She is a health services researcher, with a background in health communication, persuasion and interpersonal communication. Much of her own research focuses on designing messages to promote preventative care, including flu shots, colorectal screening and similar services, through a wide variety of channels, with a particular focus on addressing racial and ethnic disparities. She is a faculty member in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics in the Department of Medicine, but she also teaches a core course in the Program in Public Health, where she interacts with students in The Graduate School.