Nichole Starr, MD, MPH | UCSF Department of Surgery

Biography

Dr. Starr earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Musical Theatre from the University of Miami and an MPH from Boston University through the Master’s International program, combining public health studies with Peace Corps service in Ethiopia. She completed medical school at BU and her General Surgery residency at UCSF in 2023.

Her global health work spans Ethiopia, other parts of Africa, and Latin America, with a focus on surgical safety, trauma care, and infection prevention. As a CHESA and Lifebox fellow (2018–2021), she led the Clean Cut program and partnered with the WHO and Ethiopian Ministry of Health on trauma registries and quality improvement. She was also an NIH Fogarty Global Health Equity Scholar.

Dr. Starr currently advises the Lifebox Foundation and Ethiopia’s Trauma & Emergency Care Directorate and recently completed her Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at UCSF/ZSFG.

Education

Institution	Degree	Dept or School	End Date
Boston University School of Medicine	MD	Medicine	05/2015
Boston University School of Public Health	MPH	Public Health	05/2008
University of Miami	BS	Neuroscience	05/2006
University of Miami	BA	Theatre Arts	05/2006
UCSF		General Surgery

Awards & Honors

Award	Conferred By	Date
Dr. Hilary Sanfey Outstanding Resident Award	Association of Women Surgeons	2023
Evan C. Werlin Lodestar Award	UCSF Department of Surgery	2023
Haile T. Debas Resident Teaching Award	UCSF Department of Surgery	2023
Medical Student Teaching Award	UCSF Department of Surgery	2023
William B. Schecter Trauma Resident Award	UCSF	2022
Muriel Steele Society Influential Women in Surgery Honor Roll	UCSF	2019/2022
Surgical Infections Society Best Oral Presentation, Second Place	Surgical Infection Society	2019
Junior Resident Teaching Award	UCSF	2018
Department of Emergency Medicine Surgical Consultant of the Year	UCSF	2017
Dora Savenor Memorial Prize for Excellence in Surgery	Boston University School of Medicine	2015
The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Student Award	Boston University School of Medicine	2015

Grants and Funding

Global Health Equity Scholars Program - D43 Fogarty Training | NIH | 2017-07-01 - 2022-06-30 | Role: Co-Investigator
Research Training in Gastrointestinal Surgery | NIH | 1988-07-01 - 2021-06-30 | Role: Co-Investigator

Research Interests

Cost-Effectiveness Analyses of Surgical Organizations

Barriers to Accessing Surgical Care

Trauma Care

Research Pathways

Global Surgery & Public Health

Publications

MOST RECENT PUBLICATIONS FROM A TOTAL OF 48

Global Scaling of a Surgical Infection Prevention Program to 5 Low-Resource Countries.
Writing Group for the Clean Cut Investigators Group, Nofal MR, Tesfaye A, Gebeyehu N, Starr N, Arimino S, Chaula D, Harrell-Shreckengost C, Utam T, Ambulkar R, Rocabado K, Taye Haile S, Mammo TN, Weiser TG| 2025-08-13 | PubMed
Factors associated with successful implementation of Clean Cut: a perioperative surgical site infection prevention quality improvement programme-a cohort study of low-resource hospitals.
Nofal MR, Gebeyehu N, Starr N, Tesfaye A, Arimino S, Haile ST, Mammo TN, Weiser TG| 2025-03-03 | PubMed
Impact of WHO's Surgical Safety Checklist-Based Program on Cleft-lip and Palate Repair Outcomes in LMICs-The CLEAN CLEFT Program.
Alamnie G, Timo M, Arimino S, Eshete M, Gebreegziabher A, Abate F, Kebede H, Mehendale F, Ehua-Koua M, Moulot O, Bankole R, Starr N, Mammo TN| 2024-11-21 | PubMed
Injury and violence in the context of sustainable development: The first Bethune Round Table in Africa, Bethune Round Table 2024, Conference on Global Surgery, May 16-18, 2024, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Lett R, Bartolomeos K, Lett R, Laeke T, Tirsit A, Kassahun A, Boniface R, Munthali V, Razek T, Deckelbaum D, Bracco D, Presser E, Belay E, Kifle F, Weiser TG, Iverson K, Takoutsing BD, Dalle DU, Mbangtang CB, Nyalundja AD, Macaraeg J, Dzirasa I, Kanmounye US, Dovlo D, Koram K, Nyarko E, Jumbam DT, Shimber ET, Jaraczewski T, Sgro M, Basmayor AM, Ergete A, Iverson K, Schroeder M, Dodgion C, Gyedu A, Nakua E, Donkor P, Mock C, Awedew A, Laeke T, Yibeltal M, Ayele M, Melkamu H, Bekele S, Hailemariam B, Shiferaw E, Shiferaw Y, Yirdaw W, Sawhney R, Patel S, Basak D, Veetil DK, Roy N, Wärnberg MG, Rath S, Abdullahi MAS, Mbaya K, Kakasanda A, Danjuma S, Olasoji H, Ameh E, Bedada A, Motsumi MJ, Hamda SG, Ibro S, Amdisa D, Tilahun G, Abeza M, Laeke T, Boroditsky M, Hill M, Hilzenrat R, Livergant R, Adams J, Binda C, Chhor A, Hsiao H, Haji F, Chin E, Oyania F, Stephens CQ, Ullrich S, Kotagal M, Bajunirwe F, Ozgediz DE, Poenaru D, Kravarioti D, Wong LY, Teklemariam TL, Tirsit A, Liyew T, Ferguson M, Plackett T, Henry JC, Dodgion C, Abeza MA, Minas SM, Bouchard M, Tennakoon D, Sawhney R, Burra R, Mathew F, Jones A, Virk S, Patel S, Vaghaiwalla T, Hudspeth J, Rabin T, Rowthorn V, Price RR, Raykar N, Eamer G, Mutiso S, Kisaka Y, Gathecha G, Lett R, Onu C, Ameh E, Igoche M, Anyanwu P, Onuh E, Ojeamen O, Yawe ET, Abubakar A, Ashoms Y, Suleiman H, Musa N, Kyengera DK, Abebe N, Gardener R, Berhanu D, Abebe NS, Zeleke HT, Sawhney R, Proulx KR, Gerk A, Guadagno E, Poenaru D, Kundu S, Laor B, Sawhney R, Wurdeman T, Botelho F, Gerk A, Guadagno E, Poenaru D, Ayele M, Kassahun A, Laeke T, Yibeltal M, Hailu B, Fikru E, Ibro SA, Workineh A, Balcha F, Abamecha F, Shemsi S, Alruwaili AS, Rodriguez G, Jose A, Ebied S, Girma S, Abiy A, Assen HE, Tesfaye K, Demeke K, Yiheyis A, Jemal K, Yilkal D, Amsalu A, Derseh L, W/Gerima Y, Belayneh T, Tiruneh M, Bitew A, Yitayih S, Awoke T, Worku C, Mohammed A, Alemu M, Yesuf M, Mamo F, Shitu K, Liyew B, Gucho A, Tilahun G, Love T, Chew A, Kasagga B, Takoutsing B, Ekwaro O, Elobu E, Mengistu DD, Zhuang A, Shiferew B, Mengistu G, Zewdie A, Tadelle N, Gebreyesus A, Presser E, Iverson K, Dodgion C, Weiser TG, Koch R, Starr N, Lau D, Zivkovic I, Joharifard S, Joos E, Garraway N, Vituci F, O'Flynn E, Péric I, Simon L, Ibbotson G, Seyoum T, Azazh A, Beza L, Onah I, Chukwuma C, Berhanu D, Shenoi J, Sears N, Bedore Y, Caplan R, Shale WT| 2024-10-29 | PubMed
Needs Assessment for the Development of a Sustainability Curriculum for Surgical Residents.
Matthys M, Wang J, Sathe TS, Wang K, Gandhi S, Lee H, Alseidi A, Sustainability Curriculum Working Group| 2024-08-10 | PubMed
A Perioperative Quality Improvement Program for Cesarean Delivery in Ethiopia: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial.
Mammo TN, Feyssa MD, Nofal MR, Gebeyehu N, Shiferaw MA, Tesfaye A, Fikre T, Woldeamanuel H, Alemu SB, Miller K, Haile ST, Weiser TG, Checklist Expansion for Antisepsis and Infection Control in Cesarean Section (CLEAN-CS) Trial Group| 2024-08-01 | PubMed
A Prospective Quality Improvement Program to Reduce Prolonged Postoperative Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Ethiopia.
Nofal MR, Tesfaye A, Gebeyehu N, Masersha MN, Hayredin I, Belayneh K, Getahun B, Starr N, Abebe K, Sebsebe Y, Alemu SB, Mammo TN, Weiser TG| 2024-07-11 | PubMed
Review of a large trauma registry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: insights into prehospital care and provider training for trauma quality improvement.
Starr N, Ayehu M, Zhuang A, Minalu HT, Alemu GK, Fisseha S, Chekol S, Habtemariam A, Hadis M, Alemtsehay B, Mengiste M, Kefeni Bori A| 2024-05-21 | PubMed
Prehospital balanced resuscitation may mitigate hypofibrinogenemia in traumatic hemorrhagic shock.
Starr N, Kornblith L| 2024-04-03 | PubMed
The Devil's in the Depot Details: Case of Iatrogenic Opioid Intoxication After Buprenorphine Injection Requiring Surgical Excision.
Vais S, Starr N, Castro M, Brand N, Murphy A, Tesoriero R, Kryzhanovskaya I| 2024-02-09 | PubMed
Scalability and Sustainability of a Surgical Infection Prevention Program in Low-Income Environments.
Starr N, Gebeyehu N, Nofal MR, Forrester JA, Tesfaye A, Mammo TN, Weiser TG, Lifebox Clean Cut Collaborative, Amdie DA, Abreha M, Alemu M, Ally S, Abdukadir AA, Assefa G, Bedore Y, Bekele A, Berhanu M, Alemu SB, Chimdesa Z, Derbew M, Fast C, Fernandez K, Kahsay S, Kassahun A, Kebede H, Kitesa G, Koritsanszky L, Lima B, Mellese B, Mengistu M, Negash S, Tara M, Taye S, Torgeson K, Tsehaye M, Tiruneh A, Stave K| 2024-02-01 | PubMed
Addressing knowledge gaps in Surgical Safety Checklist use: statistical process control analysis of a surgical quality improvement programme in Ethiopia.
Nofal MR, Starr N, Negussie Mammo T, Trickey AW, Gebeyehu N, Koritsanszky L, Alemu M, Tara M, Alemu SB, Evans F, Kahsay S, Weiser TG| 2023-10-10 | PubMed
Feasibility of Gastrografin Use for Adhesive Small Bowel Obstruction in Low-Income Countries.
Starr N, Tadesse M, Igwebuike C, Sherefa K, Genetu A, Aregawi Y, Zewdu E, Tamirat D, Desalegn M, Getahun B, Harris H, Zemenfes D| 2023-10-04 | PubMed
Correction: Academic global surgical competencies: A modified Delphi consensus study.
Pawlak N, Dart C, Aguilar HS, Ameh E, Bekele A, Jimenez MF, Lakhoo K, Ozgediz D, Roy N, Terfera G, Ademuyiwa AO, Alayande BT, Alonso N, Anderson GA, Anyanwu SNC, Aregawi AB, Bandyopadhyay S, Banu T, Bedada AG, Belachew AG, Botelho F, Bua E, Campos LN, Dodgion C, Drejza M, Durieux ME, Dutta R, Erdene S, Vaz Ferreira R, Gathuya Z, Ghosh D, Jawa RS, Johnson WD, Khan FA, Navas Leon FJ, Long KL, Macleod JBA, Mahajan A, Maine RG, Malolos GZC, McClain CD, Nabukenya MT, Nthumba PM, Nwomeh BC, Ojuka DK, Penny N, Quiodettis MA, Rickard J, Roa L, Salgado LS, Samad L, Seyi-Olajide JO, Smith M, Starr N, Stewart RJ, Tarpley JL, Trostchansky JL, Trostchansky I, Weiser TG, Wobenjo A, Wollner E, Jayaraman S| 2023-09-14 | PubMed
Academic global surgical competencies: A modified Delphi consensus study.
Pawlak N, Dart C, Aguilar HS, Ameh E, Bekele A, Jimenez MF, Lakhoo K, Ozgediz D, Roy N, Terfera G, Ademuyiwa AO, Alayande BT, Alonso N, Anderson GA, Anyanwu SNC, Aregawi AB, Bandyopadhyay S, Banu T, Bedada AG, Belachew AG, Botelho F, Bua E, Campos LN, Dodgion C, Drejza M, Durieux ME, Dutta R, Erdene S, Ferreira RV, Gathuya Z, Ghosh D, Jawa RS, Johnson WD, Khan FA, Leon FJN, Long KL, Macleod JBA, Mahajan A, Maine RG, Malolos GZC, McClain CD, Nabukenya MT, Nthumba PM, Nwomeh BC, Ojuka DK, Penny N, Quiodettis MA, Rickard J, Roa L, Salgado LS, Samad L, Seyi-Olajide JO, Smith M, Starr N, Stewart RJ, Tarpley JL, Trostchansky JL, Trostchansky I, Weiser TG, Wobenjo A, Wollner E, Jayaraman S| 2023-07-14 | PubMed
Correction: Exploring the Use of a Fit-for-Purpose Surgical Headlight in Sub-Saharan Africa: Mixed Methods Study.
Hussien M, Capo-Chichi N, Starr N, Johansen E, Negash S, Utam T, Negussie T, Fernandez K, Weiser TG| 2023-07-01 | PubMed
Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries.
National Institute for Health and Care Research Global Health Research Unit on Global Surgery| 2023-06-12 | PubMed
Exploring the Use of a Fit-for-Purpose Surgical Headlight in Sub-Saharan Africa: Mixed Methods Study.
Hussien M, Capo-Chichi N, Starr N, Johansen E, Negash S, Utam T, Negussie T, Fernandez K, Weiser TG| 2023-03-02 | PubMed
Bridging the know-do gap in low-income surgical environments: Creating contextually appropriate training videos to promote safer surgery in Ethiopia.
Hawkins J, Rangel UJS, Tesfaye A, Gebeyehu N, Weiser TG, Bitew S, Mammo TN, Starr N| 2022-11-07 | PubMed
Evaluation of an adaptive, multimodal intervention to reduce postoperative infections following cesarean delivery in Ethiopia: study protocol of the CLEAN-CS cluster-randomized stepped wedge interventional trial.
Mammo TN, Feyssa MD, Haile ST, Fikre T, Shiferaw MA, Woldeamanuel H, Temesgen F, Gebeyehu N, Starr N, Fernandez K, Henrich N, Alemu SB, Miller K, Weiser TG| 2022-08-19 | PubMed
Platelet Transfusion for Trauma Resuscitation
Nichole Starr, Zachary Matthay, Alexander Fields, Matthew D. Neal & Lucy Zumwinkle Kornblith| 2022-07-20 | UCSF Research Profile
Perioperative provider safety in the pandemic: Development, implementation and evaluation of an adjunct COVID-19 Surgical Patient Checklist.
Starr NE, Moore JN, Shreckengost CSH, Fernandez K, Ambulkar RP, Capo-Chichi N, Varallo JE, Ademuyiwa AO, Krouch S, Rana PS, Ingabire JA, Weiser TG, Mammo TN, Evans FM| 2022-06-29 | PubMed
Perioperative health care provider safety and resource availability during the COVID-19 pandemic in India and other low middle-income countries.
Ambulkar R, Rana PS, Starr N, Moore J| 2022-03-24 | PubMed
Global Collaboration on a UV-C Cabinet to Decontaminate and Reuse N95 Respirators in Low- and Middle-Income Environments
Nichole Starr, MD, MPH, Natnael Gebeyehu, MD, Anderson S. L. Gomes, PhD, E. Rosas, PhD, Tyler N. Chen, MS, Dawit Assefa, PhD, Jared Shless, Jit Bhattacharya, PhD, Arnab Bhattacharya, PhD, David Robinowitz, MD, MHS, MS, Martin Purschke, PhD, and Thomas Baer, PhD| 2022-02-16 | UCSF Research Profile
Clean and Confident: Impact of Sterile Instrument Processing Workshops on Knowledge and Confidence in Five Low- and Middle-Income Countries.
Harrell Shreckengost CS, Starr N, Negussie Mammo T, Gebeyehu N, Tesfaye Y, Belayneh K, Tara M, Lima I, Jenkin K, Fast C, Weiser TG| 2022-01-24 | PubMed
Operating room efficiency in a low resource setting: a pilot study from a large tertiary referral center in Ethiopia.
Negash S, Anberber E, Ayele B, Ashebir Z, Abate A, Bitew S, Derbew M, Weiser TG, Starr N, Mammo TN| 2022-01-07 | PubMed
Sustainability of a Surgical Quality Improvement Program at Hospitals in Ethiopia.
Starr N, Nofal MR, Gebeyehu N, Forrester JA, Derbew M, Weiser TG, Mammo TN| 2022-01-01 | PubMed
Comment on "COVID-19 Preparedness Within the Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthetic Ecosystem in Sub Saharan Africa".
Starr N, Weiser TG| 2021-12-01 | PubMed
Perioperative Provider Safety in Low- and Middle-income Countries During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call for Renewed Investments in Resources and Training.
Starr N, Capo-Chichi N, Moore J, Shreckengost CH, Fernandez K, Ambulkar R, Varallo JE, Ademuyiwa AO, Krouch S, Rana PS, Ingabire JA, Weiser TG, Mammo TN, Evans FM| 2021-12-01 | PubMed
Academic Global Surgery Curricula: Current Status and a Call for a More Equitable Approach.
Jayaram A, Pawlak N, Kahanu A, Fallah P, Chung H, Valencia-Rojas N, Rodas EB, Abbaslou A, Alseidi A, Ameh EA, Bekele A, Casey K, Chu K, Dempsey R, Dodgion C, Jawa R, Jimenez MF, Johnson W, Krishnaswami S, Kwakye G, Lane R, Lakhoo K, Long K, Madani K, Nwariaku F, Nwomeh B, Price R, Roser S, Rees AB, Roy N, Ruzgar NM, Sacoto H, Sifri Z, Starr N, Swaroop M, Tarpley M, Tarpley J, Terfera G, Weiser T, Lipnick M, Nabukenya M, Ozgediz D, Jayaraman S| 2021-08-21 | PubMed
Author response to: Clean Cut (adaptive, multimodal surgical infection prevention programme) for low-resource settings: a prospective quality improvement study.
Forrester JA, Starr N, Gebeyehu N, Negussie T, Weiser TG| 2021-04-05 | PubMed
Early Outcome of Laparotomy Wounds in Pediatric Patients in TASH, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Six-Months Prospective Study.
Temesgen F, Gosaye A, Starr N, Kiflu W, Getachew H, Dejene B, Tadesse A, Derbew M, Negussie T| 2021-01-01 | PubMed
Clean Cut (adaptive, multimodal surgical infection prevention programme) for low-resource settings: a prospective quality improvement study.
Forrester JA, Starr N, Negussie T, Schaps D, Adem M, Alemu S, Amenu D, Gebeyehu N, Habteyohannes T, Jiru F, Tesfaye A, Wayessa E, Chen R, Trickey A, Bitew S, Bekele A, Weiser TG| 2020-09-21 | PubMed
Construction and validation of UV-C decontamination cabinets for filtering facepiece respirators.
Purschke M, Elsamaloty M, Wilde JP, Starr N, Anderson RR, Farinelli WA, Sakamoto FH, Tung M, Tam J, Hesselink L, Baer TM| 2020-09-01 | PubMed
Pulse oximetry in low-resource settings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Starr N, Rebollo D, Asemu YM, Akalu L, Mohammed HA, Menchamo MW, Melese E, Bitew S, Wilson I, Tadesse M, Weiser TG| 2020-07-03 | PubMed
COVID-19 Preparedness Within the Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthetic Ecosystem in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Ademuyiwa AO, Bekele A, Berhea AB, Borgstein E, Capo-Chichi N, Derbew M, Evans FM, Feyssa MD, Galukande M, Gawande AA, Gueye SM, Harrison E, Jani P, Kaseje N, Litswa L, Mammo TN, Mellin-Olsen J, Muguti G, Nabukenya MT, Ngoga E, Ntirenganya F, Rulisa S, Starr N, Tabiri S, Tadesse M, Walker I, Weiser TG, Wren SM| 2020-07-01 | PubMed
Identification of injury and shock driven effects on ex vivo platelet aggregometry: A cautionary tale of phenotyping.
Starr NE, Matthay ZA, Fields AT, Nunez-Garcia B, Callcut RA, Cohen MJ, Kornblith LZ| 2020-07-01 | PubMed
The Lifebox Surgical Headlight Project: engineering, testing, and field assessment in a resource-constrained setting.
Starr N, Panda N, Johansen EW, Forrester JA, Wayessa E, Rebollo D, August A, Fernandez K, Bitew S, Mammo TN, Weiser TG| 2020-06-27 | PubMed
Value and Feasibility of Telephone Follow-Up in Ethiopian Surgical Patients.
Starr N, Gebeyehu N, Tesfaye A, Forrester JA, Bekele A, Bitew S, Wayessa E, Weiser TG, Negussie T| 2020-04-16 | PubMed
Diagnosis and management of surgical disease at Ethiopian health centres: cross-sectional survey of resources and barriers to care.
Starr N, Carpenter S, Carvalho M, Souza A, Chin R, Kasotakis G, Worku M| 2019-10-28 | PubMed
Qualitative outcomes of Clean Cut: implementation lessons from reducing surgical infections in Ethiopia.
Mattingly AS, Starr N, Bitew S, Forrester JA, Negussie T, Bereknyei Merrell S, Weiser TG| 2019-08-17 | PubMed
Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation following left-sided colorectal resection.
GlobalSurg Collaborative| 2019-02-28 | PubMed
Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality after emergency laparotomy.
GlobalSurg Collaborative| 2019-01-01 | PubMed
Platelet transfusion increases risk for acute respiratory distress syndrome in non-massively transfused blunt trauma patients.
Kasotakis G, Starr N, Nelson E, Sarkar B, Burke PA, Remick DG, Tompkins RG, Inflammation and Host Response to Injury Investigators| 2018-04-07 | PubMed
Laparoscopy in management of appendicitis in high-, middle-, and low-income countries: a multicenter, prospective, cohort study.
GlobalSurg Collaborative| 2018-04-05 | PubMed
Provision of surgical care in Ethiopia: Challenges and solutions.
Kelly CM, Starr N, Raykar NP, Yorlets RR, Liu C, Derbew M| 2018-02-15 | PubMed
Socially Responsible Surgery: Building Recognition and Coalition.
Robinson TD, Oliveira TM, Timmes TR, Mills JM, Starr N, Fleming M, Janeway M, Haddad D, Sidhwa F, Macht RD, Kauffman DF, Dechert TA| 2017-04-05 | PubMed
Determinants of morbidity and mortality following emergency abdominal surgery in children in low-income and middle-income countries.
GlobalSurg Collaborative| 2016-12-12 | PubMed

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