Kelly McGlothen-Bell, PhD, RN, IBCLC

An early career nurse scientist with extensive experience in health disparities research with mother-infant dyads, more specifically those affected by opioid use disorders. Using interdisciplinary research, bio-behavioral and methodologies, and community-engaged strategies I seek to define and explore health priorities that can be remedied through culturally appropriate, sustainable and viable health solutions. My program of science focuses on understanding the relationship between infant feeding behaviors and readiness in high-risk infants and interactions between the primary caregiver and child during infancy and toddlerhood. The culmination of these findings contributes to the development of evidence-based interventions geared toward improving parental engagement and neonatal feeding success in marginalized populations. Dr. McGlothen-Bell has published numerous peer-reviewed articles related to developmental strategies for high-risk infants. She has also presented at regional, national, and international conferences. Dr. McGlothen-Bell has received numerous awards to include the 2019 National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) Mentee/Mentor Grant Award. She was also selected as a 2017 Emerging Nurse Leader for the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing and is currently a 2019-2021 Academy/Jonas Nurse Policy Scholar. 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 2017 - Doctor of Philosophy - Nursing - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
  • 2012 - Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Nursing - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, San Antonio, TX
  • 2010 - Associates of Science - Pre-Nursing - Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX
  • 2010 - Associates of Art - Psychology - Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX

  Highlights

  Licensures and Certifications 

  • Registered Nurse 
  • IBCLC License

  Honors and Awards

  • 2019, American Academy of Nursing & Jonas Nurse Policy Scholar Fellowship  
  • 2019, Mentored Grant Award Recipient, National Association of Neonatal Nurses  

  Professional Affiliations

  • 2019 – present, Member National Association of Neonatal Nurses (NANN) 
  • 2018 – present, Guest Reviewer Advances of Neonatal Care 

• Instruction & Training

  • 2021, NURS 7322 - DNP Healthcare: Policy Analysis & Advocacy , UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2021, NURS 3305 - Foundations of Nursing Care: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 3371 - Foundations of Nursing Care: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 4533 - Disease Management III: Clinical Application, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

• Research & Grants

  Grants

  Currently Funded:  

  • 2019 - 2021, Funder: National Association of Neonatal Nurses Application Mentored Projects Dollars: $5,000. Title: Maternal Perceptions of Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure. Role: PI 
  • 2018 - 2021, Funder: Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) No. 2017-049623-002). Title: Substance Abuse-Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (SA/NAS). Role: Co-Investigator (PI: L. Cleveland) 
  • 2016 - 2021, Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) 2017-050043-001. Title: Maternal Opioid Morbidity Study (MOMS). Role: Co-Investigator (PI: L. Cleveland) 

  Pending Submissions: 

  • 2021 - 2022, Funder: Nursing Advisory Council Grant Association. Dollars: $15,000. Title: Parent-Infant Interaction and Responsiveness during Feeding in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure. Role: PI 
  • 2021 - 2023, Funder: Mentored Research and Career Development (KL2) Program. Dollars: $189,500. Title: Early Life Stress and the Development of the Infant Gut Microbiota in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure.Role: PI 

  Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects: 

  • 2020 - 2022, Funder: NINR Diversity Supplement: 3 R01NR018192-01A1. Dollars: $179,500. Title:  Parent Interactions and Responsiveness with their Infants at Risk for Chronic Feeding Problems. Role: PI 
  • 2019 - 2021, Funder: Sigma/American Nurses Foundation. Dollars: $3,000. Title: Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure. Role: PI 
  • 2018 - 2019, Funder: ReACH/ IIMS Population Health Pilot Grant. Dollars: $15,000. Title: A Community-Academic Collaboration to Increase Breastfeeding among Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for an Opioid Use Disorder. Role: PI 

• Service

  School

  Student Mentees/Trainees

  • 2019 - 2020, Crawford, A. Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Microaggressions in Childbearing Women 
  • 2019, Sanchez, L. International Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 
  • 2018, Davila, V. High school student, Voelcker Science Academy, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 
  • 2017, Crawford, A. Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 
  • 2017, Kyle, L. Pre-doctoral student, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing, Cleveland Lab: Maternal- Infant Interaction, Stress Reactivity, and the Physiological Attunement Study (MIISA) 

  Institutional

  • 2021, UT Health SA, School of Nursing  Search Committee, Guest Member 

  Service to the Profession

  • 2018 – present, Guest Reviewer Advances of Neonatal Care 

  Community Service

  • 2017, Community Liaison Latched Support, SA, TX 
  • 2017, Regional Coordinator Postpartum Support International, San Antonio Region, SA, TX 
  • 2016, Community Lead African American Health Disparities, Council, SA, TX  

• Publications

  Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

  • *McGlothen-Bell K, Recto P, McGrath JM, Brownell E, Cleveland LM. Recovering Together: Mothers' Experiences Providing Skin-to-Skin Care for Their Infants With NAS. Adv Neonatal Care. 2021 Feb 1;21(1):16-22. doi: 10.1097/ANC.0000000000000819. PMID: 33350710. 
  • *McGrath J.M., Bromiker R., Hanlon A., McGlothen-Bell K., Medoff-Cooper B. (2020, under review) Correlates and Trajectories of Preterm Infant Sucking Patterns and Sucking Organization at Term Age. (2020). Advances in Neonatal Care. 
  • *Apanovitch AR, McGrath JM, McGlothen-Bell K, Briere CE. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission Temperatures of Infants 1500 g or More: The Cold Truth. Adv Neonatal Care. 2020 Aug 19;PubMed PMID: 32826410 
  • *Recto P, McGlothen-Bell K, McGrath JM, Brownell E, Cleveland LM. The Role of Stigma in the Nursing Care of Families Impacted by Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. Adv Neonatal Care. 2020 Oct;20(5):354-363. PubMed PMID: 32868585.  
  • *McGlothen-Bell K, Cleveland LM, Recto P, Brownell E, McGrath J. Feeding Behaviors in Infants With Prenatal Opioid Exposure: An Integrative Review. Adv Neonatal Care. 2020 Oct;20(5):374-383. PubMed PMID: 32868587. 
  • *Cleveland LM, McGlothen-Bell K, Scott LA, Recto P. A life-course theory exploration of opioid-related maternal mortality in the United States. Addiction. 2020 Apr 12;PubMed PMID: 32279394.  
  • *Diallo AF, McGlothen-Bell K, Lucas R, Walsh S, Allen C, Henderson WA, Cong X, McGrath J. Feeding modes, duration, and diarrhea in infancy: Continued evidence of the protective effects of breastfeeding. Public Health Nurs. 2020 Mar;37(2):155-160. PubMed PMID: 31709650.  
  • *McGlothen-Bell, K., Cleveland, L., & Pados, B. F. (2019). To Consent, or Not to Consent, That Is the Question. Advances in Neonatal Care, 19(5), 371–375. doi: 10.1097/anc.0000000000000651 
  • *Pados, B. F., & McGlothen-Bell, K. (2019). Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the NICU. Nursing for Women’s Health, 23(3), 265-271. doi:10.1016/j.nwh.2019.03.004 
  • *McGlothen, K., & Cleveland, L. (2018). The right to Mother’s milk: A call for social justice that encourages breastfeeding for women receiving medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Journal of Human Lactation, 0890334418789401. doi:10.1177/0890334418789401 
  • *McGlothen, K., Cleveland, L., & Gill, S. (2018). “I’m doing the best that I can for her”: Infant-feeding decisions of mothers receiving medication-assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder. Journal of Human Lactation, 0890334417745521. 10.1177/0890334417745521  
  • *Cleveland, L., Bonugli, R., & McGlothen, K. (2016). The mothering experiences of women with substance use disorders. Advances in Nursing Science, 39(2), 119-129. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/ANS.0000000000000118   

  Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.) 

  • McGlothen-Bell, K., Browne, JV., Jaeger, CB., & Kenner, C., (2021). Promoting infant mental health in the newborn intensive care unit: Considerations in the time of COVID-19, Advances in Neonatal Care, Editorial, Under Review 
  • McGlothen-Bell, K. (2019). Together: Changing Your Community and the World...ILCA Annual Conference 18-21, July 2018, Portland, Oregon, United States. Journal of Human Lactation, 35(1), NP1-NP15. https://doi-org.libproxy.uthscsa.edu/10.1177/0890334418810362. 

  Abstracts 

  • McGlothen, K., & Gill, S. (2017). Increasing Racial Equity/ Breastfeeding Beliefs and Attitudes among Black Americans. In P. Hall Smith, M. Labbok, & B. D. Chambers (Eds.), Breastfeeding, Social Justice, and Equity (pp. 79-86). Amarillo, TX: Praeclarus Press. 

  Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations) 

  • 2021, “Feeding Behaviors in the Opioid Exposed Infant.” GOLD Learning, Online Education 
  • 2021, “Opioid Use Disorder Treatment for Pregnant Women.” TxMOUD Community of Practice ECHO, San Antonio, TX 
  • 2020, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Addressing Health Disparities.”  Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) Texas Regional Conference, San Antonio, TX 
  • 2020, “Empowering Breastfeeding in Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder: A Call for Policy Change.” GOLD Learning, Online Education 

  Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations  

  • 2018, “Ain’t I a mother:” Infant feeding in mothers participating in methadone maintenance treatment.” American Public Health Association, San Diego, CA 
  • 2018, “Infant feeding experiences of mothers receiving medication assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.” 2018 International Lactation Consultant Association Conference, Portland, Oregon 
  • 2018, “Adolescent Alcohol Use.” 8th Annual Voelcker Biosciences Teacher Academy (VBTA) Spring Conference, San Antonio, TX 
  • 2017, “Improving nursing care and outcomes for mother-infant dyads impacted by opioid use disorders.” Sigma Theta Tau International's 28th International Nursing Research Congress, Dublin, Ireland 
  • 2017, “I’m doing the best that I can for her: Infant feeding experiences of mothers receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT) for an opioid use disorder (OUD).” Postpartum Support International Conference, Philadelphia, PA. 
  • 2017, “Mothers and infants impacted by the opioid epidemic: A call for social justice.” Take Root conference, Norman, OK 
  • 2016, “Therapeutic techniques for reducing stress and improving attachment in opioid dependent mother-infant dyads.” International Zero to Three Conference, New Orleans, LA 
  • 2016, “I’m doing the best that I can for her: Infant feeding decision-making in opioid dependent mothers.” Breastfeeding and Feminism Conference, Durham, NC 

  Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations  

  • 2020, “Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure: An Integrated Review of the Literature.” 13th Biennial Conference of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Advocacy and Policy, Chiang Mai, Thailand (Meeting not held) 
  • 2020, “Ethical Issues in Informed Consent for the Use of Donor Human Milk in the NICU.” 13th Biennial Conference of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Advocacy and Policy, Chiang Mai, Thailand [meeting not held] 
  • 2020, “An Investigation of Breastfeeding Policies for Women Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorders.” 2020 Human Milk Banking Association of North America Conference, Austin, TX. April 2020 [meeting not held] 
  • 2019, “An Integrated Review of Feeding Behaviors in Infants with Prenatal Opioid Exposure.” 2019 Advanced Methods Conference: The Expanding Science of Sensor Technology in Research, Washington, D.C 
  • 2019, “Infant feeding experiences of mothers receiving medication assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.” 2019 National Association of Neonatal Nurses Conference, Savannah, GA 
  • 2019, “The Impact of Prenatal Opioid Exposure on the Mother-Infant Dyad.” 2019 Zero to Three Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 
  • 2017, “I’m doing the best that I can for her: Infant feeding decision-making in mothers impacted by opioid use disorders.” Association for Women’s Health, Obstetrics, and Neonatal Nursing (AWHONN), New Orleans, LA 
  • 2017, “Infant feeding decision-making in mothers receiving medication assisted treatment for an opioid use disorder.” Behavior, Biology, and Chemistry Conference, San Antonio, TX 
  • 2016, “Infant feeding decisions among mothers receiving medication assisted treatment (MAT).” National Perinatal Association Annual Conference, Houston, TX 
  • 2016, “Infant feeding experiences among mothers enrolled in a methadone treatment program: An exploratory, sequential mixed methods study- the initial qualitative phase.” Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA) Conference, San Antonio, TX 

• Clinical

  Hospital and Health Care Organization Service Responsibilities  

  • 2020 - 2021, Association of Women’s Health, Respectful Maternity Care Framework Team Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Lead (AWHONN)  
  • 2019 - 2021, American Academy of Pediatrics Representative (AAP) Physician Engagement & Training Focused on Infant Nutrition PAC, Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) 
  • 2012 - 2015, University Hospital, Inpatient Secretary Women’s Health Breastfeeding Committee