Dr. Persis Ayeh is a health communication scholar and Community Research Coordinator in Public Health Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She earned her Ph.D. in Health Communication from Indiana University Indianapolis, with a minor in Social and Behavioral Sciences. Her work focuses on Alzheimer’s disease, brain tissue donation literacy, dementia caregiving, and community-engaged communication among individuals of African ancestry. In her current role with the DAWN Alzheimer’s Research Study, Dr. Ayeh develops health education and communication strategies focused on Alzheimer’s disease research and brain tissue donation. She uses strategic health communication to strengthen brain tissue donation literacy and support informed family decision-making. She also assists with Dementia Caregiver College and virtual education initiatives that provide caregivers and community members with practical information on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, caregiving, self-care, and community resources. Across her work, Dr. Ayeh is guided by a commitment to serving communities, meeting people where they are, and translating research into culturally grounded, audience-centered education.
Selected Publications
- Ayeh, P., & Head, K. J. (2026). Strength in silence: The invisible burdens of caregivers of adults with SCD. Journal of Sickle Cell Disease, 3(1), yoag023. View publication
- Ayeh, P., Head, K., & Jacob, S. (2025). We know what we need: Exploring the communicative and structural gaps in support for caregivers of adults with sickle cell disease (CASPS). Blood, 146(Supplement 1), 2674. View publication
- Ayeh, P., Gandhi, S. N., Kaur, C., Vijayan, V., Amegbeha, A., Pucka, A., O’Brien, A. R. W., Harte, S. E., Harris, R. E., & Wang, Y. (2023). Strategies in Recruitment and Retention of Patients with Sickle Cell Disease for a Single-Site Longitudinal Clinical Trial. Blood, 142(Supplement 1), 2306. View publication