Hye Min Kim, Ph.D.

Hi! I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Communication at the University of Massachusetts Boston. I study how media and digital communication shape the ways people understand, discuss, and act on health issues. At the center of my research is storytelling—how narratives shared by media figures, peers, and organizations on social media, online communities, news outlets, and public campaigns work to convey health information effectively and motivate healthier choices.

Combining quantitative and computational methods, I investigate the psychological mechanisms and large-scale social dynamics that explain how messages gain credibility, foster engagement, and enhance public understanding of health issues. My research has covered diverse health contexts, including mental health, tobacco and substance use, vaccination, body image, and misinformation. More recent projects have examined stigma reduction and the implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), large language models (LLMs), and virtual influencers, for health communication.

Through this work, I aim to advance health equity by addressing the unique challenges faced by marginalized and underserved communities and contributing to the design and evaluation of theory-driven, evidence-based interventions that translate research into actionable public health strategies.

A full list of my published works can be found on my Google Scholar profile. Full-text versions of most papers are available on my ResearchGate page upon request.

If you are interested in collaborating or have any inquiries, feel free to reach out to me via email!