234114 Health communication strategies to reach military men, women, and their families

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 5:15 PM - 5:30 PM

Jennifer Cabe, MA , Executive Director, Canyon Ranch Institute, Tucson, AZ
The development and implementation of health literacy and communication initiatives in partnership with health professionals, advocacy groups, policymakers, community leaders, and the public is critical to improve the health and well-being of our military men, women, and families.

The need for off-base reacclimational services and resources is a serious global public health issue. In addition, effectively reaching military men, women, and their families from diverse backgrounds is of significant importance.

The presentation will explore communication strategies aimed at reaching military men, women, and their families with relevant and timely health messages. An effort will be undertaken to identify practical approaches that can make a difference in the lives of veterans and their families. This will involve helping to educate, inspire, and empower veterans and their families to recognize signs and symptoms, seek help, prevent disease, detect problems early, and work toward a path of wellness.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Advocacy for health and health education
Communication and informatics
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
- Define effective health communication strategies to reach military men, women, and their families - Assess the need for improved off-base health and well-being infrastructure for military men, women, and their families - Demonstrate best practices in reaching diverse military men, women, and their families

Keywords: Health Communications, Veterans' Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Jennifer has spent over 20 years in positions dedicated to improving community and population health and wellness. She now leads strategic and operations functions as executive director for Canyon Ranch Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Canyon Ranch Institute catalyzes the possibility of optimal health for all people by translating the best practices of Canyon Ranch and our partners to help educate, inspire, and empower every person to prevent disease and choose a life of wellness. Prior to joining Canyon Ranch Institute in 2007, Jennifer was vice president of scientific communications for Feinstein Kean Healthcare, where she started and led the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Jennifer previously served in the Office of the Surgeon General as communications director and speechwriter for Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona. In that capacity, Jennifer was responsible for the development and implementation of health literacy and communication initiatives in partnership with health professionals, advocacy groups, policymakers, community leaders, and the public. Jennifer was awarded the Surgeon General's Medallion in 2005, which is the highest honor that the U.S. Surgeon General can confer. Jennifer also received the prestigious U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Honor Award for her role in developing the “U.S. Surgeon General's Family History Initiative.” In 2006, Jennifer was also awarded the National Institutes of Health Team Merit Award for her work on The Cancer Genome Atlas, a collaboration of the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute. Prior to joining the Office of the Surgeon General, Jennifer was the communications officer at the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where she communicated with research and clinical audiences about global public health issues. Before joining the National Institutes of Health, Jennifer led communications, wellness, and government relations for HealthNet Health Plan in the Pacific Northwest, and was the founder and publisher of Best of Health & Fitness, a successful national customized magazine for the health and fitness industry. Today, Jennifer is a frequent speaker on topics related to public health policy and communication, and serves on the advisory board of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease and Time to Talk CARDIO. Jennifer also enjoys writing about health and wellness for the general public, and her writing has been published in such diverse venues as the American Journal of Public Health, Good Housekeeping, the Journal for Minority Medical Students, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Scientific American. In 2008, she was co-editor of the National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship and the accompanying People’s Piece – Cancer: What It Means To You. Jennifer was a contributor to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease 2009 Almanac of Chronic Disease. Jennifer was raised in South America, the Caribbean, and Texas. She earned a bachelor's degree at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and a master’s degree in public communication with an emphasis in health communication at American University in Washington, D.C. Jennifer is fluent in both English and Spanish.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4370.0: Military Men, Women, and Their Families: Need for Off-Base Reacclimational Services and Resources