Emilia is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication at the University of Missouri. Her research centers on health communication, particularly women’s health, and the role of new media in health information seeking, self-disclosure, and social support. She is interested in how individuals use social media and digital communities to seek and share health information and support, and how these interactions shape health-related decision making.

Her current work focuses on reproductive health and underdiagnosed conditions such as endometriosis, with particular attention to diagnostic experiences, the dismissal of women’s pain, and the effects these experiences can have on women’s physical and mental health, and their quality of life. Using quantitative and mixed-methods approaches, she studies patient-provider communication, health information management, and how communication shapes health experiences and outcomes across interpersonal and mediated contexts.

Alongside her research, Emilia teaches public speaking and values creating and supportive learning environments. She also works as assistant to the Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of International Programs.