Dr. Kirsten Austad

Biography

Kirsten Austad, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor at Boston University's Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, specializing in Family Medicine. Her work as an implementation scientist focuses on advancing implementation science theory and methods to enhance the delivery of evidence-based interventions, particularly in safety net settings and for populations with non-English language preferences. Austad has extensive experience in researching diverse multilingual settings and adapting interventions to meet community needs. She has previously served as a hospitalist at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and directed women's health programs in Guatemala, working closely with rural indigenous Maya communities. Kirsten currently leads the K23 NIMHD-funded project aimed at adapting transitional care interventions for patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and serves as Principal Investigator for a pilot trial entitled TIDE that tests language-concordant discharge teaching tools. Additionally, she provides mentorship to early career faculty completing implementation science fellowships at Boston University, and she educates others on integrating implementation science research into practice.

Research Interests