About
Dr. Kortney Floyd James is a nurse scientist, policy researcher, and clinician with over 15 years of experience in maternal and pediatric health. She currently serves as Assistant Adjunct Professor at the UCLA School of Nursing and Associate Policy Researcher at the RAND Corporation. She also serves as Associate Editor for Nursing for Women’s Health.
Her research focuses on structural and social drivers of maternal health disparities, especially among Black women. She has particular expertise in maternal mental health, breastfeeding equity, and Medicaid policy. She uses mixed methods and regularly partners with doulas, clinicians, and community-based organizations to improve the accessibility, acceptability, and quality of perinatal care. A former pediatric nurse practitioner and mother-baby nurse, she remains grounded in nursing values and community-engaged research.
Dr. James has led or co-led several NIH- and foundation-funded studies on postpartum mental health, paid parental leave, and telelactation services. Her work is published in JAMA Network Open, Health Affairs, Academic Pediatrics, and Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, among others.
Areas of Expertise
Maternal health equity, maternal mental health, nursing workforce, pediatric care, and health policy
Education
- PhD, Nursing – Georgia State University
- MSN, Pediatrics – Georgia State University
- BSN – University of South Carolina
- Postdoctoral Fellowship – National Clinician Scholars Program, UCLA
- Additional training – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University College. London, England
Selected Publications
- Floyd James, K. et al. (2024). A Qualitative Exploration of Black Women’s Strategies to Achieve Emotional Well-Being from Symptoms of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. https://doi.org/10.1155/ppc/8674117
- Uscher-Pines, L., Demirci, J., Floyd James, K., et al. (2025). Telelactation could reduce disparities in breastfeeding. Health Affairs Forefront. 10.1377/forefront.20250324.268835
- James, K. F., et al. (2023). Discrimination during childbirth and postpartum care utilization among Black birthing people. Birth. https://doi.org/10.1111/birt.12755
- Waymouth, M., James, K., & Uscher-Pines, L. (2024). Advancing equity in maternal health with virtual doula care. JAMA Health Forum. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.4833
- Floyd James, K. & Okoye, N. (2023). Practical strategies to overcome racial bias in nursing. Nursing for Women’s Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nwh.2023.02.003