Judy Chang, MD, MPH

The Chang research group focuses on the intersection between women in the context of their lives, sociocultural influences and interpersonal relationships and the health services used, offered, and needed. A key aspect of our research is patient-provider communication. In particular, we have been examining patient-provider communication in obstetric care. Our overall objective is to identify and promote communication styles, approaches and skills that facilitate positive behavioral change to improve the health of the pregnancy, mother and baby. For example, our recent work has focused on smoking cessation counseling and patient-provider screening and counseling communication regarding perinatal substance use.

Additionally, Dr. Chang has worked in the field of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a community advocate, educator, women’s health provider and researcher for over 20 years. While much of this work has focused on health care screening and interventions for intimate partner violence victims, she has expanded her scope in this field to explore interventions for both male and female perpetrators of IPV and develop primary prevention interventions for high risk children and youth.

Dr. Chang has developed expertise in qualitative research methods, behavioral interventions, methods of communication analyses, and patient-provider communication. She has numerous ongoing collaborations with community advocates; investigators in the fields of medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, nursing, and public health; and faculty from fields such as anthropology, linguistics, and computer science. In addition to being a practicing clinician, Dr. Chang teaches and supervises numerous nurse practitioners, physician assistants, residents, and students. Her knowledge brings clinical relevance and legitimacy to all projects under her care. As an Assistant Dean of Medical Student Research, she assists medical students in learning about scientific inquiry and the various approaches used to answer research questions.