Mellissa Withers, PhD, MHS

Dr. Mellissa Withers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences (DPPHS). She is Director of the Global Health Program of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities, a non-profit network of 60 universities in the region. She is also director of pedagogical enrichment and training for the DPHHS.

She earned a PhD in community health sciences from the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health with a minor in cultural anthropology. She also holds a Master’s in Health Systems (International Health) from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a BA in international development from UC Berkeley.

Her primary research interests lie in community participatory research, immigrant health, mental health, maternal health, women’s empowerment, gender-based violence, and global sexual and reproductive health.

She teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses in global health, leadership, ethics, community organizing, and research methodology.

• Global Incidence, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends of Adrenal Cancer: A Systematic Analysis of Cancer Registries Endocr Pract. 2025 Jun; 31(6):739-749. . View in PubMed
• University students’ perceptions for healthy ageing in the Asia-Pacific: A content analysis Australas J Ageing. 2025 Jun; 44(2):e70061. . View in PubMed
• Global incidence, risk factors, and temporal trends of nasal cancer: A population-based analysis Cancer Med. 2025 Apr; 14(8):e70163. . View in PubMed
• Segmenting the Global Layers of Malignant Meningioma: A Population-Based Study of Incidence, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends Brain Behav. 2025 Mar; 15(3):e70430. . View in PubMed
• Revisiting the starting age of colorectal cancer screening for the average-risk Asian population: a cost-effectiveness analysis Gastrointest Endosc. 2025 Feb 28. . View in PubMed
• The association between community solidarity and adoption of public health preventive measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cross-sectional, multi-national sample PLoS One. 2025; 20(6):e0324234. . View in PubMed
• Incidence, risk factors, and epidemiological trends of tracheal cancer: a global analysis Mol Cancer. 2024 Dec 18; 23(1):271. . View in PubMed
• Incidence distributions, risk factors and trends of vaginal cancer: A global population-based study BJOG. 2024 Nov; 131(12):1660-1672. . View in PubMed
• Navigating Hurdles: A Review of the Obstacles Facing the Development of the Pandemic Treaty J Epidemiol Glob Health. 2024 Sep; 14(3):580-585. . View in PubMed
• Disease burden, risk factors, and temporal trends of eye cancer: A global analysis of cancer registries Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2024 May-Jun; 52(4):440-451. . View in PubMed
• Global burden, risk factors, and trends of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A worldwide analysis of cancer registries Cancer Med. 2024 03; 13(5):e7056. . View in PubMed
• Empowering the next generation: integrating adolescents into the Reproductive Justice movement Med Humanit. 2024 Feb 22; 50(1):95-102. . View in PubMed
• Updated disease distributions, risk factors, and trends of laryngeal cancer: a global analysis of cancer registries Int J Surg. 2024 Feb 01; 110(2):810-819. . View in PubMed
• Pilot study of musculoskeletal discomfort in Indonesian pregnant workers during COVID-19 pandemic era SAGE Open Med. 2024; 12:20503121241278828. . View in PubMed
• Advancing equitable access to digital mental health in the Asia-Pacific region in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond: A modified Delphi consensus study PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024; 4(6):e0002661. . View in PubMed
• Successful Models of Virtual Experiential Education Initiatives in Global Health for International Students Ann Glob Health. 2024; 90(1):72. . View in PubMed
• “They should ask about our feelings”: Mongolian women’s experiences of postpartum depression Transcult Psychiatry. 2023 12; 60(6):1005-1016. . View in PubMed
• Psychosocial barriers to, and enablers of, intimate partner violence disclosure among Asian-American immigrant women Cult Health Sex. 2023 12; 25(12):1659-1674. . View in PubMed
• Transforming masculine norms to improve men’s contraceptive acceptance: results from a pilot intervention with men in western Kenya Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023 Dec; 31(1):2170084. . View in PubMed
• Global incidence, risk factors and trends of vulvar cancer: A country-based analysis of cancer registries Int J Cancer. 2023 11 15; 153(10):1734-1745. . View in PubMed
• Global Incidence, Mortality, Risk Factors and Trends of Melanoma: A Systematic Analysis of Registries Am J Clin Dermatol. 2023 Nov; 24(6):965-975. . View in PubMed
• Breaking the Cycle of Family Violence: A Critique of Family Violence Interventions Trauma Violence Abuse. 2023 10; 24(4):2544-2559. . View in PubMed
• Incidence, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends of Small Intestinal Cancer: A Global Analysis of Cancer Registries Gastroenterology. 2023 09; 165(3):600-612. . View in PubMed
• Disease burden, risk factors, and trends of lip, oral cavity, pharyngeal cancers: A global analysis Cancer Med. 2023 09; 12(17):18153-18164. . View in PubMed
• Global incidence and mortality trends of corpus uteri cancer and associations with gross domestic product, human development index, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2023 Sep; 162(3):998-1009. . View in PubMed
• Global Incidence, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends of Mesothelioma: A Population-Based Study J Thorac Oncol. 2023 06; 18(6):792-802. . View in PubMed
• Factors of Overweight and Obesity Among Employees of Petrochemical Manufacturing Companies J Community Health. 2023 06; 48(3):381-389. . View in PubMed
• Disease burden, risk factors, and trends of primary central nervous system (CNS) cancer: A global study of registries data Neuro Oncol. 2023 05 04; 25(5):995-1005. . View in PubMed
• Incidence and mortality of thyroid cancer in 50 countries: a joinpoint regression analysis of global trends Endocrine. 2023 05; 80(2):355-365. . View in PubMed
• Resilience level and its association with maladaptive coping behaviours in the COVID-19 pandemic: a global survey of the general populations Global Health. 2023 01 03; 19(1):1. . View in PubMed
• An assessment of workplace wellness policies and programs of universities in the Asia-Pacific Work. 2023; 75(3):837-847. . View in PubMed
• Global incidence, mortality and temporal trends of cancer in children: A joinpoint regression analysis Cancer Med. 2023 01; 12(2):1903-1911. . View in PubMed
• Factors associated with weight gain during COVID-19 pandemic: A global study PLoS One. 2023; 18(4):e0284283. . View in PubMed
• Bridging the evidence-to-action gap: enhancing alignment of national nutrition strategies in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam with global and regional recommendations Front Nutr. 2023; 10:1277804. . View in PubMed
• Engaging youth in global health and social justice: a decade of experience teaching a high school summer course Glob Health Action. 2022 12 31; 15(1):1987045. . View in PubMed
• Attitudes about involvement in hypothetical clinical trial protocols in Mexican and Mexican-American at risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease Alzheimers Res Ther. 2022 11 15; 14(1):173. . View in PubMed
• Factors Associated with Vaccination Intention against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Population-Based Study Vaccines (Basel). 2022 Sep 16; 10(9). . View in PubMed
• The epidemiological landscape of multiple myeloma: a global cancer registry estimate of disease burden, risk factors, and temporal trends Lancet Haematol. 2022 Sep; 9(9):e670-e677. . View in PubMed
• A global view of adherence to colonoscopy follow-up in cascade screening of colorectal cancer Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2022 Sep; 31(5):e13577. . View in PubMed
• Reducing stigma associated with mental health problems among university students in the Asia-Pacific: A video content analysis of student-driven proposals Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2022 06; 68(4):827-835. . View in PubMed
• Incidence, mortality, risk factors, and trends for Hodgkin lymphoma: a global data analysis J Hematol Oncol. 2022 05 11; 15(1):57. . View in PubMed
• Perceptions of perinatal depression among low-income mothers and families in Mumbai, India Asian J Psychiatr. 2022 May; 71:103048. . View in PubMed
• Worldwide Burden, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends of Ovarian Cancer: A Global Study Cancers (Basel). 2022 Apr 29; 14(9). . View in PubMed
• Adherence to colonoscopy in cascade screening of colorectal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022 Apr; 37(4):620-631. . View in PubMed
• Encouraging Asian Immigrant Women to Disclose Intimate Partner Violence in Primary Care Settings J Interpers Violence. 2022 04; 37(7-8):NP5626-NP5648. . View in PubMed
• Distribution, Risk Factors, and Temporal Trends for Lung Cancer Incidence and Mortality: A Global Analysis Chest. 2022 04; 161(4):1101-1111. . View in PubMed
• Predictors of Healthcare Access and Utilization by Syrian Americans in the United States J Immigr Minor Health. 2022 Feb; 24(1):136-144. . View in PubMed
• Global distribution, risk factors, and recent trends for cervical cancer: A worldwide country-level analysis Gynecol Oncol. 2022 01; 164(1):85-92. . View in PubMed
• Disease Burden, Risk Factors, and Trends of Leukaemia: A Global Analysis Front Oncol. 2022; 12:904292. . View in PubMed
• Challenges of Using Videos in Exam Rooms of Safety-Net Clinics to Encourage Patient Self-Disclosure of Intimate Partner Violence and to Increase Provider Screening Violence Against Women. 2021 12; 27(15-16):2990-3010. . View in PubMed
• “I’m not going to be a guinea pig:” Medical mistrust as a barrier to male contraception for Black American men in Los Angeles, CA Contraception. 2021 10; 104(4):361-366. . View in PubMed
• Measuring Men’s Gender Norm Beliefs Related to Contraception: Development of the Masculine Norms and Family Planning Acceptance Scale Arch Sex Behav. 2021 08; 50(6):2691-2702. . View in PubMed
• Needs, gaps and opportunities for standard and e-mental health care among at-risk populations in the Asia Pacific in the context of COVID-19: a rapid scoping review Int J Equity Health. 2021 07 12; 20(1):161. . View in PubMed
• Mobility restrictions were associated with reductions in COVID-19 incidence early in the pandemic: evidence from a real-time evaluation in 34 countries Sci Rep. 2021 07 02; 11(1):13717. . View in PubMed
• “My backpack is so heavy”: Experiences of Latino caregivers of family with early-onset Alzheimer’s J Am Geriatr Soc. 2021 06; 69(6):1539-1547. . View in PubMed
• National nutrition strategies that focus on maternal, infant, and young child nutrition in Southeast Asia do not consistently align with regional and international recommendations Matern Child Nutr. 2020 10; 16 Suppl 2:e12937. . View in PubMed
• Tobacco use and E-cigarette regulation: Perspectives of University Students in the Asia-Pacific Addict Behav. 2020 08; 107:106420. . View in PubMed
• The Manila Declaration on Migration and Health: commentary of the Association of Pacific Rim Universities Global Health Program Global Health. 2020 01 22; 16(1):12. . View in PubMed
• Social, economic, and political events affect gender equity in China, Nepal, and Nicaragua: a matched, interrupted time-series study Glob Health Action. 2020; 13(1):1712147. . View in PubMed
• A mixed-methods study of cultural beliefs about dementia and genetic testing among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans at-risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease J Genet Couns. 2019 10; 28(5):921-932. . View in PubMed
• Establishing Competencies for a Global Health Workforce: Recommendations from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities Ann Glob Health. 2019 03 26; 85(1). . View in PubMed
• The Manila Declaration on the Drug Problem in the Philippines Ann Glob Health. 2019 03 05; 85(1). . View in PubMed
• Teledermatology: Meeting the Need for Specialized Care in Rural Haiti J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2019; 30(4):1394-1406. . View in PubMed
• Postpartum depression in Mongolia: A qualitative exploration of health care providers’ perspectives Midwifery. 2018 Oct; 65:18-25. . View in PubMed
• Best Practices in Global Health Practicums: Recommendations from the Association of Pacific Rim Universities J Community Health. 2018 06; 43(3):467-476. . View in PubMed
• Traditional beliefs and practices in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum: A review of the evidence from Asian countries Midwifery. 2018 Jan; 56:158-170. . View in PubMed
• Identification and Treatment Optimization of Comorbid Depression in Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatol Ther. 2017 Dec; 4(2):281-291. . View in PubMed
• WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT AND FAMILY PLANNING: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE J Biosoc Sci. 2017 Nov; 49(6):713-743. . View in PubMed
• Intimate Partner Violence Screening Practices in California After Passage of the Affordable Care Act Violence Against Women. 2017 06; 23(7):871-886. . View in PubMed
• Matern Child Nutr. 2017 04; 13(2). . View in PubMed
• Infant Formula Feeding at Birth Is Common and Inversely Associated with Subsequent Breastfeeding Behavior in Vietnam J Nutr. 2016 Oct; 146(10):2102-2108. . View in PubMed
• Training the next generation of global health experts: experiences and recommendations from Pacific Rim universities Global Health. 2016 06 23; 12(1):34. . View in PubMed
• The APRU Global Health Program: Past and Future J Epidemiol. 2016; 26(4):166-70. . View in PubMed
• Gendered power dynamics and women’s negotiation of family planning in a high HIV prevalence setting: a qualitative study of couples in western Kenya Cult Health Sex. 2016; 18(4):453-69. . View in PubMed
• Men’s Perspectives on Their Role in Family Planning in Nyanza Province, Kenya Stud Fam Plann. 2015 Jun; 46(2):201-15. . View in PubMed
• Perspectives of vulnerable US Hispanics with rheumatoid arthritis on depression: awareness, barriers to disclosure, and treatment options. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2015 Apr; 67(4):484-92. . View in PubMed
• Perceptions of misoprostol among providers and women seeking post-abortion care in Zimbabwe Reprod Health Matters. 2015 Feb; 22(44 Suppl 1):16-25. . View in PubMed
• ‘Women now wear trousers’: men’s perceptions of family planning in the context of changing gender relations in western Kenya Cult Health Sex. 2015; 17(9):1132-46. . View in PubMed
• Women’s empowerment and fertility: a review of the literature Soc Sci Med. 2014 Aug; 115:111-20. . View in PubMed
• Gender, masculinity and migration: Mexican men and reproductive health in the Californian context Cult Health Sex. 2014; 16(8):989-1002. . View in PubMed
• Rape myth attitudes in rural Kenya: toward the development of a culturally relevant attitude scale and “blame index” J Interpers Violence. 2013 Jul; 28(10):2156-78. . View in PubMed
• Promoting volunteerism in global health: lessons from a medical mission in northern Mexico J Community Health. 2013 Apr; 38(2):374-84. . View in PubMed
• Fertility intentions among HIV-infected, sero-concordant couples in Nyanza province, Kenya Cult Health Sex. 2013; 15(10):1175-90. . View in PubMed
• The changing contexts of fertility outcomes: case studies from a remote village in Bali, Indonesia Cult Health Sex. 2012; 14(3):347-60. . View in PubMed
• Age matters: differential impact of service quality on contraceptive uptake among post-abortion clients in Kenya Cult Health Sex. 2012; 14(8):849-62. . View in PubMed
• Health Care Women Int. 2012; 33(9):814-32. . View in PubMed
• Womens Health Issues. 2011 Nov-Dec; 21(6):444-9. . View in PubMed
• Desire for more children, contraceptive use and unmet need for family planning in a remote area of Bali, Indonesia J Biosoc Sci. 2010 Jul; 42(4):549-62. . View in PubMed
• Predictors of workplace sexual health policy at sex work establishments in the Philippines AIDS Care. 2007 Sep; 19(8):1020-5. . View in PubMed

• Unger, Jennifer
• Gruskin, Sofia
• Leventhal, Adam
• Sussman, Steven
• Singer, Peter
• Klausner, Jeffrey
• Jang, Yuri
• Brown, Hilary
• Oh, Hans