Justin Atkins, MPH

Justin Atkins, MPH, is a fourth-year medical student at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and a recipient of the VA Health Professions Scholarship (HPSP). He is pursuing full-spectrum Family Medicine with a focus on serving rural and underserved communities in Southern Nevada. His medical training emphasizes continuity of care, preventive health, and patient-centered approaches, with clinical experience across Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics.

Justin integrates his clinical training with a strong background in public health and systems-based care. His professional interests include rural health equity, mental health integration in primary care, LGBTQ+ and HIV-inclusive care, and veteran-focused medicine. He is particularly interested in improving healthcare access and delivery through community-based, longitudinal primary care models.

In addition to his clinical training, Justin has contributed to research and medical education, with peer-reviewed publications addressing topics such as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome and the developmental impact of early technology exposure. He has also served as a problem-based learning facilitator and case author for first-year medical students, reflecting a sustained commitment to teaching, mentorship, and medical education.

A Marine Corps veteran, Justin draws on more than a decade of military leadership experience to inform his advocacy for equitable healthcare access, systems improvement, and physician leadership development. He is passionate about mentoring future physicians and contributing to health systems that prioritize high-quality, patient-centered, and community-oriented care.

• Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV - Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Baylor University - Master of Public Health
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
• American Military University - Associate of Arts in General Studies

• ABC News Feature: Marine Veteran Turned Medical Student (2024)
• KUNLV Radio Veterans Day Guest Speaker (2023)
• Distinguished Graduate, UNLV Military & Veterans Center (2022)
• First Place Poster Award, Nevada Academy of Family Physicians (2024)
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas Senate President's Award (2018)

• American Academy of Family Physicians
• Nevada Academy of Family Physicians
• American Academy of Physicians
• Veterans of Foreign Wars

• 3 Square Food Bank - Volunteer
• UNLV Military & Veterans Service Center - Volunteer/ Mentor
• American Red Cross - Blood Donor Ambassador
• My Life, My Story - Founding Member & Board Member

Peer-Reviewed Publications

• Atkins JB, Difulvio S, Boneh J, et al. Exploring the Link Between Early Technology Exposure and Developmental Milestones in Childhood. Cureus. 2024;16(10):e71791.
• Atkins JB, Levine D, Shaw L. Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome Presenting as Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in a Chronic Cannabis User. Cureus. 2025;17(7):e55935.

Scholarly Presentations & Medical Education Research

• Enhancing Medical Education with ChatGPT: Generating Self-Testing Questions for Medical Students. Oral and poster presentations at national medical education conferences.
• Reshaping Medical Education: AI-Driven Change in Learning Media. Poster presentation, International Association of Medical Science Educators Conference.
• SCREEN-TIMED: Technology Exposure and Early Developmental Milestones. Poster presentation, Nevada Academy of Family Physicians Conference (Award Recipient).

Clinical Case Presentations

• Unmasking IRIS: A Tragic Case of Disseminated MAC Infection in a Newly Diagnosed AIDS Patient. Poster presentation, Nevada Academy of Family Physicians Winter Conference.

Professional Articles & Editorials

• Family Medicine as the Front Line of Mental Health Care in the United States. America’s Best in Medicine (2025). https://americasbestinmedicine.com/blog/family-medicine-as-the-front-line-of-mental-health-care-in-the-united-states