Biography

Kathryn J. Spearman, PhD, MSN, RN is a public health nurse scientist. Her research focuses on the intersection of intimate partner violence and child maltreatment. Her program of research investigates structural determinants of health and safety such as family court judicial decision making and legal systems responses to violence within families. Dr. Spearman’s research aims to reduce morbidity and mortality for children who experience maltreatment and IPV, and to develop risk-assessment and interventions that reduce disparities and promote safety, resiliency, and recovery from trauma. Her scientific inquiry is informed by clinical experience working as a pediatric nurse with abused children and children exposed to IPV in both inpatient acute care settings and residential care.

She completed her doctoral training at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Her dissertation was entitled Understanding the impact of post-separation abuse on children’s health and flourishing and was supported through a F31 training grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Development. She was also supported as a a trauma and violence predoctoral fellow by a T32 training grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Development under PI Dr. Jacquelyn Campbell. She earned a certificate in maternal child health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Her BS and MSN are from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce and Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, respectively.