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What is the difference between these two campaign advertisements?

What makes this ad ineffective?

Aside from the obvious difference in medium, these two ads  are very different in their ability to reach and motivate an audience to engage in a particular healthy behavior.

Choosing effective strategies to communicate health-related messages is just one of many avenues that a Health Communication scholar may decide to follow.

If you’re like us, you might be wondering what health communication is all about, and what a career in the field might look like. To learn more about this, we interviewed Bryant’s esteemed Communication professor, Dr. Chris Morse.

Dr. Chris Morse teaches a variety of Communication courses at Bryant University, including Health Communication

CommSurvivors (CS): So what exactly is Health Communication?

Chris Morse (CM): Health Communication is the study of the way that issues in the public and private sphere impact:

• what we know about health
• the health topics we talk about
• the way in which we deal with health in our society.

CS: Are there any career options for students interested in Health Communication?

CM: Like all Communication degrees, there are multiple avenues that Health Communication scholars can take. It is a very flexible field.

One option for Health Communication scholars is to work with organizations on press junkets and informational packets about health information.Some scholars have gone to private sphere companies or medical equipment companies.

You could be an in-house specialist at a hospital, working to improve doctor/patient relationships, nurse/patient relationships or doctor/nurse relationships, as another example.

Consultant specialists for companies (for-profit or non-profit) might interact with the public or the media to deliver a health-related message.

There are options, too, in governmental agencies and organizations that would ask Health Communication scholars to help design health campaigns.

More recently, hospitals and organizations have been trying to incorporate Web 2.0. Those scholars with an understanding of the process (and how to communicate about health) may be asked to use [new media, like] blogs and Facebook.

These are just broad categories; there are many jobs that fall under each of the things I mentioned. And there are always groups trying to find Health Communication scholars to help translate problems or issues to special groups. This happened recently with the Healthcare reform bill.

CS: How might an organization use new media/Web 2.0 to deliver health messages and communicate?

CM: For example, the ACS may want to create support groups or Facebook pages for those trying to live healthy lifestyles to learn and share information.

CS: Is there anything else you think our readers might like to know about Health Communication?

CS: Sure. Everybody gets into Health Communication for different reasons. But there is a basic belief that you want to help people. Whether it is by:

• Easing fears or concerns
• Showing them how to live healthier lives
• or Giving support

your idea [as a Health Communication scholar] is to help others.

I think that Health Communication is something that will become of importance as the years go on.

There are a number of organizations, as Dr. Morse mentioned, that provide opportunities for Health Communication scholars, and serve as good examples of Health Communication.

NIOSH, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, offers several opportunities for employment. Job lists can also be found with the American Cancer Society’s Employment and Volunteer Opportunities page.

So if you qualify as someone who:

• Is creative
• Wants to help others
• Has an interest in interpersonal communication and/or social media
• Wants to leave a positive impact on the world

…then perhaps a career in Health Communication is for you!

Go forth, and live boldly.

Main Author: Linsey Morse

Contributing Authors/Editors: Alison Lewis, Daniel Janis, Kevin Mandeville

A floorboard whined beneath his careful foot, interrupting his mother’s TV coma.

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