About
Joy V. Goldsmith, PhD, examines health communication science in the contexts of healthcare provider
training, and serious and chronic illness. Her numerous books and articles in clinical
as well as communication journals address health literacy, communication pedagogy,
simulation training, oncology nurse communication, interprofessional communication,
and family caregiver communication. CommunicateComfort.com, a long-time initiative
of Dr. Goldsmith, serves to house and disseminate a range of research interventions
and training curriculum for healthcare providers.
Storyboard creation and development, e-learning module formation, and mhealth design
and navigation are dimensions of Goldsmith’s applied research linking media, theatre,
and film across her body of work. COMFORT training has occurred through regionally
and nationally grant-funded training courses as well as healthcare systems including
MD Anderson Cancer Center and the Veterans Administration, in addition to undergraduate
and graduate university provider training programs across America, Australia, and
Kenya. Goldsmith is the co-author of nine books and over 80 peer-reviewed journal
articles. Her work on BSN program simulation research and communication training includes
a 2025-2026 Macy Foundation Award, the AACN Essentials, and lead authorship of a 2026
Elsevier nursing textbook identifying essential communication needs for BSN students.
Joy is the Founder and Co-Director of the University of Memphis Center for Health
Literacy and Health Communication. She also serves as an Affiliate Faculty member
in the School of Public Health.
Education
University of Oklahoma PhD
Interdisciplinary Studies
Communication, Theatre, English
Southern Illinois University MS
Communication Studies
Bethel College BA
Communication Arts
Selected Publications and Accomplishments
Recent Refereed Journal Articles
Wittenberg, E., Goldsmith, J. V., Forrest, S., Lee, H. G., & Yuen, E. (2026). Introducing
Palliative Care: Family Caregivers’ Knowledge, Exposure, and Preferred Messaging.
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091261435096
Terui, S., Goldsmith, J.V., & Gettings, L. (2026). Enacted Communication Action Contexts
in Public Libraries: Promoting Communicative Social Capital and Health Literacy in
Under-resourced Communities. Communication Monographs. doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2026.2640960
(2.8 impact factor)
Wittenberg, E., Lee, H.G., Goldsmith, J.V., Chen, C., Maffucci, J., & Burt, L. (2026).
Exploring Use of the COMFORT Model for Nurse Communication About Social Determinants
of Health. Palliative Medicine Reports. doi: 10.1177.26892820261417606 (1.3 impact
factor)
Burt, L., Wittenberg, E., Goldsmith, J., Riser, B., & Park, C. (2025). The Comfort
Communication Simulation Instrument (Sim-Comfort): A Relationship-Centered Approach
to Assessing Communication Competency. Journal of Professional Nursing. doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2025.11.002
(2.1 impact factor)
Recent External Grant Activity
Co-Investigator. The Impact of Cumulative Information and Technology Use on Dementia
Risk: A 10-Year
Study of Rural Community Dwelling Older Adults. National Institute of Health, National
Institute on Aging (NIA) R21 AG098448. PI Yong Yang. (Funded). $365,000.
Consultant, Qualitative Researcher. Lead Dx: Learning Equity and Addressing Disparities
in Diagnosis.
Macy Scholar Fellowship. PI Leah Burt. (Funded).
Recent Books Published
Wittenberg, E., Goldsmith, J. V., Burt, L., and Correa, M. (under contract). COMFORT Communication
Pocket Guide for Nursing. Oxford University Press.
Goldsmith, J. V., Wittenberg, E., Chen, C., & Prince-Paul, M. (2026). Essentials of Nursing Communication. Elsevier Press.
Recent Honors and Awards
2026 Top Poster, International Communication Association. Cape Town, South Africa.
Terui, S., &
Goldsmith, J. V. Enacted Communication Action Contexts in Public Libraries: Promoting
Communicative Social Capital and Health Literacy in Under-resourced Communities.
2025 Distinguished Scholarly Book Award, Health Communication Division, National Communication
Association.
Communication in Palliative Nursing, 2nd Edition. Oxford, New York.
2025 Distinguished Scholar Award, Death and Dying Division, National Communication
Association.
2025 University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Nursing, Cashdollar
Distinguished Visiting
Professorship.