Biography

Dr. De León-Menjivar’s research centers on the rhetoric of health and medicine (RHM); specifically, she looks at how rhetoric helps us understand the perceptions and treatment of people with chronic illness, as well as how it can affect the provider’s professional experience.

She got into the field through her own experiences dealing with chronic illnesses, most of which are considered autoimmune conditions. Using this experience, plus her training in rhetoric, she looks to piece together how patients, providers, and caregivers can improve communication for better health outcomes. Dr. De León-Menjivar is also interested in how sociocultural factors impact medical ethics and communication and aims to produce work that promotes health equity for underserved populations. Notably, she leans on rhetorical theory and conversations from ancient Greek and Roman philosophy and medicine to help her better understand today's conversations and issues. Her work has appeared in the Journal of Communication in Healthcare, Hispanic Health Care International, Constellations: A Cultural Rhetorics Publishing Space, and Rhetoric of Health & Medicine.