Melissa Valerio

Melissa Valerio is a Professor and Associate Dean of Faculty Affairs at the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion & Behavioral Sciences, based in Brownsville, Texas. Her work spans research design, program evaluation, intervention mapping, and community engagement, with a focus on chronic illness prevention and management, including type 2 diabetes, asthma, cancer screening, and patient-provider communication.

Her research addresses adolescent health, maternal and child health, and health equity through community strategies. She has secured funding from NCATS, CDC, NIH, PCORI, Texas DSHS, and foundations for studies on genetic diabetes risk, prenatal care coordination, and multi-level family health interventions.

Dr. Valerio teaches Intervention Mapping and Community Health Needs Assessment. She is affiliated with the Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, contributing to programs in women's health, cardiovascular disease prevention, and behavioral health.