Biology and Anthropology Major
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences | Honors College
Class of 2026
University of Florida
The Rhetoric of Women's Pain
Research Mentor: Alison Reynolds, PhD
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University of Florida | University Writing Program
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January 2023 - Present
Research
My current research involves the rhetoric of women's pain and how health narratives, health literacy, and patient agencycan offer valuable insight into better understanding how women interact with the health systems available to them in order to alleviate their suffering. My work so far has emphasized the power of personal stories and even fictional narratives in improving communication and empathy within patient-provider interactions in a healthcare setting.
Focuses of My Current Research
Gender Disparities
Part of my research focuses on an exploration of gender disparities in healthcare and how stereotypes and gendered behaviors affect the quality of care for women in pain.
Health Literacy
My recently published research focuses in on the concept of health literacy and how it affects a woman's ability to not only understand but also communicate pertinent health information.
Patient Agency
I am also deeply interested in patient agency as a tool that empowers women to advocate for their health. In its absence, health literacy is insufficient in facilitating proper care for women in pain.
Inspiration for My Research
My interest in women's health began during my first semester in college while I was taking an Introduction to Medical Anthropology course. Throughout the course, I learned how health narratives largely describe an individual's experience with health and illness in terms of their culture and their lived environment. In following semesters, I have taken other courses such as the Rhetoric of Health and Medicine that inspired me to further explore how the narratives and dialogues involved in various facets of a patient's path through the healthcare system shape their ability to get the care they need.
Furthermore, my experiences as a medical scribe in the emergency department have offered some first-hand insights into the intricate relationships among various stakeholders in the ER. I have also observed many provider-patient interactions that have either reinforced my current understanding of the dismissal of women's pain in a healthcare setting or given me some hope for future improvement that continues to motivate my research.