May, Natalie B.
Primary Appointment
Associate Professor, Medicine
Education
- PhD, , University of Virginia
Contact Information
PO Box 800901
Charlottesville, VA 22908
Telephone: 434-272-0294
Fax: 434-924-1138
Email: nlb7r@virginia.edu
Research Interests
Qualitative research, appreciative practices & impact of positivity on health, wisdom in medicine, diabetes self-care among African-American women
Research Description
My current research interest is on the effectiveness of group interventions compared to daily text message reminders in improving diabetes self-care among African-American women. The group intervention has been developed using positivity, including positive emotions, positive deviance, and the principles of appreciative inquiry. The group intervention also draws its strength from the supportive relationships and affection shared among the women. This may be a powerful force that we can better leverage in healthcare. I am also interested in how physicians cope positively with medical error. We have found, for example, that physicians can successfully integrate their experience of medical error in such a way that improves their medical practice, makes them better teachers and colleagues, and even fosters personal growth.