Michelle Nakphong, PhD
Assistant Professor
Medicine
School of Medicine

415-502-1000

I am a social epidemiologist and my research focuses on how economic exclusion and inclusive policies impact the health of marginalized populations. Currently, my work focuses on guaranteed income as an inclusive policy and examines the impact of financial strain using consumer credit data.

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Building on over 2 decades of community-based policy advocacy work, I strive to amplify voices from low-income and economically marginalized communities.

My research addresses the core question: Can fostering economic inclusion reduce health inequities? I build from a social exclusion framework conceived by Naila Kabeer (2000) and take a structural and policy approach to examining people's lived experiences. I use quantitative and qualitative methods to illuminate the complex mechanisms that underlie health disparities. Ultimately, I aim to influence inclusive policymaking and programs to promote health equity.

Awards

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  • Hellman Fellowship, UCSF Society of Hellman Fellows, 2025-2027
  • Population Health and Health Equity Scholar, UCSF Dean's Office, 2025-2026
  • Emerging Scholar, UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, 2024-2025
  • Inductee, Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health, 2023
  • Health Equity Challenge Award, UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and MolinaCares, 2022
  • Best Research Project, UCLA Community Health Sciences, 2022
  • Juneal Marie Smith Fellowship, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, 2021
  • Best Paper, UCLA Community Health Sciences, 2020

Education & Training

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  • Postdoctoral Scholar Division of Prevention Sciences UCSF 4/2024
  • Inclusive Research Mentor Training 06/2023
  • PhD Community Health Sciences UCLA 09/2022
  • Policy Fellowship Policy Communication Population Reference Bureau 06/2022
  • BA Public Health, Natural Sciences Johns Hopkins University 05/2003

Grants and Projects

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  • Does guaranteed income make a lasting impact? Examining trajectories of low-income Black emerging adults after payments end, UCSF Society for Hellman Fellows, 2025-2027
  • Guaranteed income to boost HIV care continuity and suppression post-jail release, California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP), 2025-2027
  • Building policy evidence for guaranteed income for people living with HIV leaving carceral settings as part of the HIV care system, ARI and UCSF-Bay Area Center for AIDS Research/NIH, Grant# P30 AI027763, 2026-2027
  • Understanding the continuing impact of income on housing trajectories of emerging adults, William T. Grant Foundation Officer's Grant, 2025-2026
  • Increasing financial and health equity among low income black youth and young adults, NIH, 2021-2026
  • Examining consumer credit trajectories in persistent poverty neighborhoods in California to elucidate socioeconomic pathways underlying cancer risk, Upstream Center Pilot Grant/NCI U54 CA280811, 2025-2026
  • Evaluating Guaranteed Income as a policy solution for housing instability among low-income Black emerging adults, UCSF Center for Vulnerable Populations, 2023-2024
  • , NICHD, 2020-2021

Publications (22)

Top publication keywords:
MothersMaternal Health ServicesChild HealthPovertyUrban PopulationKenyaEmigration and ImmigrationAftercareExposure to ViolenceEmigrants and ImmigrantsQuality of Health CareSpouse AbuseMalnutritionPostpartum PeriodPatient Satisfaction

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