I specialize in Health Communication. That is, my research attempts to apply communication evidence, strategy, theory, and creativity to promote behaviors, policies, and practices that advance the health and well-being of people and populations. For example, I have worked with urban homeless and migrant farm workers (using photovoice) to understand the factors that enable home stability, investigated sexuality and stigma among Latina pregnant or parenting teens (using digital storytelling), and helped to develop culturally appropriate guidelines to address zoonotic spillover (the transmission of infectious diseases between animals and humans) in Southeast Asia, utilizing a participatory approach. Most recently, I am conducting ethnographic research to understand the factors that may lead to higher vaccination confidence among rural populations. Thus, I have investigated a wide range of topics affecting very diverse communities, but the common thread in my research is the desire to understand how and why people make decisions affecting their health and wellbeing.  

PUBH 475e Issues in Medical and Public Health Ethics

PUBH 540 Social and Behavioral Science in Public Health 

PUBH 640 Qualitative Research in Public Health