Kimberly Fisher, MD
By Merin C. MacDonald | Date published: October 26, 2022
October Researcher Spotlight: Kimberly Fisher, MD
In this month’s Researcher Spotlight, we highlight the work of Kimberly Fisher, MD, associate professor of medicine and physician-scientist in the Divisions of Health Systems Science and Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care.
Dr. Fisher’s research has recently focused on increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates, specifically in populations with health disparities. Based on her prior research in the areas of patient-provider communication and implementation science, she has applied her experience to address vaccine hesitancy. Along with her mentor, Dr. Kathleen Mazor, Chief of Health Systems Science, she and their team published work from a national survey, “Attitudes Toward a Potential SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine: A Survey of U.S. Adults” in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which identified key predictors of reluctance to be vaccinated. Their team has also published follow up studies in Vaccine, Patient Education, and Counseling, and the Journal of General Internal Medicine on the important role of health care providers in overcoming vaccine hesitancy.
Dr. Fisher’s work has been informed and strengthened by the relationships that she has established while at UMass Chan. On this, she remarked, “The strength of the UMass Chan research environment, in my experience, is the commitment to mentorship. For me, Kathy Mazor and Jerry Gurwitz, [Chief of Geriatric Medicine]…[have] played integral roles in my research career through their excellence in and dedication to mentoring.”
Dr. Fisher joined UMass Chan/UMass Memorial Health in 2006 and is currently a clinician and associate professor of medicine. Prior to coming to UMass, she earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and completed her internal medicine residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Boston University Medical Center. She also holds a master of science in clinical investigation from UMass Chan Medical School (UMass Chan). Dr. Fisher has been the recipient of many honors and awards including the PACE (Prize for Academic Collaboration and Excellence) Award in 2018 and the UMass Chan Faculty Scholar Award in 2013. She is currently chair of the Scientific Oversight Committee for the Department of Medicine Clinical Research Core, a member of the Ambulatory Research Consortium Steering Committee at UMass Chan, and a member of the Vaccine Initiative Expert Panel for the American Thoracic Society.