Wendy N. Nembhard
Professor
Also affiliated: Boston University (2019); University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2023); Brigham and Women's Hospital (2019); Boston Children's Hospital (2016); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2010–2019); Arkansas Children's Hospital (2015–2026); University of Minnesota (2004); Massachusetts Department of Public Health (2019); Texas Department of State Health Services (2010–2013); Harvard University (2019); Johns Hopkins University (2014); Emory University (2016); University of Pittsburgh (2012); The Kids Research Institute Australia (2016–2023); University of Dundee (2023); The University of Western Australia (2016–2023); Baylor College of Medicine (2012–2015); Fudan University (2012); University of South Florida (2004–2018); Tripler Army Medical Center (2017); University of Arkansas Medical Center (2022); Johns Hopkins Medicine (2014); Princess Margaret Hospital for Children (2018); University of Florida Health (2012); University of Mississippi Medical Center (2016); University of Florida (2012); Massachusetts General Hospital (2019); University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas (2010–2026); National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (2010–2020); Stanford Medicine (2019–2020); Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (2016–2020); Arkansas Children's Research Institute (2015–2024); Morehouse School of Medicine (2001–2004); Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (2012); The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2010–2013); The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (2001); Stanford University (2019–2020)
Epidemiology, College of Public Health
Research Areas
Biomedical Subjects
Biography and Research Information
OverviewAI-generated summary
Wendy N. Nembhard's research focuses on the epidemiology of congenital heart defects and other birth defects in the United States. Her work has investigated the prevalence, trends, and mortality associated with these conditions across various age groups, from newborns to adults. Nembhard has led multiple federal grant-funded projects aimed at understanding birth defect exposures and their impacts. These include the Birth Defects Study to Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS) and its subsequent phases, funded by the NIH/National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and NIH/National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases. She also serves as PI on NIH grants addressing health promotion and disease prevention research centers and disparities in immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
Her publications include studies on the prenatal diagnosis and outcomes of critical congenital heart defects, as well as the association between birth defects and cancer risk in children and adolescents. Nembhard's research also extends to understanding the impact of psychosocial factors on health, such as the association between perceived stress from race-based discrimination and hypertension. Her scholarly contributions are reflected in a high-impact researcher designation, with an h-index of 37, over 218 publications, and more than 5,800 citations. She leads a research group and collaborates with colleagues at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Metrics
- h-index: 37
- Publications: 222
- Citations: 5,873
Positions
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Professor and Chair 2014–presentUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Epidemiology ORCID
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Professor publications 2015–2026University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Epidemiology, College of Public Health Institutional directory
Selected Publications
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Racial and Ethnic Differences in Healthcare Access and Utilization Among Adults With Congenital Heart Defects in the Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs and Well‐Being ( CH STRONG ) (2026)
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The association between paternal race and ethnicity and a spectrum of birth defects in a national case-control study (2026)
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Potency Matters: The Role of Statin Intensity in Modulating Risk for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (2025)
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Risk of Mortality From Esophageal Cancer Among US Poultry Workers, 1950−2019 (2025)
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Disparities in Birth Defect Related Hospitalization Costs and Length of Stay in the US , 2019 (2025)
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Exome Sequencing to Identify Novel Susceptibility Genes for Nonsyndromic Split‐Hand/Ft Malformation: A Report From the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (2025)
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The Power and Importance of 25,000 Words (2025)
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Abstract P1053: Impact of Adversity and Birth Outcomes on the Prevalence of Heart-Related Conditions in Children (2025)
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All genetic subtypes of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia exhibit increased incidence rates in children with Down syndrome (2025)
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Evaluating Differences in Nonsyndromic Orofacial Clefts by Infant Sex: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011 (2025)
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Co-occurrence of congenital anomalies and childhood brain tumors in 22 million live births (2025)
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Years of Potential Life Lost for Children and Adults With Congenital Heart Defects: United States, 2007 to 2017 (2025)
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Reproductive Health Counseling and Outcomes Among Women With Congenital Heart Defects: Results From the Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well-Being, 2016–2019 (2025)
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Educational Attainment and Employment Status of Adults Living With Congenital Heart Disease in the United States, CH STRONG 2016–2019 (2025)
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Comorbidities and Healthcare Utilization Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects by Down Syndrome Status—Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and wellbeinG , 2016–2019 (2025)
Federal Grants 4 $3,497,898 total
DP24-004, PRC, Core: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers
Birth Defects Study to Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS) Core? Arkansas Center and Stillbirth
DISCOVAR:Disparities in Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in ARkansas
Grants & Funding
As listed on this researcher's institutional profile. Federal awards with verified records are shown above.
- DISCOVER:Disparities in Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in ARkansas NIH/Nat. Cancer Institute Principal Investigator
- Genetic Overlap Between Anomalies and Cancer in Kids (GOBACK Study) UAMS ACHRI Flow Through Principal Investigator
- COPH MPH Maternal and Child Health Track Health Resources & Services Administration Co-Investigator
- Component A: Arkansas Proposal to participate in the Birth Defects Study to Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS II) NIH Principal Investigator
- Birth Defects Study To Evaluate Pregnancy exposures NIH Principal Investigator
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Centers Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Principal Investigator
- Case-cohort study of Cancers in Excess in Poultry Workers - Continuation Year 2020-2021 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Principal Investigator
- COVID-19 Pregnant Women and Infants Registry (CPWIR) Centers for Disease Control & Prevention via Arkansas Department of Health Principal Investigator
Collaboration Network
Top Collaborators
- Association Between Birth Defects and Cancer Risk Among Children and Adolescents in a Population-Based Assessment of 10 Million Live Births
- Hypospadias Prevalence and Trends in International Birth Defect Surveillance Systems, 1980–2010
- Trisomy 13 and 18—Prevalence and mortality—A multi‐registry population based analysis
- Prevalence and mortality in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a multicountry study
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2010–2014: A focus on gastrointestinal defects
Showing 5 of 27 shared publications
- Association Between Birth Defects and Cancer Risk Among Children and Adolescents in a Population-Based Assessment of 10 Million Live Births
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2010–2014: A focus on gastrointestinal defects
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2012–2016: A focus on abdominal wall defects
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2011–2015: A focus on eye and ear defects
- Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of isolated congenital heart defects among offspring
Showing 5 of 26 shared publications
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2012–2016: A focus on abdominal wall defects
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2011–2015: A focus on eye and ear defects
- Maternal Smoking and Congenital Heart Defects, National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 1997-2011
- Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of isolated congenital heart defects among offspring
- Prevalence of structural birth defects among infants with Down syndrome, 2013–2017: A US population‐based study
Showing 5 of 25 shared publications
- Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of isolated congenital heart defects among offspring
- Maternal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide, Intake of Methyl Nutrients, and Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring
- Associations between PM2.5 and risk of preterm birth among liveborn infants
- Associations between fine particulate matter, extreme heat events, and congenital heart defects
- Maternal exposure to outdoor air pollution and congenital limb deficiencies in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Showing 5 of 24 shared publications
- Association Between Birth Defects and Cancer Risk Among Children and Adolescents in a Population-Based Assessment of 10 Million Live Births
- Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of isolated congenital heart defects among offspring
- Associations between PM2.5 and risk of preterm birth among liveborn infants
- Cancer diagnostic profile in children with structural birth defects: An assessment in 15,000 childhood cancer cases
- Maternal exposure to outdoor air pollution and congenital limb deficiencies in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Showing 5 of 23 shared publications
- Prevalence trends of selected major birth defects: A multi‐state population‐based retrospective study, United States, 1999 to 2007
- Next steps for birth defects research and prevention: The birth defects study to evaluate pregnancy exposures (BD‐STEPS)
- Associations between fine particulate matter, extreme heat events, and congenital heart defects
- Maternal exposure to outdoor air pollution and congenital limb deficiencies in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Modeling complex effects of exposure to particulate matter and extreme heat during pregnancy on congenital heart defects: A U.S. population-based case-control study in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Showing 5 of 20 shared publications
- Congenital Heart Defects in the United States
- Association Between Birth Defects and Cancer Risk Among Children and Adolescents in a Population-Based Assessment of 10 Million Live Births
- Survival From Birth Until Young Adulthood Among Individuals With Congenital Heart Defects: CH STRONG
- Disability Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects: Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well‐Being 2016–2019
- Rationale and design of CH STRONG: Congenital Heart Survey To Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and well-beinG
Showing 5 of 20 shared publications
- Prevalence and mortality in children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a multicountry study
- Analysis of Mortality among Neonates and Children with Spina Bifida: An International Registry‐Based Study, 2001‐2012
- A multi‐country study of prevalence and early childhood mortality among children with omphalocele
- Prevalence and mortality among children with anorectal malformation: A multi‐country analysis
- Associations between fine particulate matter, extreme heat events, and congenital heart defects
Showing 5 of 19 shared publications
- National population‐based estimates for major birth defects, 2016–2020
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2010–2014: A focus on gastrointestinal defects
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2012–2016: A focus on abdominal wall defects
- Racial/Ethnic Differences in Survival of United States Children with Birth Defects: A Population-Based Study
- Prevalence trends of selected major birth defects: A multi‐state population‐based retrospective study, United States, 1999 to 2007
Showing 5 of 17 shared publications
- Associations between PM2.5 and risk of preterm birth among liveborn infants
- Maternal exposure to outdoor air pollution and congenital limb deficiencies in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Assessing associations between residential proximity to greenspace and birth defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Exome sequencing of family trios from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study: Tapping into a rich resource of genetic and environmental data
- Maternal Exposure to Disinfection By-Products and Risk of Hypospadias in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (2000–2005)
Showing 5 of 17 shared publications
- Survival From Birth Until Young Adulthood Among Individuals With Congenital Heart Defects: CH STRONG
- Disability Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects: Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well‐Being 2016–2019
- Rationale and design of CH STRONG: Congenital Heart Survey To Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and well-beinG
- Cardiology Care and Loss to Follow-Up Among Adults With Congenital Heart Defects in CH STRONG
- Neighborhood social deprivation and healthcare utilization, disability, and comorbidities among young adults with congenital heart defects: Congenital heart survey to recognize outcomes, needs, and well‐being 2016–2019
Showing 5 of 17 shared publications
- Association Between Birth Defects and Cancer Risk Among Children and Adolescents in a Population-Based Assessment of 10 Million Live Births
- Maternal occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the risk of isolated congenital heart defects among offspring
- Maternal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide, Intake of Methyl Nutrients, and Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring
- Associations between PM2.5 and risk of preterm birth among liveborn infants
- Associations between fine particulate matter, extreme heat events, and congenital heart defects
Showing 5 of 16 shared publications
- Survival From Birth Until Young Adulthood Among Individuals With Congenital Heart Defects: CH STRONG
- Disability Among Young Adults With Congenital Heart Defects: Congenital Heart Survey to Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and Well‐Being 2016–2019
- Rationale and design of CH STRONG: Congenital Heart Survey To Recognize Outcomes, Needs, and well-beinG
- Cardiology Care and Loss to Follow-Up Among Adults With Congenital Heart Defects in CH STRONG
- Neighborhood social deprivation and healthcare utilization, disability, and comorbidities among young adults with congenital heart defects: Congenital heart survey to recognize outcomes, needs, and well‐being 2016–2019
Showing 5 of 16 shared publications
- Maternal Exposure to Nitrogen Dioxide, Intake of Methyl Nutrients, and Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring
- Associations between PM2.5 and risk of preterm birth among liveborn infants
- Maternal exposure to outdoor air pollution and congenital limb deficiencies in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
- Exome sequencing of family trios from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study: Tapping into a rich resource of genetic and environmental data
- Maternal Exposure to Disinfection By-Products and Risk of Hypospadias in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (2000–2005)
Showing 5 of 15 shared publications
- National population‐based estimates for major birth defects, 2016–2020
- Population‐based birth defects data in the United States, 2012–2016: A focus on abdominal wall defects
- Prevalence of structural birth defects among infants with Down syndrome, 2013–2017: A US population‐based study
- Prevalence and descriptive epidemiology of Turner syndrome in the United States, 2000–2017: A report from the National Birth Defects Prevention Network
- A genome‐wide association study of obstructive heart defects among participants in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Showing 5 of 14 shared publications
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