Melissa Lehan Mackin’s area of interest is women's health, specifically, in how health disparities or barriers to seeking health care are created and maintained by surrounding social forces. She wants to know how the opinions of peers, parents, co-workers, and community leaders, in addition to religion, local, state and federal policy, either directly or indirectly influences women's health. Her ongoing dissertation project is a mixed methods study structured within ecosocial theory, examining elements of the social context that impact knowledge and use of emergency contraception. Her future direction is to continue to examine other areas of health impacts for women to uncover signs of injustice and inequality. She would like the knowledge gained to influence social policy that may produce more equitable health services and enhance the wellness of women.

IOWA RESEARCH ONLINE: http://works.bepress.com/melissa_lehanmackin [2]