Dr. Melissa Vilaro
Assistant Professor and Extension State Specialist, Health and Wellness
Program Areas
Dr Vilaro is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences and UF/IFAS Extension Health and Wellness State Specialist at the University of Florida. Dr. Vilaro has an extensive background in health promotion with expertise in qualitative analysis and community-engaged approaches. She has served as PI, co-investigator, or trainee on several grants including USDA, CTSI- and NIH-funded projects. Dr. Vilaro is an active member of the University of Florida Health Cancer Center (UFHCC).
Contact Information
mgraveley@ufl.edu
352-392-1778
Office:
G-087 McCarty B
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Education
- Ph.D. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- MPH University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- B.S. Tufts University, Medford, MA
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Professional Experience
- Assistant Professor (August 2021 – present)
- Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences, UF/IFAS Extension Health and Wellness State Specialist, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Courtesy Faculty (March 2025 – present)
- College of Public Health and Health Professions, Social and Behavioral Sciences Concentration, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Assistant Director for Community Engagement (July 2022 – June 2024)
- Office of Community Outreach and Engagement (COE), UF Health Cancer Center, The University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
- Assistant Professor (August 2021 – present)
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Teaching
Dr. Vilaro mentors undergraduate and graduate students from a variety of disciplines.
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Research
Departmental Research Areas:
- Health and Wellness
Research Focus:
Dr. Vilaro’s research includes developing tailored behavior change interventions for chronic disease prevention with a focus on the cancer continuum. Her behavior changes and lifestyle interventions address modifiable risk factors at the individual, interpersonal, and community levels. Ongoing research collaborations:
- Assess the impacts of using innovative technologies to disseminate health information
- Center community-engaged approaches to promote health
- Explore theory-informed strategies for promoting diet quality in community settings
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Extension
Extension Focus: Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction
Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction Resources:
- UF "Taking Control of Your Cancer Diagnosis" Course is a free online course designed to help individuals and families navigate a new cancer diagnosis. The program provides practical tools, reliable information, and supportive strategies so you can make informed decisions, manage stress, and take an active role in your care.
- Eat Right Screen Right is a free website that provides tailored information about how to reduce colorectal cancer risk, a virtual conversation with personalized risk information, and a free online course designed to help individuals apply the most up-to-date lifestyle and behavior change guidance to reduce colorectal cancer risk.
- Sun Safe Workplaces Guest Column - Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association
- Publications
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Awards and Honors
- 2025 - mHealth 2025 Outstanding Author Award
- 2024 - Communications Educational Publication Team Award (NEAFCS)
- 2022 - 2024 - NHLBI/NIH-supported PRIDE-CVD scholar, Cohort 10
- 2023 - mHealth reviewer of the month for valuable contributions to peer review
- 2022 - James App Award for Outstanding Team Health Extension Team, UF/IFAS
- 2021 - American Psychosocial Oncology Society Scholarship-Honorable Mention
- 2021 - UF Health Cancer Center, Principal Investigator Award
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Other Professional Activities
- Member, International Communication Association, 2019 - Present
- Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2019 - Present