Summary
Trained as a media effects researcher, Park studies the content of health-related media messages and their effects on audiences. Her public health research focuses on the role of healthcare advertising and marketing in healthcare consumerism, with the goal of informing the public, healthcare providers and healthcare marketers about the ethical practice of healthcare advertising. Another primary research interest is the effective use of communication tools to educate the public, promote personal health and stimulate social conversations about important health issues and policies. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. State Department and the Pennington Cancer Institute.
Professional affiliations
- Society for Health Communication
Current sponsored projects
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Services (AMS) Farmers Market Promotion Program “Meet Me at #NVFarmersMarkets: Community-based integrated marketing training and campaign for Nevada farmers markets.”
- Federal Award Identification Number: AM22FMPPNV1089
- Role: PI
- Project period: September 30, 2022 – September 29, 2025
Recent publications
- Jeon, H., Granner, M., Christiansen, E., Kohnen, T., Park, S., Sarnquist, B., MacNeil, P., Soto, V. & Deavers, T. (2025). Association between breastfeeding peer support and confidence in breastfeeding. Journal of Human Lactation, 41(1), 132–144.
- Park, S., Cook, D., Yun, G. & Coppes, M. J. (2024). Are patient-centered care, healthcare consumerism and trust in physicians compatible?: Positioning analysis of the patient-provider relationship. Health Communication. Advance online publication.
- Park, S., Joa, C. Y., Yun, G. & Constantino, N. (2024). Marijuana message channels, health knowledge, law knowledge and confidence in knowledge as risk and protective factors of marijuana use among college students. Journal of Drug Education, 53(1–2), 19–30.
- Park, S., Christiansen, E., Yun, G., Malik, S., Lindsay, A., Aldea, B., Purnell, S., Miller, A., Villasenor, R., Andrews, A. & Felts, T. (2024). Nevada farmers market needs assessment . Extension, University of Nevada, Reno.
- Park, S., Yun, G., Cook, D. & Coppes, M. J. (2023). Consumer perceptions of information features in healthcare service advertisements and attitudes toward advertising. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 17(2), 209–228.
- González, A., Lee, E. Y., Park, S. & Park, S. (2023). The health equity discourse of immigrant public health leaders: A critical application of the IDEA model. Communication Studies. Advance online publication.
- Park, S., Hill*, K., Yun, G., Friedman, S. & Coppes, M. J. (2022). Analysis of direct-to-consumer healthcare service advertisements on television: An application of the patient expectation framework. Health Communication. Advance online publication.
- Park, S., Yun, G., Friedman, S., Hill*, K. & Coppes, M. J. (2022). Patient-centered care and healthcare consumerism in online healthcare service advertisements: A positioning analysis. Journal of Patient Experience, 9, 1-8.
- Park, S., Yun, G., Constantino, N. & Ryu, S. (2022). Gender differences in the risk and protective factors of marijuana use among US college students. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(7), 1710-1722.
- Park, S., Ryu, S., Constantino, N., Yun, G., Jennings, E. & Fred, D. (2022). Marijuana knowledge, confidence in knowledge and information efficacy as the protective and risk factors of marijuana use among college students. Journal of American College Health, 70(2), 363-370.
- Park, S., Harrington, N. G., Crosswell, L. H. & Parvanta, C. (2021). Competencies for health communication specialists: Survey of health communication educators and practitioners. Journal of Health Communication, 26(6), 413-433.
- Joa*, C. Y. & Park, S. (2021). Entrepreneurial doctors and consumerist patients: #Plasticsurgery on Instagram. International Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Marketing, 15(4), 477-495.
- Park, S., Yun, G., Friedman, S., Hill*, K., Ryu, S., Schwenk, T. & Coppes, M. J. (2021). US direct-to-consumer medical service advertisements fail to provide adequate information on quality and cost of care. Journal of Medical Ethics, 47, e52.
- Kim*, K., Park, S. & Kang, H. (2021). Smart device proficiency and use, loneliness and ego integrity: An examination of older adult smartphone users in South Korea. Behaviour & Information Technology, 40(7), 625-634.
- Park, S., Constantino, N., Yun, G., Moser*, L. & Cortes-Arriola*, D. (2020). US college students' marijuana information sources, confidence in knowledge and objective knowledge. Journal of Health Communication, 25(11), 859-869.
- Park, S., Yun, G., Constantino, N., Ryu, S. Y., Fred, D., Jennings, E. & Duenas*, K. (2020). Health information literacy-focused marijuana intervention for college students: A pilot study of group-oriented universal program. Journal of Alcohol and Drug Education, 64(1), 33-51.
- Yun. G., Allgayer*, S. & Park, S. (2020). Mind your social media manners: Pseudonymity, imaginary audience and incivility on Facebook vs. YouTube. International Journal of Communication, 14, 3418-3438.
*Undergraduate/graduate student co-authors at the time of conducting the study
Education
- Ph.D., Life Sciences Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- M.A., Journalism and Mass Communication, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- B.A., Korean Language & Literature, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea