Roundtable

Effective communication is central to the success of every public heath endeavor, including the improvement of environmental health outcomes. Yet implementing effective environmental health communication strategies remains an ongoing challenge from bench researchers to healthcare practitioners to affected communities. This roundtable session will go beyond diffusion-, dissemination-, and campaign-based communication models to openly discuss contemporary communication issues and identify associated challenges. Each of the ten round tables will explore a different aspect of communications covering areas from ethics and framing issues, to bridging knowledge between communities and academics, to the new world order in using advance technologies for engaging audiences in the process of sharing environment health science knowledge. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in two of these discussions. Using an interactive approach, this session will promote shared learning by bringing to light both state-of-the-science and practice-based issues facing environmental health communicators, with a long-term goal of promoting sustained dialogue about what environmental health practitioners and health communicators can learn from each other.

Session Objectives: 1. Describe at least two examples of the evidence or theoretical basis supporting a contemporary model or strategy for effective environmental health communication. 2. List two or more examples of how this model or strategy is being used successfully in contemporary practice. 3. List at least three challenges for implementing this model or strategy in specific contexts and describe how others are addressing those challenges. 4. Identify at least two specific forums or venues specific to an environmental health communication strategy and explain its strengths and weaknesses.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)