Aurora Occa

Aurora Occa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Kentucky's College of Communication and Information. She is also a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program and the Markey Cancer Center. Her work focuses on health communication strategies for complex health issues like clinical trials, cancer prevention, and mental health, emphasizing media and technology's role in shaping health behaviors.

Education: PhD in Communication from the University of Miami (2018), Master of Science in Communication, Management, & Health (2013), Master of Science in Marketing (2012), and Bachelor's in Public Relations and Corporate Communication (2011).

Research Interests: Health communication, persuasive messaging for stigmatized health topics, clinical trial participation, mental health advocacy, and the impact of digital media on health perceptions. Her interdisciplinary approach involves collaboration with medical professionals, public health experts, and global partners.

Grants & Projects: Co-Investigator on multiple Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration grants for suicide prevention initiatives (UK-CAN projects, 2021–2025). These focus on evidence-based practices for mental health intervention and clinician collaboration.

Awards: 2015 Nonverbal Communication Division-Top Paper Award for contributions to health communication research.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Program at the Markey Cancer Center, contributing to initiatives on patient education and clinical trial recruitment strategies.