Melanie L. Kornides, ScD, RN, FNP-BC
“My interdisciplinary research focuses on strategies to combat misinformation and improve equitable uptake of vaccines and other forms of preventative health care.”
Education
- ScD , Harvard University, 2016
- MPH, George Mason University, 2011
- MSN, University of Michigan, 2004
- BSN, Ohio State University, , 2002
Innovation
Dr. Kornides works with a multidisciplinary team to conduct research into misinformation, and its impact on vaccine acceptance. Disciplines include computer science, communication science, behavioral economics, and behavioral science. The team uses innovative science to rapidly identify and target misinformation as it arises on social media for corrective messaging strategies.
Social Justice
Through scholarship in research and teaching, Dr. Kornides is committed to promoting health equity and improving the health of vulnerable populations. Dr. Kornides is a member of the teaching team for N103, Psychological and Social Diversity in Health and Wellness. The course prepares future nurses to provide nursing care within the context of equity and diversity across the lifespan. In her program of research, Dr. Kornides seeks to identify health disparities in access to and acceptance of health promotion services, including vaccination, both locally within Philadelphia and nationwide.
Teaching
Dr. Kornides is part of the teaching team for Psychological and Social Diversity in Health and Wellness (NURS 103). She also serves as a guest lecturer on vaccine hesitancy across the university.
Research
Dr. Kornides is conducting several studies to identify vaccine misinformation occurring on social media and develop research-based communication messaging strategies to combat it and promote vaccination uptake. She is also a member of several interdisciplinary research teams conducting studies around the equitable allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as the use of community-based organizations to promote vaccination uptake among disadvantaged populations.
Opportunities to Learn and Collaborate at Penn Nursing
Dr. Kornides holds a secondary appointment in the Division of Adolescent Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine. She is also a member of the Graduate Group in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. She collaborates with interdisciplinary colleagues in adolescent medicine, epidemiology, computer science, health policy, communication science, psychology and medical ethics, among others. She is a member of the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine and the American Public Health Association. Dr. Kornides especially welcomes inquiries from students interested in conducting research around vaccine hesitancy.
Selected Career Highlights
- 2018-2020 University of Pennsylvania Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) K12 Scholar
- 2017-2018 Pyle Fellow, Center for Healthcare Research in Pediatrics, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School & Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute
- 2017 American Cancer Society Calle/Rodriguez Memorial Minority Travel Award for Top Ranked Abstract, American Society of Preventive Oncology
Selected Publications
Maulucci E, Kornides ML, White L, Aryal S, Fontenot HB. (Under review). A school nurse intervention to encourage HPV vaccination rates among incoming 7th graders. Journal of School Nursing.
Kornides ML, Head KJ, Feemster K, Zimet GD, Panozzo C. Associations between HPV vaccination among women and their 11-14 year-old children. Hum Vaccin Immunother, 2019; 15(7-8):1824-1830. PMCID: PMC6746495.
Feemster KA, Head KJ, Kornides ML, O’Dell SM, Zimet GD, Panozzo CA. (Under review). Efficacy of tailored messages to improve behavioral intent to accept HPV vaccination among mothers may be moderated by sociodemographic characteristics. Preventive Medicine Reports.
Gilkey MB, Bednarczyk RA, Gerend MA, Kornides ML, Perkins RB, Saslow D, Sienko J, Zimet GD, Brewer NT. Getting human papillomavirus vaccination back on track: Protecting our national investment in human papillomavirus vaccination in the COVID-19 era. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2020; 67(5):623-732.
Kitsantas P, Krall JR, Ramos Y, Pollack AZ, Kornides ML. Marijuana use among pregnant women with mental health-related disabilities. Women’s Reproductive Health, 2020; 7(1):49-59.
Kitsantas P, Aljoudi SM, Kornides ML. (Under review). Marijuana use among women of reproductive age with disabilities. American Journal of Public Health.
Srivastava T, Tan A, Kornides ML. (Under review). Misinformation and vaccination intent: A cross-sectional analysis of public response to reporting on the COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccines.
Kornides ML, Khan I, Aryal Subhash, Petsis DT, Wood S. (Under review). Missed opportunities for HPV vaccination of high-risk youth in an urban clinical system. Journal of Adolescent Health.
Kitsantas P, Adams AR, Cheema J, Kornides ML. Opioid use in pregnant women with mental health related disabilities. Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Epub ahead of print January 10, 2021.
PanozzoCA, Head KJ, Kornides ML, Feemster KA, Zimet GD. Tailored messages addressing HPV vaccination concerns improves behavioral intent among mothers: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2020; 67(2):253-261.
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Opening Doors - Center for Global Women’s Health Updates
The Center for Global Women’s Health presented an update to inform about the Center’s recent initiatives, dialogue about collective endeavors, and discuss opportunities for collaboration. Also presenting were two Penn Nursing faculty members, Laura Starbird, PhD, RN and Melanie Kornides, ScD, RN, FNP-BC, who shared how they are actively addressing the Center’s strategic priority areas through their research and scholarship. Watch the March 28, 2023 recording here.
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