Erin Donovan specializes in Interpersonal Health Communication at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research and teaching focus on helping people navigate difficult conversations with family, friends, and healthcare providers while coping with illness, stress, and uncertainty. With expertise in interpersonal communication processes, Dr. Donovan examines how patients and healthcare professionals engage in 'communication work' that theorizes illness trajectories and healthcare communication. She teaches courses in interpersonal communication, health communication, uncertainty management, and coping. Besides her teaching responsibilities, she collaborates with health profession programs at Dell Medical School to train students on effective communication with patients, colleagues, and community members. Dr. Donovan has partnered with several organizations, including the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, LIVESTRONG Foundation, and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Her research explores how individuals reveal and conceal information related to illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS, focusing on the communicative strategies people use to manage information about illness and how it intersects with health communication psychology.