I’m a researcher and certified health education specialist (CHES®) who focuses on decreasing vaccine-preventable diseases. I first developed an interest in vaccine-preventable diseases during my training in sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and sexuality education evaluation. Later, during my graduate training, I also became interested in strategies to increase vaccination rates, specifically human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates.
As a researcher for more than seven years, my interests have expanded to include provider-patient communication and theory-based behavioral interventions. I focus on developing, implementing and evaluating training tools using implementation science methods. My goal is to increase healthcare providers' skills and abilities in using evidence-based communication strategies to provide consistent and equitable care to patients.
For example, I was part of a research team that conducted a usability and feasibility evaluation of a novel HPV vaccine communication training program targeted to healthcare providers. This effort, funded by the Academic Pediatric Association, used a smartphone app (HPV Vaccine: Same Way, Same Day™) among a cohort of pediatric residents. The evaluation resulted in the app being described by residents as interactive, easy to use, succinct, informative, engaging and practical. It has the potential to provide a scalable training technique to promote effective HPV vaccine recommendation skills.
Since joining Cincinnati Children’s in 2019, I’ve been involved in several exciting research initiatives. I’m the principal investigator of a study evaluating a virtual reality curriculum that aims to increase providers' skills in using evidence-based HPV vaccine recommendation practices. I’m also co-investigator of a content and usability evaluation of web-based continuing education programs designed to help dental providers discuss HPV and oropharyngeal cancers. Studies like these allow us to identify user-centered training features and evaluate provider training interventions, so we can produce evidence-based implementation training strategies.
I’ve received several honors and awards, including the Emerging Professional Award from the American School Health Association (2016). I was also named a fellow of the American School Health Association (2018).
BS: Health and Wellness Promotion, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 2008.
MEd: Health Education, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, 2010.
PhD: Health Education, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2013.
Certification: Certified Health Education Specialist, 2009; Texas Teacher All-Level Certification (Health Education), 2008-2014.
Sexually transmitted infections; HPV; theory-based behavioral interventions
Adolescent Medicine
Virtual reality informs clinical observation tool. The Clinical Teacher. 2023; 20:e13575.
Virtual communication training to address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Medical Education. 2023; 57:477-478.
Using Technology to Overcome Vaccine Hesitancy. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2023; 70:297-308.
A Virtual Reality Curriculum to Enhance Residents' Behavioral Health Anticipatory Guidance Skills: A Pilot Trial. Academic Pediatrics. 2023; 23:185-192.
Impact of a Virtual Reality Curriculum on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: A Pilot Trial. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2022; 63:865-873.
School Health Service Provider Perceptions on Facilitated Interactive Role-Play Around HPV Vaccine Recommendation. Journal of Cancer Education. 2022; 37:1286-1295.
Increasing Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccine Uptake in Pediatric Primary Care by Offering Vaccine to Household Members. The Journal of Pediatrics. 2022; 247:150-154.e1.
Partner-Level and Sexual Networking Factors Are Associated With Vaccine-Type and Nonvaccine-Type Human Papillomavirus Infection After Vaccine Introduction in Young Women. Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2022; 49:429-436.
Assessment of Competency-Based Behavioral Health Anticipatory Guidance Skills Among Pediatric Residents: the Role of Virtual Reality. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. 2022; 7:115-124.
Intention to use novel methods of male directed contraception among college students. 2022; 1:11-29.