Dr. Sean J. Upshaw is a health and strategic communication scholar whose research lies at the intersection of culture, media, and equity. His work reinvents the role of the academic researcher through a translational lens—transforming theory into practical action to address disparities in health outcomes and access among historically underserved and marginalized communities.
Dr. Upshaw’s research identity is grounded in the design, interpretation, and application of health and strategic messages across cultural contexts. He specializes in message design, message evaluation, and message application, advancing scholarship and practice in the areas of prevention, intervention, education, and public engagement. Drawing from frameworks such as the Culture-Centered Approach (CCA) and the PEN-3 Model, he evaluates how cultural worldviews influence communication infrastructure and community resilience.
Dr. Upshaw’s work has been published in Health Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Howard Journal of Communications, Applied Communication Research, Communication Education, and Journal of Behavioral Medicine. His research examines media framing of health disparities, culturally tailored messaging during health crises, and identity-based persuasion in visual and narrative campaigns.
He serves on the editorial boards of Human Communication Research, Science Communication, Howard Journal of Communications, and Frontiers in Communication, where he contributes to advancing scholarship centered on equity, culture, and applied communication theory.
His scholarship integrates multiple layers of communication research:
• Visual Information and Health Messaging: He explores how visual design and imagery shape perception, comprehension, and emotional response in health communication campaigns.
• Media Information and Health Disparities: He applies cultivation theory, media framing, and reception theory to explore how media narratives shape public health knowledge and behavior, particularly in communities of color.
• Interpersonal and Intercultural Communication: Using tools such as Vlog Reflective Communication Response (VRCR), Dr. Upshaw examines patient-provider interactions and the nuanced exchange of health information through an intercultural lens.
• Qualitative Methodology: His methodological approach prioritizes qualitative design—including narrative analysis, thematic interpretation, and community-engaged research—to capture lived experiences and contextualize health meanings.
To learn more about Dr. Upshaw's work, please click this link:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sean-Upshaw-2
Also, follow Dr. Upshaw on social media:
BlueSky: @iamsju82.bsky.social
LinkedIn: Sean J. Upshaw
PUBLICATIONS:
- Health Communication
- Applied Communication Research
- Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Journal of Health Communication
- Howard Journal of Communications
- Patient Education & Counseling
- Journalism Studies
ORGANIZATIONS:
- National Communication Association (NCA)
- International Communication Association (ICA)
- Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC)
- Association of Medical Illustration (AMI)
