad T, Jha P, Padek H, Nelson D, Young S, Bhandari S.) J ٍٍٍ½خر Health. 2026 Jul 14 PMID: 42449075 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105044668471 07/15/2026

  • (Simenz CJ, Marchlewski A, Nelson DA.) Health Promot Pract. 2026 Jun 23:15248399261458260 PMID: 42333957 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105042618241 06/23/2026

  • (McMillion M, Bernardin B, Nelson D.) J Rural Health. 2026 Jun;42(3):e70204 PMID: 42569834 PMCID: PMC13452066 08/08/2026

  • (Brown K, Nelson D, Iverson M, Quinn K, Young S.) Subst Use Addctn J. 2026 Apr;47(2):464-472 PMID: 41261893 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105022297137 11/20/2025

  • (Thalji SZ, Nataliansyah MM, Conroy M, Mhs ST, Redlich PN, Nelson DA.) Support Care Cancer. 2026 Feb 14;34(3):204 PMID: 41689627 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105030170353 02/14/2026

  • (Habrat ML, Smith SC, Ninneman A, Nelson D, Nelson LD.) J Prim Care ٍٍٍ½خر Health. 2026;17:21501319261447623 PMID: 42090191 PMCID: PMC13161636 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105038229037 05/06/2026

  • (Balza J, Dawson AZ, Nelson D, Kaeppler C, Cusatis R, Flynn KE.) JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Dec 01;8(12):e2550444 PMID: 41405888 PMCID: PMC12712725 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105025062251 12/17/2025

  • (Korvink M, Biondolillo M, Van Dijk JW, Banerjee A, Simenz C, Nelson D.) Soc Sci Med. 2025 May;373:118025 PMID: 40164049 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105001099080 04/01/2025

  • (Daskalska L, Nelson D, Smith J, Young S.) Discov Ment Health. 2025 Apr 24;5(1):61 PMID: 40272643 PMCID: PMC12022193 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-105003475861 04/24/2025

  • (Kohlbeck S, Quinn K, deRoon-Cassini T, Hargarten S, Nelson D, Cassidy L.) J Agromedicine. 2024 Oct;29(4):665-675 PMID: 39105563 SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85200519836 08/06/2024

  • (Miller T, Balza J, Kellis J, Paradis H, Meurer J, Nelson D.) WMJ. 2024 Sep;123(4):267-271 PMID: 39284084 09/17/2024

  • (Korom B, Malloy M, Remmers C, Welsch E, Cevilla M, Alamillo-Roman Z, Torres D, Dione K, Nelson D.) BMC Public Health. December 2024;24(1) SCOPUS ID: 2-s2.0-85182661433 12/01/2024

Publications of from the

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