The discipline of Health Communication reached a milestone in its development when it was included as a separate area of focus for achieving the health objectives of the US. Working group members who helped develop the objectives for this focus area (disclosure: I am a member of that group) identified as a priority: To enlarge the knowledge base of health communication and incorporate it into health promotion practice, a research and training infrastructure is needed to develop, model, and coordinate activities.
As a result, one of the health communication objectives is: Increase the number of centers for excellence that seek to advance the research and practice of health communication.
Since then the National Cancer Institute has funded four Centers for Excellence in Cancer Communications Research with the expectation that:
...interdisciplinary efforts will result in new theories, methods, and interventions, including those for diverse populations. The Centers will provide essential infrastructure to facilitate rapid advances in knowledge about cancer communications, translate theory and programs into practice, and train health communication scientists. In essence, the Centers will catalyze major advances in cancer communication.
Their work will be part of a program scheduled for May 10th, 2006.
Technorati Tags: Health Communication, Healthy People 2010, National Cancer Institute
Hey Craig,
Any idea whether this "state of the science" event will include a webcast for those of us not in the DC area? Can you wield your considerable power as a member of the working group to make it so? :-)
Thanks!
Nedra
Posted by: Nedra Weinreich | 16 April 2006 at 03:21 PM