Melissa Valerio-Shewmaker, PhD
Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs
Professor, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Brownsville Campus
[email protected]
Department
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston) School of Public Health, Brownsville Campus
Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences
Deputy Editor, Health Promotion Practice
Research Interests
Adolescent Health
Behavioral/Mental Health
Border Health
Cancer
Cardiovascular and Chronic Diseases
Health Education/Behavioral Sciences
Maternal and Child Health
Program Evaluation
Social Determinants of Health
Women's Health
Health Equity
Biography
Dr. Melissa Valerio-Shewmaker is a Professor in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and serves as the Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs. Her primary areas of focus include research design, program design, intervention mapping and community engagement. She has been involved in research focused on prevention and management of chronic illness including type 2 diabetes prevention and management, asthma, cancer prevention and screening and patient-provider communication. She conducts research supported by NCATS, CDC, NIH, PCORI, and local foundations. She has served as PI for studies assessing genetic understanding of type 2 diabetes risk, adolescent diabetes prevention, healthy families using multi-level approaches and community strategies to understand maternal health needs and practices promoting early entry into prenatal care. Dr. Valerio has been involved in the field of health literacy for over 20 years and is recognized as a leader in verbal exchange health literacy. Dr. Valerio teaches Intervention Mapping and Community Assessment.
Contact
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (210) 276-9017
Current Projects
Improving the Health of Americans through Prevention and Management of Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke
CHPPR, in collaboration with the GCREC at the UTHealth SBMI, will assist the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) in carrying out the proposed activities for the project.
Implementation of Evidence-based Interventions to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening in Texas Federally Qualified Health Centers
The goal of this program is to increase Colorectal Cancer Screening through evidence-based interventions in Federally Qualified Health Centers to ultimately reduce Colorectal Cancer and related health disparities among African Americans and Hispanics.
Alliance for Colorectal Cancer
A partnership with MD Anderson Cancer Center to evaluate a program to increase colorectal cancer screening among CPRIT priority populations in central, south, and southeast Texas.
Salud en Mis Manos (SEMM)
A breast and cervical cancer prevention program across 31 counties in the Texas Gulf Coast. This community health worker delivered program is designed for Latinas 18 years and older and includes a class and follow-up health coach navigation calls.