In the digital era we're in, understanding the demographics of social media and mobile phone usage is integral to developing successful health communication strategies. Paid social media advertisements provide a budget-friendly, customizable platform that can dramatically amplify health promotion and recruitment efforts.

Health communication plays a key role in public health, guiding individuals and communities towards informed health decisions and healthier behaviors. However, inequitable design in health communication creates barriers that prevent this guidance from reaching everyone equitably. These barriers often overlook language differences, cultural nuances, and varied levels of health literacy. Our challenge lies in achieving health equity in health communication. This means we must ensure that, regardless of their backgrounds, all individuals can effectively access, understand, and utilize health information.

In the world of public health, health communications is often relegated to the creation of recruitment materials and data briefs. And don't get me wrong, these materials are vital to the success of health programs and research projects. However, this reductionist view belies the true potential of health communications as a powerful tool in transforming public health outcomes and driving meaningful change. Health communications encompasses far more than mere dissemination of information; it is the art and science of effectively conveying messages that resonate with diverse audiences and ultimately shape health behaviors, policies, and systems. In this article, we explore the multifaceted nature of health communications, illustrating its pivotal role in the broader context of public health.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust health communications into the spotlight, revealing its indispensable role in public health practice and community-engaged research. As we face a new era of public health challenges, such as addressing health disparities, combating emerging infectious diseases, and tackling the impacts of climate change on health, it is essential for Schools of Public Health to revamp their health communications education to prepare future professionals for the task of effectively engaging with diverse communities and driving lasting change. In this article, we delve into the crucial ways in which Schools of Public Health can and should enhance their health communications curricula to adapt to the evolving demands of the field, focusing on core public health concepts and providing real-life examples.

The medical model of public health, which emphasizes disease prevention and individual treatment, has long dominated the field. While this approach has contributed to significant advancements in healthcare, it has also inadvertently deprioritized the role of health communications in public health and community engagement. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the need for a shift in focus towards more comprehensive and inclusive public health strategies, with health communications playing a central role.

Access to healthcare is a right not a privilege, and places like Manos Juntas at 1145 West I-240 Service Road are giving Oklahoman’s access to that right.

The founding director of an Oklahoma City medical clinic who sparked Jackson Higginbottom’s passion for public health died suddenly on December 23, 2022, and the clinic was in danger of closing for lack of funds. In an instant, Higginbottom, MPH ’20 (Social and Behavioral Sciences), was thrust into the position of running the clinic and trying to save it – all while working full-time in New Haven, Connecticut.