Kim Larson

Kim Larson is a Professor in the College of Nursing at East Carolina University with extensive expertise in global population health. She is a 2023-24 Fulbright US Scholar who worked in Poland developing intercultural care guidelines for Ukrainian refugees. Her clinical and research work spans multiple countries including Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, with a strong focus on Latino communities in North Carolina.

Dr. Larson's research interests center on palliative care for Latino communities, intercultural nursing, refugee health, clean water access in Guatemala, adolescent sexual health, and farmworker health. Her work consistently addresses health disparities through community-based participatory approaches that prioritize cultural competence and community engagement.

Her recent publications (2021-2024) show a strong focus on health equity, with research spanning palliative care for Latino cancer patients, hydration and heat stress among farmworkers, malnutrition in Guatemalan children, nurse burnout during the pandemic, and intercultural care for Ukrainian refugees. These works demonstrate her commitment to addressing health disparities through culturally responsive care models.

• Fulbright US Scholar Award (2022-2024)
• ECU CON Hall of Fame (2024)
• Achievement in International Teaching (2024)
• Mentor Award from Beta Nu Chapter Sigma Theta Tau International (2020)
• Servire Society Award recipient (2018)
• Fellow of the National Academies of Practice

Dr. Larson is actively involved in mentoring students and has secured significant funding for her research, including grants from the Rita & Alex Hillman Foundation, Fulbright Commission, and multiple ECU awards. Her community-engaged research model emphasizes partnership with the communities she serves, particularly evident in her long-term work in Guatemala and with Latino communities in North Carolina.