Vanessa Trocchi, MHIS'24 - Career Profile

Headshot of Vanessa TrocchiAlumni Profile

Vanessa Trocchi graduated in 2024 after publishing her master's thesis titled Health Advice from Instagram Influencers on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Their Strategies to Establish and Manipulate Credibility. 

Q. What path brought you to the MHIS program?

"At the time of applying, I was largely interested in how an individual’s environments (whether social, digital, or built) impacted their health behaviours. Growing up, I was always seeking health information from books or on the internet out of curiosity. Social media algorithms amplified the accessibility to health information. I no longer needed to actively seek health information, it was constantly available to me. It became overwhelming as I tried to navigate through all of the information and identify credible sources.

I discovered the MHIS program at the end of my bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences at Western. It appeared to be the perfect stepping stone to pursue my research interests: health communication in digital environments and digital health literacy. I had an amazing experience during my bachelor’s degree at Western, and looked forward to spending more time on the campus and learning from new professors."

Q. How has your MHIS degree helped you launch your professional career?

"My MHIS degree helped me to expand my interest in the relationship between information, information systems, health, and healthcare. Where my thesis looked at these relationships broadly from a social media and public health perspective, my coursework enabled me to explore concepts applicable to healthcare organizations more narrowly. Both of these perspectives have helped to shape the way I approach projects in the workplace, and enable me to view health-related issues from a holistic lens."

Q. What will you be doing in your new role?

"In my new role I am a Systems and Policy Administrator. I manage the organization’s policy database, Learning Management System (LMS), assist on privacy projects, and assist on IT projects."

Q. We’ve heard that your MHIS research will be featured on TVO. What was your research subject?

"My research looked at how polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) influencers portrayed credibility when sharing PCOS information on Instagram. We identified that influencers used a range of pseudo-credibility strategies, including claiming to correct misinformation. My research also studied whether healthism was evident in PCOS influencer rhetoric, the concept that health is the responsibility of an individual, and does not take into account the social determinants of health. Several PCOS influencers had healthism related concepts visible in their communications."

Q. Do you have any advice for students considering applying to the MHIS program?

"If you’re hoping to write a thesis, my advice for future students is to brainstorm a variety of topics and research potential supervisors who can help you to investigate those topics. Your research interests may change after beginning the program, so it is important to keep an open mind and maintain flexibility throughout the process."