Dr. Neilson joined the ODP in May 2010 as a Senior Communications Advisor and worked to increase the visibility of prevention research. In 2016, she was promoted to Health Science Policy Analyst. In this role, Dr. Neilson focuses on identifying research needs and gaps, facilitating collaborative prevention research activities, and promoting the use of evidence-based interventions and the conduct of dissemination and implementation research.
Dr. Neilson co-leads two scientific interest groups in disease prevention and facilitates the partnership between the NIH and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the Community Preventive Services Task Force. She is also an active member of the NIH Dissemination and Implementation Working Group.
Before joining the ODP, Dr. Neilson served for six years as an Advocacy Relations Manager at the National Cancer Institute. She also served as Program Director of the D.C. Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and as an Area Manager for Planned Parenthood.
Dr. Neilson received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Emory University. She earned a Master of Science in Community Health Nursing, a Master of Public Health, and a Ph.D. in Public Health with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Johns Hopkins University.
Involvement with AcademyHealth:
- Committee Member - 2017 D&I Conference