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Beth Sundstrom Photo

Beth Sundstrom, PH.D.

Professor, Director of Women's Health Research Team

Education

Ph.D., Health Communication and Public Relations, University of Maryland, College Park 

M.P.H., Health Communication and Women’s Health, Brown University

B.A., Political Science, Tulane University 

Research Interests

  • Health communication
  • Social marketing
  • Women’s health
  • Reproductive justice

Beth L. Sundstrom, Ph.D., M.P.H. is professor of health communication. She is a leading expert on health communication and reproductive health. She focuses on applied research that informs the development of community-based public health interventions and nationally recognized communication campaigns. Dr. Sundstrom is the author of three books, including Birth Control: What Everyone Needs to Know® (Oxford University Press, 2020) and Catching Fire: Women’s Health Activism in Ireland and the Global Movement for Reproductive Justice (Oxford University Press, 2023) with Dr. Cara Delay, as well as more than 70 peer-reviewed publications in such outlets as Social Science & Medicine, Contraception, and the Journal of Health Communication.

Affiliations

  • Graduate faculty, University of ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, South Carolina
  • Public Health Program faculty and member of the public health steering committee
  • Faculty affiliate in the Women’s and Gender Studies program
  • Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI
  • Adjunct, Department of Public Health Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
  • Affiliate faculty member, Cancer Control Program, Hollings Cancer Center (HCC)

Courses Taught

Beth Sundstrom teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on such topics as strategic communication, social marketing, health communication, and public health. She teaches health communication in the Barcelona, Spain Summer Study Abroad Program.

Selected Publications

Catching Fire: Women’s Health Activism and the Global Movement for Reproductive Justice
Oxford University Press (2023)
Beth Sundstrom and Cara Delay

Google Scholar Account:

Honors and Awards

  • 2024- Social Sciences Faculty Excellence in Mentoring of Undergraduate Research Award, Council on Undergraduate Research
  • 2023 – Faculty Senate Wall of Honor (ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)  
  • 2022 – SC Immunization Champion Innovation Award (S.C. DHEC)  
  • 2018-2019 - Fulbright U.S. Scholar Research Grant Award, Ireland
  • 2018 - William V. Moore Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Award (ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)  
  • 2016 - ExCEL Award for Outstanding Faculty of the Year in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø)
  • 2016 - Charlie Magazine’s 50 Most Progressive, ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø S.C.  
  • 2015 - Crescent Award, South Carolina Coalition for Healthy Families, Member of the Year

Press and Media

Condom use and errors among College students. (October 3, 2024). By Emily Mendelson. Sex & Psychology.

Faith in the Vaccine: Religious leaders discuss the importance of COVID vaccines highlighting diverse faith traditions to bridge gaps in information and build trust in the vaccine.  

Preventing cancer by improving HPV vaccination rates – one champion at a time. (March 14, 2022). By Josh Birch. Hollings Cancer Center News.  

Local library provides connection point for healthcare. (July 19, 2021). By Colin McCawley and Joy Bonala. South Carolina ETV (SCETV) public educational broadcasting network.  

No One Has to Get Their Period Anymore: Menstruating is painful, expensive, and … unnecessary? (July 17, 2020). By Marion Renault. The Atlantic.  

Free the Pill: Support Dependable Contraceptive Access. (June 8, 2017). By Beth Sundstrom. The Huffington Post.

Obstetric Violence in Ireland’s Past and Present. (January 2, 2017). By Cara Delay and Beth Sundstrom. Perceptions of Pregnancy: Researchers’ Network.

Telehealth Research Aims to Improve Women's Health in Rural South Carolina. (November 28, 2016). By M. Ziehe. Women’s Health Research Team featured on SCetv: South Carolina’s public broadcasting, storytelling, and education network.

Contraception #351. (January 8, 2016). Science for the People: A syndicated radio show and podcast that broadcasts weekly across North America.  

Featured Content

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Motivates Graduating Senior to Learn More (December 11, 2024). By Darcie Goodwin. The College Today. 

Phi Beta Kappa Established Chapter at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø. (August 8, 2024). By Alicia Lutz. The College Today.

ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Professor Honored for Mentoring Excellence. (July 2, 2024). By Alicia Lutz. The College Today. 

 Students are Medically WISE. (January 28, 2022). By Alicia Lutz. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Magazine.  

The Teacher-Scholar Podcast Episode 2: Beth Sundstrom. (March 10, 2020). Hosted by Gibbs Knotts. School of Humanities and Social Sciences. ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø.  

Women’s Health Research Team Makes a Difference. (August 2, 2018). By Maggie Vickrey. The College Today.  

Professor’s Health Communication Research Addresses Women’s Health Taboos Through Social Marketing. By Hannah Ashe. (June 6, 2014). The College Today.