My research interest focuses on understanding patient perceptions to improve medication adherence and address health disparities in patients with diabetes as well as cancer survivors. My long-term research goal is to develop patient-centered interventions aimed at improving medication use and quality of life for patients living with chronic illnesses. 

My dissertation develops health beliefs personas to characterize cancer survivors' beliefs about cancer and medications as well as to inform behavioral targets for enhancing medication adherence and quality of life.

Research Summary: Medication adherence, Cancer survivorship, Health disparity, Patient perceptions, Pilot and feasibility behavioral trials, Mixed methods, Latent variable modeling and Network modeling, Qualitative research

Meng-Jung is a PhD candidate in the Health Services Research in Pharmacy. She is now a member of Shiyanbola Research Group and working on several research projects of implementing a culturally-tailored community intervention that aims at improving medication adherence and Hemoglobin A1c among Blacks/African-Americans with type 2 diabetes. In summer 2022 & 2023, she worked with Dr. Marina Maes in the Pharmacy Practice Division as a research assistant working on the quality improvement of the Pharmacy Family Program and advocating pharmacists' roles in promoting reproductive health.

Meng-Jung is particularly interested in studying psychometrics in patient-related outcomes, especially in the medication use experience of cancer survivorship. She has a doctoral minor in Educational Psychology and has been conducting an independent study since Fall 2022 with Professor Daniel Bolt on a project exploring illness perception using network analysis in Black adults with type 2 diabetes. Currently, she works on her dissertation project using latent profile analysis to categorize health belief patterns of cancer survivors. This work has served as a fundamental steps for future interventions to develop patient-centered care in promoting medication adherence as well as quality of life.

Before Meng-Jung pursuing her PhD degree, she worked as research assistant at College of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan after she earned her Master's degree. She was involved in several government-funded projects including conducting qualitative analyses of medication experience of patients across various chronic diseases, establishing protocols of regulations of controlled substances and Good Pharmacy Practice, developing evidence-based communication training and advocating pharmacists' roles in vaccination. She also worked part-time as a staff pharmacist in a primary care clinic in Taipei, Taiwan.

Education:

• MS in Clinical Pharmacy (2020) - Taipei Medical University, Taiwan

           Thesis titled: A Phenomenological Inquiry of Patients with Lung Cancer Using Oral Targeted Therapy

• BS in Pharmacy (2018) - Chia Nan University, Taiwan

Meng-Jung has worked as a Teaching Assistant in the following courses: 

• Pharmacy 423: Pharmacy Integrated Learning Laboratory (PILL) - Fall 2022
• S&A PHM 414: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Pharmacy Practice - Spring 2022, 2023
• Pharmacy 608: Safety and Quality in the Medication Use System - Fall 2021

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Shiyanbola, O.O., Wen, M.J., Yang, C., Maurer, M. (2025) Incorporating health literacy principles into the adaptation of a methods motivational interviewing approach for enrolling Black adults in a pilot randomized trial. Scientific Reports. (Accepted for publication)
2. Wen, M.J., Pickard, A.L., Maurer, M.A., Hansen, M.A, Shiyanbola, O.O. (2025) A pilot mixed methods randomized control trial investigating the feasibility and acceptability of a culturally tailored intervention focused on beliefs, mistrust and race-congruent peer support for Black adults with diabetes. Front. Public Health. 13:1474027. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1474027 
3. Wen, M.J., Zou, T., Bolt, D. M.,  Shiyanbola, O. O. (2025). A network analysis to explore illness perceptions in Black adults with type 2 diabetes. British Journal of Health Psychology, 30, e12775. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12775 
4. Maes, M., Wen, M.J., Barnett, S.G., Porter. A.L., Walbrandt Pigarelli, D.L., Kieser, M.A. Assessment of Patient Care Activities and Readiness for APPEs in Revised Third-Year IPPEs. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (AJPE). 2024;101265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpe.2024.101265.
5. Wen M.J., Salihu E.Y., Yang C., Maurer M., Shiyanbola O.O. Peer Ambassador Perspectives in a Culturally Tailored Self-Management Intervention for African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study. Pharmacy. 2024; 12(3):75. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy12030075 
6. Maes, M., Rotzenberg, K., Wen, M.J., Kopacek, K. Implementation and Evaluation of a Pharmacy Family Program to Foster Community and Inclusion. Currents in pharmacy teaching learning, S1877-1297(23)00159-4.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cptl.2023.06.022 
7. Wen, M.J., Hsu, H.L., Chang, C.L.,...& Chang, E.H. Understanding the Medication Experience of Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Taking Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Phenomenological Study. PLOS ONE 18(5): e0286333. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0286333 
8. Shiyanbola, O.O., Maurer, M., Wen, M.J. (2022). Protocol for A Pilot Randomized Controlled Mixed Methods Feasibility Trial to Examine the Benefits of a Culturally Adapted Peer Support and Self-Management Intervention to Improve Glycemic Control in African Americans. Pharmacy, 2023 (11), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy11010002 
9. Shiyanbola, O.O., Maurer, M., Schwerer, L., Sarkarati, N., Wen, M.J., Salihu, E.Y., Nordin, J., Xiong, P., Egbujor, U.M., Williams, S.D. (2022). A culturally tailored diabetes self-management intervention incorporating race-congruent peer support to address beliefs, medication adherence and diabetes control in African Americans: a pilot feasibility study. Patient Preference and Adherence, 2022(16), 2893-2912. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S384974
10. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Schwerer, L., ...& Shiyanbola, O.O. (2022). Perspectives on a Novel Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program for African Americans: A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Professionals and Organizational Leaders. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12814. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912814 
11. Wu, S.E., Wen, M.J.,...& Chang, E.H. (2021). A Qualitative Study on the Development of Pharmacist-Managed Clinics in Taiwan. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 46(4), 966-974. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpt.13378 

Under Review

1. Maurer M., Wen M.J., Deheck J., Szymanski S., Hansen M.A., Pickard A., Onchiri L., Quinn T., Kansariwala T., Shiyanbola O.O. Investigating the added value of a culturally tailored peer support intervention for Black adults with diabetes: A randomized mixed methods feasibility pilot trial. Submitted to: BMJ Open

Conference Presentation

Podium Presentations

1. Wen, M.J.,  Shiyanbola, O.O. (2025, March). Latent Profile Analysis of Health Beliefs Among Cancer Survivors: Identifying targets for promoting medication adherence and quality of life. Cancer SIG Paper Presentation. Distinguished Student Travel Award. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 46th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
2. Wen, M.J., Pickard, A.L., Maurer, M.... Shiyanbola, O.O. (2024, July). Beliefs, Mistrust, and Race-Congruent Peer Support in Black Adults with Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Pilot Feasibility Trial. 2024 International Social Pharmacy Workshop (ISPW), Banff, AB, Canada.
3. Wen, M.J., & Shiyanbola, O.O. (2024, June). Beliefs about Cancer and Oral Anticancer Medications: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study to Develop Cancer Survivors' Health Belief Personas. Top Abstract Award. The 20th Midwest Social & Administrative Pharmacy Conference, Iowa City, IA.
4. Wen, M.J., Pickard, A.L., Maurer, M.A., Hansen, M.A, Williams, S.D., & Shiyanbola, O.O. (2024, March). Beliefs, Mistrust, and Race-Congruent Peer Support in Black Adults with Diabetes: A Mixed Methods Pilot Feasibility Trial. Evidence-Based Behavioral Medicine (EBBM) SIG Best Trainee Abstract Award. Live Research Spotlight. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 45th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
5. Wen, M.J., Zou, T.T., Bolt, D.M. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2024, March). Using Network Analysis to Explore Illness Perceptions in Black Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Live Research Spotlight. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 45th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
6. Wen, M.J., Zou, T.T., Bolt, D.M. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2023, October). Using Network Analysis to Explore Illness Perceptions in Black Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH) 2023, Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.
7. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Schwerer, L., et al. (2023, April). Feasibility and Acceptability of an Integrated Tailored Adherence and Diabetes Self-Management Program for African Americans. Live Research Spotlight. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 44th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
8. Wen, M.J., Zou, T.T., Bolt, D.M. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2023, March). Using Network Analysis to Explore a Culturally Adapted Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised (IPQ-R) for African Americans with Type 2 Diabetes. Podium Presentation. APhA 2023 Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
9. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Schwerer, L., Sarkarati, N., Salihu, E.Y., Nordin, J., Xiong, P., Egbujor, U.M., Williams, S.D., Shiyanbola, O.O. (2022, September). Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program Incorporating Peer Support Intervention for African Americans. 3rd Annual UW-Madison Diabetes Research Day, Madison, WI.
10. Wen, M.J., Shiyanbola, O.O. (2022, July). A Mixed Methods Investigation of Medication Beliefs about Oral Anticancer Medications in Patients with Cancer. The 2022 Midwest Social and Administrative Pharmacy Conference, Chicago, IL.

Poster Presentations

1. Wen, M.J., Shiyanbola, O.O. (2025, March). Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Medication Adherence Between Black and Caucasian Cancer Survivors Using Oral Anticancer Medications: A Blinder-Oaxaca Decomposition Analysis. Meritorious Abstract Award. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 46th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA. 
2. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Mahoney, J., et al. (2025, March). Engaging a Diverse Advisory Board in the Co-design of a Culturally Tailored Evidence-Based Diabetes Self-Management Program for Black Adults. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 46th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
3. Wen, M.J., Shiyanbola, O.O. (2024, July). Health Belief Profiles and Nonadherence to Oral Anticancer Medication in Cancer Survivors: A Latent Profile Analysis. 2024 International Social Pharmacy Workshop (ISPW), Banff, AB, Canada.
4. Wen, M.J., Yang, C., Maurer, M. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2024, March).Incorporating Health Literacy Principles into the Adaptation of A Methods-Motivational Interviewing Approach: Enrolling and Retaining Black Adults in A Pilot Behavioral Clinical Trial. Diabetes SIG Student Travel Award. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 45th Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.
5. Wen, M.J., Yang, C., Maurer, M. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2023, October).Integrating A Methods-Motivational Interviewing Approach in Recruiting and Retaining Marginalized Populations: Lessons Learned from A Pilot Behavioral Intervention Trial among Black Adults with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes. International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH) 2023, Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.
6. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Hansen, M., Williams, S. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2023, September) A Randomized Feasibility Pilot Trial of A Culturally Tailored Peer Support and Self-Management Intervention in Black Adults with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes. 4th Annual UW-Madison Diabetes Research Day, Madison, WI
7. Wen, M.J., Yang, C., Maurer, M. Shiyanbola, O.O. (2023, September). Integrating An Adapted Methods-Motivational Interviewing Approach in Enrollment  and Retainment of Trial Participants: Lessons Learned from A Pilot Behavioral Intervention among Black Adults with Diabetes. 2nd place of Best Poster. 4th Annual UW-Madison Diabetes Research Day, Madison, WI
8. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Schwerer, L., et al. (2023, April). Exploring Stakeholders’ Perspectives on a Novel Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program for African Americans. Diabetes SIG Outstanding Trainee Abstract Award. Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) 44th Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ.
9. Wen, M.J., Shiyanbola, O.O., Maurer, M., et al. (2023, March). Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program Incorporating Peer Support Intervention for African Americans. Top 10 Oral Poster Forum. APhA 2023 Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ
10. Wen, M.J., Maurer, M., Schwerer, L., Sarkarati, N., Salihu, E.Y., Nordin, J., Xiong, P., Egbujor, U.M., Williams, S.D., Shiyanbola, O.O. (2022, September). Feasibility and Acceptability of a Culturally Tailored Diabetes Self-Management Program Incorporating Peer Support Intervention for African Americans. 3rd Annual UW-Madison Diabetes Research Day, Madison, WI.
11. Wen, M.J., Chen, J.H., Cheng, H.F., Wu, C.J., Lan, S.H., Chang, E.H. (2022, July). A qualitative meta-synthesis of medication experience of patients with chronic disease: The ABCDE model. 2022 International Social Pharmacy Workshop, Sydney, Australia. (Chicago Hub).
12. Wen, M.J., Chang, E.H. (2022, July). Striving for a Better Balance: A Phenomenological Inquiry of Patients with Lung Cancer Using Oral Targeted Therapy. 2022 International Social Pharmacy Workshop, Sydney, Australia (Chicago Hub).