Rebecca Messbarger, PhD

Washington University in St. Louis (WU)

My research examines public health through historical, cultural, and community-centered lenses, with particular attention to health inequities, medical authority, and the social meanings of illness, care, and the body. Working at the intersection of the humanities, public health, and the arts, I develop translational approaches that connect scholarship to lived experience, policy conversations, and community practice. My projects engage diverse publics through collaborative forums, memorials, and digital storytelling, including initiatives addressing racial health disparities, collective trauma, and healthcare communication in St. Louis and beyond. I am especially interested in how narrative, visual culture, and historical perspective can inform clinical practice, health communication, and trust-building between institutions and communities. Through interdisciplinary teaching, public-facing scholarship, and partnership-driven research, my work aims to translate humanistic insight into actionable frameworks for improving health outcomes, equity, and public understanding of medicine.