Nathaniel M. Tran
Assistant Professor
Division of Health Policy and Administration
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SPHPI 783
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About
Nathaniel M. Tran, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Administration at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health. Their research examines how public policies impact the health of LGBTQ+ populations and has been published in journals such as JAMA, Health Affairs, and Preventive Medicine.
Dr. Tran is a nationally-recognized expert in population health with over 10 years of experience in public health research, implementation, and evaluation. Their research has been featured on PBS and NPR to raise awareness about health challenges among LGBTQ+ older adults, cited by the United States District Court to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights, and cited by the Administration for Children and Families and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve health resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
Dr. Tran holds a BA in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Spanish from Tufts University and a PhD in Health Policy & Health Services Research from Vanderbilt University. They were a 2018 Fulbright research fellow to the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and a 2025 Visiting Scholar to National Taiwan University.
Selected Grants
UIC School of Public Health, Health Equity Implications of Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines Expansion [In Progress], Principal Investigator
RRF Foundation for Aging, Enhancing Understandings of Social Connectedness and Caregiver Strain Among LGBTQ+ Older Adults [In Progress], Co-PI
National Institute on Aging, Longitudinal Study of Cognitive and Biological Aging in Midlife and Older Sexual and Gender Minority Adults (RF1AG063771) [In Progress], Co-Investigator
UIC Institute for Research on Addictions, LGBTQ+ Tobacco Across Generations Study (Q-TAGS) [Completed], Principal Investigator
National Institute on Aging, Multi-level Determinants of Sexual and Gender Minority Aging (R36AG083386) [Completed], Principal Investigator
Selected Publications
Tran NM, McKay T, Gonzales G, Dusetzina SB, Fry CE. Association of State Conscientious Objection Laws and Sexual Minority Population Health. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01243-z
Ramakrishnan A, Tran NM. State Sanctions May Not Affect Medicaid Managed Care. American Journal of Managed Care. (2026) May 1;32(5):302. https://doi.org/10.37765/ajmc.2026.89914
Tran NM, McKay T, Gonzales G, Fry C, Dusetzina SB. Patterns of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Patient Experiences and Receipt of Preventive Services. Health Services Research. (2025) https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-6773.14632
Tran NM, Gonzales G. Implications of Public Policies for LGBTQI+ Population Health in the US. Health Affairs. (2025) https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hpb20250130.623159/
Tran NM, McKay T, Gonzales G, Dusetzina SB, Fry C. Aging in Isolation: Sexual Orientation and Sex Dierences in Navigating Cognitive Decline. Social Science & Medicine: Population Health. (2024) doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2024.101699
Tran NM and Nguyen KH. LGBTQ+ Data Collection in Medicaid to Advance Health Equity. JAMA. (2024) doi.org/10.1001/jama.2024.7829
Tran NM, Mann S, Gonzales G. Sexual Orientation, High Deductible Health Plans, and Financial Barriers to Health Care. Health Affairs. (2023) doi.org/10.1377/hltha.2023.00201
McKay T, Tran NM, Barbee H, Min J. Association of Arming Care with Chronic Disease and Preventative Care Outcomes among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Older Adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. (2023) 64(3):305-314 doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.09.025
Tran NM, Gonzales G. History of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Mental Distress Among US Adults by Sexual Orientation. JAMA Psychiatry. (2022) 79(4):377-379. doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.0001
Publication Aggregators
Notable Honors
2025, Matilda White Riley Early Stage Investigator Award, Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research, National Institutes of Health
2024, Edward Ferguson Jr. Graduate Award for Excellence in Research, Vanderbilt University
2022, Laurence G. Branch Doctoral Research Award, American Public Health Association, Section on Aging & Public Health
2021, Grant W. Farmer Memorial Scholarship, American Public Health Association, LGBTQ+ Health Caucus
Education
PhD in Health Policy & Health Services Research, Vanderbilt University
BA in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Spanish, Tufts University
Professional Memberships
AcademyHealth
Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management
Interdisciplinary Association for Population Health Science
American Public Health Association