Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH
Professor
Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Sciences
School of Medicine

ushma.upadhyay@ucsf.edu 415-353-4626

Ushma Upadhyay, PhD, MPH is a public health Social Scientist trained in epidemiology and demography. She is in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences and is also core faculty of Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANSIRH).

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Dr. Upadhyay was born and raised near Boston, Massachusetts. As a person of South Asian descent, primarily raised by her mother who immigrated to the U.S. from Tanzania, she is drawn to reproductive health from a social justice perspective.

Dr. Upadhyay has expertise in abortion safety, abortion access in the U.S., medication abortion, and state-level abortion restrictions. She is Principal Investigator of the California Home Abortion by Telehealth study, which examines the safety, effectiveness, and acceptability of telehealth for abortion. She is also leading a study on interest in a late period pill.

Dr. Upadhyay is Director of Research of the UCGHI Center of Expertise in Women’s Health, Gender, and Empowerment. She has developed and validated the Reproductive Autonomy Scale and the Sexual and Reproductive Empowerment Scale for Adolescents and Young Adults, both of which researchers can use to quantitatively measure people’s power in matters related to contraceptive use, pregnancy, and abortion.

She earned a BA in Public Communication and International Studies from American University, her MPH from Columbia University, and her PhD from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Awards

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  • Award for Exceptional Research Mentorship, UCSF Dept. of Ob, Gyn & Reproductive Sci, 2022-2023
  • Most Engaged Award, Psychosocial Workshop, 2021
  • Beacon of Science Award, Society of Family Planning, 2021
  • Best Oral Abstract, National Abortion Federation, 2017
  • Best Research Poster, National Abortion Federation, 2015
  • Outstanding Researcher Award, Society of Family Planning, 2013
  • Estimating the Incidence of Post-Abortion Complications from Medi-Cal Data, UCSF RAP Award, 2011-2012
  • Best Research Poster, National Abortion Federation, 2011
  • Fogarty Fellowship, UC Center of Expertise in Women’s Health and Empowerment, 2010-2011
  • New Investigator in Global Health Award, Global Health Council, 2007
  • Endowed Fellowship in Family Planning and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2005
  • Graduate Research Assistantship, Columbia University, 1997
  • Cum Laude, Dean's List, American University, 1991

Education & Training

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  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Training University of California 02/2022
  • PhD Public Health Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health 05/2006
  • MPH Population and Family Health Sciences Columbia University School of Public Health 12/1998
  • BA International Studies & Communications American University 05/1995

Interests

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  • telehealth for abortion
  • telemedicine for abortion
  • medication abortion
  • sexual and reproductive health
  • digital health
  • gender-based power
  • relationship power
  • telemedicine
  • adolescent empowerment
  • health equity
  • abortion safety
  • complications of abortion
  • women's empowerment
  • abortion procedures
  • women's reproductive autonomy
  • South Asian American health
  • U.S. abortion restrictions

Websites

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Videos

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Grants and Projects

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  • Telehealth and Reproductive Health Equity, NIH, 2023-2028
  • Advancing Gender and Health Justice Research and Education, NIH Center for Scientific Review (NIH CSR), Subcontract through UC Irvine (UCI), 2024-2028
  • Telehealth for Medication Abortion in the U.S., UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health (NCOEWH), 2024-2025
  • The California Home Abortion by Telehealth (CHAT Study), Individual Gifts, 2020-2025
  • Proof of Concept: Using Misoprostol Alone for Menstrual Regulation, Tara Health Foundation, 2020-2024
  • #WeCount: Society of Family Planning National Monitoring Project, Society of Family Planning, 2022-2024
  • Abortion Facility Database, ANSIRH Core Funds, 2022-2024
  • SOM Bridge Funding, UCSF School of Medicine, 2023-2024
  • Telehealth for Medication Abortion (TMAB) Working Group, Hopewell Fund, 2022-2023
  • Building the Evidence Base for Unlocking Demand for Self-injection, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, 2019-2023
  • Proof of Concept: Using Misoprostol Alone for Menstrual Regulation, CTSI RAP Award, 2021
  • Post-Roe Strategies Project, Anonymous Private Foundation, 2019-2020
  • Turnaway Study and Access to Abortion Study, Anonymous Private Foundation, 2015-2020
  • Using Google AdWords to Study Abortion Access, ANSIRH Core Funds, 2018-2020
  • Effects of Gender-based Power on Contraceptive Use among Young People (K01), NIH/NICHD, 2014-2019
  • Gender, Autonomy, and Contraceptive Use Among Young People, NIH, 2014-2019
  • Development of the Sexual Health and Reproductive Empowerment for Young Adults (SHREYA) Scale, UCSF CTSI Pilot Awards Program, 2018-2019
  • Development of the Sexual Health and Reproductive Empowerment for Young Adults (SHREYA) Scale, UCSF Clinical & Translational Science Institute (CTSI)-Pilot Awards Program, 2018
  • Using Google AdWords to Study Abortion Access: A Pilot Study, National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, 2016-2017
  • Evaluation of Abortion Restrictions, Anonymous Private Foundation, 2012-2017
  • Emergency Department Visits and Major Complications After Abortion: Analysis of a Nationwide Emergency Department Sample, Society of Family Planning, 2016-2017
  • Interest in Self-Injection of DMPA-SC Among US Family Planning and Abortion Clients, Mt. Zion Health Fund, 2014-2015
  • Distance to an abortion provider and source of post-abortion care: Evidence from the Medi-Cal program, Society of Family Planning, 2014-2015
  • Addressing Abortion Stigma through Service Delivery, Wellspring Advisors, LLC, 2012-2014
  • Access Through Primary Care Initiative, Anonymous Private Foundation, 2007-2014
  • Estimating the Incidence and Associated Costs of Post-Abortion Complications from Medi-Cal Data, UCSF Mount Zion Health Fund, 2011-2012
  • Fellowship in Women's Health and Empowerment, UCSF Center of Expertise, UC Global Health Institute, 2010-2011
  • Women's Empowerment and Ideal Fertility in Sub-Saharan Africa, Demographic and Health Surveys, Macro International, 2009-2010
  • Combined Hormonal Contraceptive Use in High Risk Women, NIH/NICHD, 2004-2010
  • LDL Cholesterol Levels in New York City, New York City Department of Health and Hygiene, 2008-2009
  • Intergenerational Influences on Adolescent Transitions, NIH/NICHD, 2002-2008

Publications (122)

Top publication keywords:
TelemedicineAbortion, InducedMedicaidAbortifacient Agents, NonsteroidalMisoprostolPregnancy, UnplannedTravelHealth Services AccessibilityAbortion ApplicantsAbortion, SpontaneousFamily Planning ServicesMifepristoneContraception BehaviorAbortion, LegalPregnancy

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