Melissa Valerio, PhD,MPH

 

 

Melissa Valerio, PhD, MPH, is an Associate Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science at the UT School of Public Health, San Antonio Regional Campus. Prior to returning to Texas, she spent five years as Assistant Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. 

 

She obtained her Master’s degree in Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and her PhD in health behavior and health education from the University of Michigan.  Dr. Valerio's interests include chronic disease management and prevention, the design and evaluation of effective health education messages and materials, and survey methods. She is particularly interested in health literacy and cultural competence issues related to health education and communication in minority underserved communities.  Dr. Valerio has been involved in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of community-based coalitions and partnerships.  Most recently I have served as PI on studies focused on the design and evaluation of innovative functional health literacy related interventions and strategies to promote disease management (type 2 diabetes, asthma, and oral health) and prevention (type 2 diabetes).   She serves as PI on a NINR funded R21 study to develop a measure of verbal functional health literacy.  Dr. Valerio also serve as Co-I  on several studies including an NIDDK funded R01 examining the use and influence of genetic explanations in prevention of type 2 diabetes, an AHRQ funded R18 examining comparative effectiveness research practices in diabetes management and on a P60 funded center initiative addressing health disparities in cardiovascular risk. 

 

 

 

 

Contact:

Melissa A Valerio, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor
UT School of Public Health at Houston
San Antonio Regional Campus
7411 John Smith Drive, Suite 1100
San Antonio, TX 78229
Voice: 210-562-5517
Email: Melissa.A.Valerio@uth.tmc.edu