Dr. Michael Stellefson
Professional Organizations
- Society for Public Health Education
- American Public Health Association
- Society for Health Communication
Research Interests
I am a health education/promotion researcher who focuses on health disparities in chronic disease self-management. My research seeks to improve the health of disadvantaged adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) by developing and evaluating effective self-management strategies. COPD is a progressive respiratory condition characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. Symptoms of COPD can include shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. COPD is more prevalent in disadvantaged adults, such as those with low socioeconomic status. Effective self-management strategies can help people with COPD to manage their symptoms, reduce healthcare utilization, and improve their quality of life.
I use a variety of research methods to address this complex public health problem, including systematic reviews, web-based surveys, multimedia content analyses, secondary data analyses, technology usability tests, and qualitative interviews. My research has three main aims:
I am also actively involved in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research. I am dedicated to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful researchers. I have co-authored over 60 manuscripts and 70 professional presentations with approximately 50 graduate and undergraduate students throughout my academic career. My success as a mentor to future researchers qualified me to sponsor a successful Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
I believe that my research makes significant contributions to the field of health disparities research. The findings of my research can be used to develop and implement effective interventions to improve the health of disadvantaged adults with COPD.
I use a variety of research methods to address this complex public health problem, including systematic reviews, web-based surveys, multimedia content analyses, secondary data analyses, technology usability tests, and qualitative interviews. My research has three main aims:
- To disseminate analyses of public health data targeting diagnosed COPD in disadvantaged adults with low socioeconomic status.
- To assess web-based technologies that support COPD self-management.
- To explore how to increase electronic health (eHealth) literacy within chronic disease populations disproportionately impacted by health disparities.
I am also actively involved in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in research. I am dedicated to providing students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful researchers. I have co-authored over 60 manuscripts and 70 professional presentations with approximately 50 graduate and undergraduate students throughout my academic career. My success as a mentor to future researchers qualified me to sponsor a successful Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31) from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
I believe that my research makes significant contributions to the field of health disparities research. The findings of my research can be used to develop and implement effective interventions to improve the health of disadvantaged adults with COPD.
Courses Taught
- HHE 375 Health Behavior Theory
- HHE 446 Health Disparities
- HHE 496 Independent Study
- HHE 587 Health Disparities
- HHE 605 Advanced Theoretical and Scientific Basis of Health Education and Health Promotion
- HHE 699 Dissertation Research