Research
Usha Menon
The Menon Behavioral Science Lab is dedicated to advancing health equity through culturally sensitive health promotion and illness prevention strategies.
Our research focuses on reducing health disparities among under-represented populations, using a transdisciplinary approach to implement and adapt evidence-based tailored interventions for diverse communities.
Under the leadership of Dean Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, FSBM, our lab bridges gaps between disciplines and communities, ensuring our interventions are grounded in real-world contexts and driven by health equity principles. By engaging community partners, we co-develop effective and sustainable health solutions and offer interdisciplinary learning opportunities for students.
Our work addresses differences in health outcomes among groups that experience greater obstacles to health and wellness, including American Indians, Black Americans, Amish, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Southeast, and South Asian immigrants, sexual minority individuals, adults experiencing food insecurity, economically disadvantaged individuals, and those with occupational health risks such as firefighters.
Over Dr. Menon's 20+ years in research, she has secured over $64 million in funding to support innovations in health equity and healthcare access. She has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 150 presentations at national and international meetings.
If you are a graduate student interested in joining our team, please send a cover letter outlining your experience and research interests as well as a CV/resume to Dr. Menon at ushamenon@usf.edu.
Usha Menon, PhD, RN, FAAN, FSBM
Dr. Menon serves as the senior associate vice president at USF Health, and dean and professor at the USF Health College of Nursing. Her research focuses on culturally sensitive health promotion and illness prevention behaviors among under-represented populations focusing on cancer and diabetes with a strong emphasis on transdisciplinary implementation science. As dean, she is currently actively engaged in Florida in developing and implementing transformational industry and legislative partnerships in Florida to resolve the nursing and nurse faculty shortage. She has taught in programs across the nursing curriculum from the pre-licensure to doctoral courses, and mentors junior faculty across health sciences in medicine, microbiology, and pharmacy with a focus on translational research and health equity, and team science.