Dr. Patrice K. Nicholas completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Fitchburg State University, and a Master of Science in Nursing degree, and a Doctor of Nursing Science degree at Boston University. From 1996-1999, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health focusing her research on symptom management in HIV disease and global health and completing a Master of Public Health degree in International Health. In May 2010, Dr. Nicholas received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree Honoris Causa from her alma mater, Fitchburg State University. In 2007, she was selected as a Fulbright Senior Scholar at the University of KwaZulu-Natal focusing on adherence to HIV and TB medications. In 2008, she was inducted as a fellow of the American Academy of Nursing. From 2006- 2019, Dr. Nicholas served as Director of Global Health and Academic Partnerships at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where she also co-led the efforts in their successful American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet journey.

Dr. Nicholas is a Distinguished Teaching Professor in the School of Nursing, teaching in the Doctor of Nursing Practice Program, and was actively involved in the curriculum redesign of the DNP program. She has authored or co-authored over 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, two texts, and many invited and peer-reviewed presentations including several manuscripts on climate change, climate justice and climate-related health consequences.

Dr. Nicholas serves as director of the MGH Institute of Health Profession’s Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health and co-director for Policy and Advocacy at the MGH Center for the Environment and Health. She is among eight established scientists with expertise in climate and health who will contribute to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as an Inaugural NIH Climate Change and Health Scholar, sharing knowledge and helping to build capacity for conducting climate-related and health research.

  • Certificate in Climate and Health, Yale School of Public Health, 2019
  • Doctor of Humane Letters (Honoris Causa), Fitchburg State University, 2010
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard School of Public Health, 1996-1999
  • Master of Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 1999
  • Doctor of Nursing Science, Boston University, 1989
  • Master of Science in Nursing, Boston University, 1982
  • Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Fitchburg State University, 1977

Dr. Nicholas' scholarship and research efforts have focused on global health issues; HIV symptom management and quality of life; and climate change, climate justice, and health. She has published research and policy papers in these areas and has been funded as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in South Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Nata for a research and teaching award. Most recently, she leads the Center for Climate Change, Climate Justice, and Health at the MGH Institute of Health Professions.

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