PhD
Associate Professor
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Prevention and Control
Area of Interest
Melissa B. Gilkey, PhD, is an associate professor of health behavior in the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. With research interests in adolescent health, cancer prevention and health services research, Gilkey studies individual, interpersonal and organizational approaches to improving the delivery of adolescent vaccines, including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
Her work includes survey research to understand barriers to vaccination, such as provider and parental hesitancy, as well as intervention research aimed at improving vaccine delivery systems. Gilkey is co-PI of a study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to evaluate the AFIX (Assessment, Feedback, Incentives and eXchange) model for improving HPV vaccine coverage in primary care settings.
Awards and Honors
- Academic Pediatric Association Young Investigator Award, 2013
- Member, Academic Pediatric Association, 2012-present
- Member, Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2011-present
- Member, American Society of Preventive Oncology, 2011-present
- Dean’s Teaching Fellowship, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, 2009-2010
- Member, American Public Health Association, 2009-present
- Associate Editor, Health Promotion Practice, 2008- 2014
- Sommer Scholarship, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 2006-2011
- University Merit Assistantship, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 2003-2005
- Phi Beta Kappa, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 1998
News and Stories

Improving health of military personnel and families through collaboration, research
UNC Lineberger is leading an innovative cancer prevention partnership at Fort Liberty that is designed to reduce tobacco use and promote HPV vaccination.

UNC awarded $11.7 million to help providers improve HPV vaccine communication, uptake among adolescents
Led by Noel Brewer, PhD, UNC-Chapel Hill researchers are launching a new project to give providers the support necessary to improve HPV vaccine communication.