Titles with Aresta: Talking Cancer (English)
Melinda M. Villagrán (Ph.D., University of Oklahoma, 2001) is an Associate Professor of Communication at George Mason University, Fairfax VA. Her primary research program investigates communication in health care interactions to explore the intersections between organizational communication theory and health care practice. Most recently, she has been working with a team of NIH researchers to examine the role of communication in health disparities and cancer care among Latinos along the Texas/Mexico border. She has examined communication about cancer prevention and screening, misperceptions of the health care system, organizational and cultural barriers to cancer care, underutilization of mental health services among Latinos, effective prognosis communication, social identity, and health care decision-making.
Dr. Villagran currently serves on the editorial board for Communication Research Reports, and serves as reviewer for a number of peer-reviewed journals including Health Communication, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, and Public Understanding of Science. Her work has appeared in journals including Communication Monographs, Health Communication, Medical Education,Communication Research Reports, and Analysis of Social Issues and Public Policy.
Dr. Villagran currently serves on the editorial board for Communication Research Reports, and serves as reviewer for a number of peer-reviewed journals including Health Communication, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Qualitative Research Reports in Communication, and Public Understanding of Science. Her work has appeared in journals including Communication Monographs, Health Communication, Medical Education,Communication Research Reports, and Analysis of Social Issues and Public Policy.
Dr. Villagran lives in Washington D.C. with her husband and four children. In addition to teaching and conducting research on cancer communication, she conducts training seminars for medical students and health care professionals about effective communication.with patients and their families. Her mom is a two time cancer survivor and her father-in-law died of lung cancer, so she is especially passionate about the importance of communication in the cancer care process.
