Dr. Melanie Cozad is an Assistant Professor in the Health Services Policy and Management department (HSPM) within the Arnold School of Public Health at University of South Carolina. Her research focuses on using the principles of economics to develop tools aimed at helping patients communicate more effectively with their doctors. She spends much of her time working with patients and providers within the Prisma Health System – Upstate in Greenville, South Carolina. She joined HSPM after having spent three years as an Assistant Professor at Furman University. Prior to working at Furman, she earned her Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.