Natalie Leblanc is an interdisciplinary nurse researcher. Dr. Leblanc has a 20-year career in public health, nursing, and health research and investigates the ecological, cultural, and systemic factors (social determinants of health) that influence health and wellness outcomes. As a former public health specialist, Dr. Leblanc is able to critically assess health issues from both public health and clinical perspectives - globally and domestically. As a nurse researcher, Dr. Leblanc seeks to address and investigate determinants of health disparity, assets within these factors that can be leveraged toward achieving health equity to inform intervention implementation.
Current Focus
Dr. Leblanc’s current research focuses on health care provider perspectives and praxis in sexual health promotion including across the HIV care continuum. She also studies the context of vulnerability among key populations to inform services in the U.S.
Dr. Leblanc’s program of research pursues three lines of inquiry:
health providers (e.g, physicians, nurses, social workers): perspectives, praxis and processes in sexual health promotion, specifically couple-centered approaches in HIV prevention and across the HIV care continuum;
health consumers: couple-centered HIV prevention and interpersonal relationship factors (e.g. couples/partners, provider/patient) that can be leveraged to promote sexual health equity;
context of vulnerability to adverse sexual health outcomes (primarily HIV prevention, transmission and treatment) among marginalized populations such as: same-sex male couples, Black couples, women of color, and non-heteronormative populations such as those who engage in nonmonogamy; men of color who have sex with men.
These lines of inquiry aim to:
acknowledge the role of racism and anti-Black stigma and violence on sexual health inequities;
discern assets in the health and community settings that can be leveraged to promote sexual health, specifically HIV prevention and engagement across the HIV care continuum.
Dr. Leblanc primarily uses multi-method qualitative/quantitative approaches to inquiry. Her focus is on qualitative description, content and thematic analytic approaches, qualitative dyadic data collection and analysis, and observational techniques; she has also led and collaborated on projects that utilize: 1) synthesis approaches (metasynthesis and meta-analysis); and 2) descriptive and advanced statistical techniques.
Post-doctoral Fellow (Tenure –track), University of Rochester, School of Nursing (HIV Prevention Science), Rochester, NY, US. 2016 - Current
Graduate Fellow Research Assistant, University of Miami, School of Nursing, Miami, FL, US. 2013 - 2016
Registered Nurse, North Florida Veterans Affair Medical Center, Gainesville, FL, US. 2013 - 2013
City Research Scientist II (Technical Assistance Coordinator/Project Officer), New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control – HIV Testing Unit), New York, NY, US. 2009 - 2011
City Research Scientist I (Special Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner), New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Division of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention), New York, NY, US. 2006 - 2009
Teaching Assistant, Emory University, Global Health (Proposal Development Course), Atlanta, GA, US. 2006 - 2006
Research Specialist, Rwanda Zambia HIV/AIDS Research Group, Atlanta, GA, US. 2005 - 2006
Principal Investigator (Graduate student), Yendi District Hospital, GH. 2005 - 2005
Graduate Assistant, Global Health Action, Atlanta, GA, US. 2004 - 2005
Consultant/Technical Advisor, The Carter Center, Global 2000 (Guinea Worm Eradication Program), Northern Region, GH. 2003 - 2003
Drancunculiasis Eradication Program Coordinator (Peace Corps Volunteer), Peace Corps, GH. 2000 - 2002
Legal Assistant (Tax Certiori), Podell, Schwartz, Schectner & Banfield LLP, New York, NY, US. 1999 - 2000
Paralegal (Immigration), Stephen Jeffries and Associates, New York, NY, US. 1998 - 1999
Threats and Assets, Past and Present: Considerations for Moving Towards Sexual Health Promotion as Normative Practice
8th Annual New York State Sexual Health Conference: Directions, Perspectives and Predictions Day 1,, Clinical Education Initiative (CEI), 2022
Rochester
Sexual (and Reproductive) Health and Wellness: What is it? Why is it important?
Faith Communities Project & Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church Rochester National week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS., New York State AIDS Institute, 2022
Rochester
Making Meaning and Operationalizing Sexual Health Promotion among Health Care Providers in Western New York State
Matemba, S.R.M., Cianelli, R., Leblanc, N.M., Zhang, C., De Santis, J., Rodriguez, N.V., & McMahon, J.M. (2022). Associations between Home-and School-Based Violent Experiences and the Development of Sexual Behavior in Young Adolescent Girls in the Rural Southern Region of Malawi.International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (10). PMID: 35627344 PMCID: PMC9141795 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105809
Leblanc, N.M., Mitchell, J.W., Bond, K.T., Juarez Cuellar, A., Vil, N.M.S., & McMahon, J. (2022). Perspectives on a Couples-Based, e-Health HIV Prevention Toolkit Intervention: A Qualitative Dyadic Study with Black, Heterosexual Couples in New York State.Archives of Sexual Behavior. PMID: 35639220 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02270-8
Wilson, K., Przbyla, S., Bleasdale, J., Gabriel, S., Leblanc, N., & St. Vil, N. (2022). Factors correlated with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness and use among black adults in the United States: implications for improving HIV prevention.AIDS Care. PMID: 35981242 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2113027
Bond, K.T., Leblanc, N.M., Williams, P., Gabriel, C.-A., & Amutah-Onukagha, N.N. (2021). Race-Based Sexual Stereotypes, Gendered Racism, and Sexual Decision Making Among Young Black Cisgender Women.Health Education and Behavior, 48 (3), 295-305. PMID: 34080468 PMCID: PMC8491461 DOI: 10.1177/10901981211010086
McMahon, J.M., Simmons, J., Haberer, J.E., Mannheimer, S., Leblanc, N.M., Torres, L., Quiles, R., Aedo, G., Javier, A., Braksmajer, A., Harriman, G., Trabold, N., Pouget, E.R., Kurth, A., Smith, M.D.R., Brasch, J., Podsiadly, E.J., & Anderson, P.L. (2021). The Magnetic Couples Study: Protocol for a mixed methods prospective cohort study of HIV-serodifferent heterosexual couples' perspectives and use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).BMJ Open, 11 (7). PMID: 34210734 PMCID: PMC8252879 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-048993
St. Vil, N.M., Leblanc, N.M., & Giles, K.N. (2021). The Who and Why of Consensual Nonmonogamy Among African Americans.Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50 (3), 1143-1150. PMID: 33237383 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01835-3
St. Vil, N.M., Leblanc, N.M., Bleasdale, J., Wilson, K., & Przybyla, S. (2021). An Analysis of Sex Practices and Behaviors Among African Americans in Sexually Concurrent and Sexually Exclusive Relationships.Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. PMID: 34405391 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-021-01130-4
Leblanc, N.M., Crean, H.F., Dyer, T.P., Zhang, C., Turpin, R., Zhang, N., Smith, M.D.R., McMahon, J., Nelson, L. (2021). Correction to: Ecological and Syndemic Predictors of Drug Use During Sex and Transactional Sex among U.S. Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Secondary Data Analysis from the HPTN 061 Study.Archives of Sexual Behavior. PMID: 33974202 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02033-5
Zhang, C., McMahon, J., Leblanc, N., Braksmajer, A., Crean, H. F., & Alcena-Stiner, D. (2020). Association of Medical Mistrust and Poor Communication with HIV-Related Health Outcomes and Psychosocial Wellbeing among Heterosexual Men Living with HIV.AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 34 (1), 27-37. PMID: 31755736 PMCID: PMC6983731 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2019.0200
De Santis J.P., Quidley-Rodriguez N., Mathurin E.P., Valdes B., Leblanc N.M., Provencio-Vasquez E., & Martinez J. (2020). Circumventing vs. Guiding: A Grounded Theory Study of Sexual Negotiation Among Hispanic Men Who Have Sex with Men.Journal of Social Service Research. DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2020.1734711
Zhang, C., Mitchell, W., Xue, Y., LeBlanc, N.M., & Liu, Y. (2020). Understanding the role of nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other nursing staff in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis care in the United States: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Nursing, 19 (1). PMID: 33292201 PMCID: PMC7724856 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-020-00503-0
Harris O.O., Leblanc N., McGee K., Randolph S., Wharton M.J., & Relf M. (2020). Alarm at the Gate-Health and Social Inequalities are Comorbid Conditions of HIV and COVID-19.JANAC Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 31 (4), 367-375. PMID: 32568762 PMCID: PMC8272948 DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000190
McMahon J.M., Braksmajer A., Zhang C., Leblanc N., Chen M., Aidala A., & Simmons J. (2019). Syndemic factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adult heterosexual men.AIDS Research and Therapy, 16 (1). PMID: 31706357 PMCID: PMC6842154 DOI: 10.1186/s12981-019-0248-9
Nelson, L. E., McMahon, J. M., Leblanc, N. M., Braksmajer, A., Crean, H. F., Smith, K., & Xue, Y. (2019). Advancing the case for nurse practitioner-based models to accelerate scale-up of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28, 351-361. PMID: 30230068 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.14675
Braksmajer, A., Leblanc, N. M., El-Bassel, N., Urban, M. A., & McMahon, J. M. (2019). Feasibility and acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis use among women in violent relationships.Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, 31 (4), 475-480. PMID: 30045629 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1503634
Leblanc, N. M., & McMahon, J. (2019). Perceived facilitators and barriers to couples' HIV testing and counseling in U.S. clinical settings: Perspectives from U.S. health providers.Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. PMID: 30672780 DOI: 10.1097/JNC.0000000000000055
Ogunbajo A., Leblanc N.M., Kushwaha S., Boakye F., Hanson S., Smith M.D.R., & Nelson L.E. (2019). Knowledge and Acceptability of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ghana.AIDS Care-Psychological And Socio-Medical Aspects Of AIDS/HIV. PMID: 31597455 PMCID: PMC6980967 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1675858
Zhang C., McMahon J., Leblanc N., Braksmajer A., Crean H.F., & Alcena-Stiner D. (2019). Association of Medical Mistrust and Poor Communication with HIV-Related Health Outcomes and Psychosocial Wellbeing Among Heterosexual Men Living with HIV.AIDS Patient Care and STDs. PMID: 31755736 PMCID: PMC6983731 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2019.0200
Zhang C., McMahon J., Fiscella K., Przybyla S., Braksmajer A., LeBlanc N., & Liu Y. (2019). HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Implementation Cascade Among Health Care Professionals in the United States: Implications from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 33 (12), 507-527. PMID: 31821044 PMCID: PMC6918849 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2019.0119
Leblanc, N. M., & Mitchell, J. W. (2018). Providers’ perceptions of couples’ HIV testing and counseling (CHTC): Perspectives from a U.S. HIV epicenter.Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, 7 (1), 22-33. PMID: 30319926 PMCID: PMC6179155 DOI: 10.1037/cfp0000097
Leblanc, N. M., Albuja, L., & DeSantis, J. (2018). The uses of self and space: Health providers' approaches to engaging patients into the HIV care continuum.AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 32 (8), 321-329. PMID: 30067407 PMCID: PMC6909711 DOI: 10.1089/apc.2017.0284
Mitrani, VB., De Santis, JP., McCabe, BE., Deleon, DA., Gattamorta, KA., Leblanc, NM (2017). The impact of parental reaction to sexual orientation on depressive symptoms and sexual risk behavior among Hispanic men who have sex with men.Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 31 (4), 352-358. PMID: 28693870 PMCID: PMC5721521 DOI: 10.1016/j.apnu.2017.04.004
Barroso, J., Leblanc, N. M., & Flores, D. (2017). It's Not Just the Pills: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis of HIV Antiretroviral Adherence Research.Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 28 (4), 462-478.
Leblanc, N.M., Mitchell, J. & DeSantis, J. (2016). Negotiated safety – components, context and use: An integrative literature review.Journal of Advanced Nursing. PMID: 27906471 DOI: 10.1111/jan.13228
Koskan, A., & Leblanc, N. (2016). HPV knowledge and screening among gay men of color in South Florida.Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, 25(3 Supplement), B72.
Flores, D., Leblanc, N., & Barroso, J. (2016). Enroling and retaining human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in their care: A metasynthesis of qualitative studies.International Journal of Nursing Studies, 26 (3), 294-306.
Gonzalez-Guarda, R.M., McCabe, B., Leblanc, N., De Santis, J.P. & Provencio-Vasquez, E. (2016). The contribution of stress, cultural factors and sexual identity on the substance abuse, violence, HIV and depression syndemic among Hispanic men.Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 22 (4), 563-571. PMID: 27159650 PMCID: PMC5053835 DOI: 10.1037/cdp0000077
Koskan, A., Leblanc, N. & Rosa-Cunha, I. (2016). Exploring anal dysplasia screening perceptions and behaviors among HIV-infected gay and bisexual men.Cancer Control, 23 (1), 52-58. PMID: 27009457 PMCID: PMC4928714 DOI: 10.1177/107327481602300109
Leblanc, N. M., & Andes, K. L. (2015). An exploration of men's knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of HIV, HIV risk, and willingness to test for HIV in Yendi District, Northern Ghana.The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, 26 (3), 281-295. PMID: 25456835 DOI: 10.1016/j.jana.2014.09.006
Flores, D., Leblanc, N., & Barroso, J. (2015). Facilitators and barriers to HIV screening: A qualitative metasynthesis.Qualitative Health Research, 26 (3), 294-306. PMID: 26631679 DOI: 10.1177/1049732315616624
