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Jessica Lewis, PhD, LMFT, MPhil

Research Scientist
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Additional Titles

Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) Faculty, Internal Medicine

Community Outreach and Engagement Faculty, Yale Cancer Center, Internal Medicine

Co-Founder, Expect With Me, CDE

Board Member, Dean's Advisory Council for LGBTQI+ Affairs, Yale University

About

Titles

Research Scientist

Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) Faculty, Internal Medicine; Community Outreach and Engagement Faculty, Yale Cancer Center, Internal Medicine; Co-Founder, Expect With Me, CDE; Board Member, Dean's Advisory Council for LGBTQI+ Affairs, Yale University

Biography

Jessica Lewis, Ph.D., MFT (she/her/hers) is a Research Scientist in Internal Medicine, a Core Faculty Member at the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at Yale School of Medicine, and Faculty for Community Outreach and Engagement at the Yale Cancer Center. Additionally, Dr. Lewis is a licensed family therapist. Dr. Lewis has directed research projects on health behaviors, health equity, and women’s sexual, reproductive, and mental health at Yale for more than 29 years. Her research investigates the interplay of complex biomedical, behavioral, social, and structural factors that influence individual, family, and community health and healthcare. She uses this lens to examine challenges faced by those often marginalized by the health care system and by society. Dr. Lewis is co-founder of Expect With Me, a technology-enabled group model of prenatal care, which has been demonstrated to significantly improve maternal-child health outcomes. Dr. Lewis has extensive experience directing large multi-site research projects; promoting interdisciplinary team science; and engaging community stakeholders to improve public health. Dr. Lewis is interested in multi-level social determinants of health and wellness and bringing health innovations to scale through creative transdisciplinary, multi-sector partnerships. Dr. Lewis is an author of 75 peer-reviewed publications.

Last Updated on August 26, 2025.

Appointments

Education & Training

PhD
City University of New York, Graduate Center, Social Welfare (2019)
MPhil
City University of New York Graduate Center, Social Welfare (2016)
MA
Southern CT State University, Marriage and Family Therapy (2004)
BA
Smith College, Women's Studies/Biology (1994)

Research

Overview

Jessica Lewis, Ph.D., MFT (she/her/hers) is a Research Scientist in Internal Medicine, a Core Faculty Member at the Equity Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) at Yale School of Medicine, and Faculty for Community Outreach and Engagement at the Yale Cancer Center. Additionally, Dr. Lewis is a licensed family therapist. Dr. Lewis has directed research on health behaviors, health equity, and women’s sexual, reproductive, and mental health at Yale for more than 29 years. Her research investigates the interplay of complex biomedical, behavioral, social, and structural factors that influence individual and family health. She uses this lens to examine challenges faced by those often marginalized by the health care system and by society.

Dr. Lewis serves as Community Outreach and Engagement Faculty at the Yale Cancer Center, where she seeks to build infrastructure to elevate scholarship on cancer disparities and ensure Yale cancer research is accessible and responsive to community needs across CT. Dr. Lewis is co-founder of Expect With Me, a technology-enabled group model of prenatal care, which has been demonstrated to significantly improve maternal-child health outcomes. Dr. Lewis has extensive experience directing large multi-site research projects with methodological rigor and cultural sensitivity. Dr. Lewis is interested in multi-level social and structural determinants of health and wellness and bringing health innovations to scale through creative transdisciplinary, multi-sector partnerships. Dr. Lewis is an author of 75 peer-reviewed publications.

Medical Research Interests

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms; Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Health Status Disparities; Healthcare Disparities; Social Sciences

Public Health Interests

HIV/AIDS; Behavioral Health; Breastfeeding; Perinatal/Prenatal Health; Poverty and Economic Security; Reproduction; Sexually-Transmitted Infections; Women's Health; Health Care Management; Health Equity, Disparities, Social Determinants and Justice; Health Policy; Health Systems Reform; Cancer; Child/Adolescent Health; Maternal & Child Health; Mental Health

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Jessica Lewis's published research.

Publications

Featured Publications

2025

2024

Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

Activities

  • activity

    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

  • activity

    PCORI

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number

Locations

  • Equity Research & Innovation Center

    Academic Office

    100 Church Street South, Fl 2, Ste Suite A-200

    New Haven, CT 06519

Events

Dec 202517Wednesday
  • Everyone
    Erika Linnander, DrPH, MBA - Ishita S. Arora, PhD, MLS - Jessica Lewis, PhD, LMFT, MPhil - Marcella Nunez-Smith, MD, MHS - Mikaili Charlemagne - Sakinah Carter Suttiratana, PhD, MPH, MBA - Samantha Lew Fretz, LMSW - Sarah Christie - Tara M. Rizzo, MPH