Biography
Dr. Mia Rae Kirk has over a decade of experience in the public health field, specializing in overdose prevention and harm reduction strategies. Her dissertation research explores the distribution of life-saving supplies, such as naloxone and fentanyl test strips, through harm reduction vending machines. Dr. Kirk is also a leader in the field, currently serving as Vice President of the Northern Nevada chapter of the Nevada Public Health Association. She has received numerous prestigious grants and scholarships, including the NIH/NIDA R36 Dissertation Award and the Graduate Dean’s Merit Scholarship. Her research has been published in high-impact journals, including Clinical Toxicology and the International Journal of Drug Policy, and she has presented her findings at national conferences on substance use, overdose prevention, and harm reduction. Dr. Kirk’s work continues to shape public health practices and policies aimed at reducing drug-related harms and advancing community health outcomes.
Professional Appointments and Memberships
- 2025 – Present Northern Nevada Chapter Vice President, Nevada Public Health Association
- 2024 – Present Member, Delta Phi Chapter, Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society
- 2023 – Present Member, Nevada Public Health Association
- 2022 – Present Member-in-Training, College on Problems of Drug Dependence
Education
- PhD, Public Health, Social & Behavioral Health, University of Nevada, Reno
- MPH, Healthy Policy & Management, School of Public Health, Boston University
Expertise
- Study design, data collection, and data analysis
- Substance use and harm reduction
Key Projects
- Project title: Nevada Overdose Data to Action (OD2A)
Funder: Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Presentations and Publications
- Kirk, M. R., Wagner, K. D., Devereux, P. G., & Larson, M. J. (2025). “It’s a no-brainer to me.” A mixed-methods analysis of students’ perceptions of naloxone distribution on their college campus. Journal of American College Health, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2025.2538072
- Kirk, M.R., Etchart H., Soske J., Harding R.W., Samuels E.A., Woodard S., Oman R.F., Wagner K.D. (2025) Certified peer recovery support specialists and substance use-related emergency department visits: A mixed methods study of the patient experience. Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, 169 (209563),1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.josat.2024.209563
- Kirk, M.R. (2025, June). The promise and pitfalls of harm reduction vending machines: A qualitative exploration. Presentation at the College on Problems of Drug Dependence, New Orleans, Louisiana.
- Kirk, M.R. (2025, March). A mixed-methods exploration of the barriers and facilitators of using harm reduction vending machines for people who use drugs in Nevada. Presentation at the American Academy of Health Behavior, San Diego, California.