Melanie T. Turk, PhD, RN, FTNSS

Expertise Areas:

Culturally-congruent health behaviors and lifestyle, diabetes prevention, quantitative and mixed methods research

Languages spoken, read/write:  English

Select Publications:

Journal Articles:

Turk, M.T., Ritchie, N.D., Norton, B., Gallucci, A. (in press, October 2025). Opportunities and obstacles associated with the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, American Journal of Managed Care.

Poskin, M., Turk, M.T., Nolfi, D., Klotzbaugh, R., Dietz, C. (2024). The beliefs and practices used to promote physical and mental health in youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, or queer plus (LGBTIQ+) experiencing housing insecurity: An integrative review, Public Health Nursing, 41(6), 1646-1667. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.1338.

 Kiraly, C.M., Turk, M.T., Kalarchian, M.A., Shaffer, C. (2021). Exploring factors linked to weight status in Salvadoran infants. Hispanic Healthcare International, 19(2), 95-104. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540415320959593

 Book Chapters

Turk, M.T., Dreher, H.M., Zoucha, R. Evatt, M., Kalarchian, M.A. (2024). Enhancing the role of a Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate: Two models for global studies experience. In H.M. Dreher, M.E.S. Glasgow, M. Dahnke, & V.T. Cotter (Eds.), DNP Role Development for Doctoral Advanced Nursing Practice (3^rd ed.). New York: Springer.

Books:

Schreiber, J. & Turk, M.T. (2023). Statistics and Data Analysis Literacy for Nurses. New York: Springer.

Present/Future Directions 

The work of Transcultural Scholars must focus on ensuring that vulnerable populations’ experiences are made known and disparities are addressed. My current and future work is aimed at uncovering the reasons why the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program is not widely available to and used by older adults with prediabetes. Diabetes and prediabetes are disproportionately higher among individuals from racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States and globally. Evidence-based programs such as the MDPP must be made readily available and promoted, especially among individuals from disadvantaged groups.

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9/2025 Updated