Communicating Health Messages    
 
NPHIC
Kerry Shearer (left) excitedly explains the benefits of the Aug 7-9 conference with National Public Health Information Coalition Executive Director Laura Espino.
Those hoping to learn better ways of communicating health messages or share methods that are proving successful, gathered in downtown Atlanta earlier this month for the annual CDC National Conference for Health Communication, Marketing and Media.

In addition to the numerous presentations delivered by national leading experts, exhibits were set up for those who wanted more information while attending the three-day conference at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Atlanta.

"It helps people talk with one voice so that we don't have Oklahoma over here contradicting California and both contradicting CDC," said Laura Espino, executive director of the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC). "That leaves the public confused once they receive the message."

Among the conference highlights was a live webcast featuring leading health communicators from the CDC, Iowa Public Health and Philadelphia Public Health. Hundreds observed as the panelists were asked questions by public health communicator and NPHIC volunteer Kerry Shearer. Shearer says there are many ways to learn new ideas by attending this conference.

"This is always a great opportunity for public health communicators to come together and really learn from each other, and understand what the best communications techniques are."

NPHIC helps communicators share information and ideas whether the medium is a video, a flyer, a radio public service announcement or a brochure. Such ideas receive a boost from the coalition's resources and are often tailored to meet specific needs within a state or local health department. New ideas are being added continuously, and this includes evolving resources in the area of social media.

"There's a lot of emphasis on social media and public health departments are working on really integrating that as part of their communications program," said Shearer.

NPHIC leaders are encouraged with the growing membership level nationwide which is now approaching 500. More information is available at the NPHIC website: www.nphic.org.

-Story by Eric Jens, DPH Communications

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