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New health communication major to help address 'a huge mess' in U.S.
KSU hopes initiative will increase enrollment
Darren D'Altorio
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: News
As the health care field grows amid an aging population, the demand for health care professions is on the rise.
Traditionally, the field of nursing has maintained the spotlight as the industry expands.
But a new area of health care that marries the knowledge of health with theories of human communication is gaining momentum: health communication.
Kent State will be at the forefront of this field come fall, training professionals under its new Health Communication Initiative in the College of Communication and Information.
"Health communication is a huge mess in this country," said Stan Wearden, director of the School of Communication Studies. "No one is training people to be communication experts in this field."
Little comprehensive training exists in the area of health communication as it's relatively new in the American professional landscape.
There are many "uncharted waters" in the field, said Rebecca Cline, senior scientist at the Karmanos Cancer Institute and newly hired professor of Communication Studies at Kent State next fall.
Cline will be one of three new professors developing the Health Communication Initiative at Kent State. She wrote more than 60 articles and chapters in books and conducted extensive research in multiple areas of the field, from media messages and peer pressure to unplanned messages with health implications, like commercials, people encounter every day.
Cline said people unintentionally limit health communication to doctor-patient interaction or educational materials. But those, though extensively explored by researchers, are only "small parts" of the health messages people encounter daily.
Provost Robert Frank launched an initiative to make Kent State a formidable presence in the health care industry, said Nichole Egbert, associate professor of communication studies.
"For Northeast Ohio, there is nothing like this," Wearden said. "And there is a real need for it. This will put us in a handful of universities nationwide that have health communication programs."
Wearden said the initiative will increase enrollment and establish visibility in the health care industry.
He said the program will allow for cutting-edge research funding because health communication is a "hot grant funding area."
Along with Cline, Ohio State University graduate Catherine Goodall will head the initiative as an assistant professor of communication studies.
Goodall's specialty is the media. More specifically, she focuses on how health messages communicated in the media impact people.
After they arrive at Kent State in the fall, Cline and Goodall will focus on developing grant proposals and a master's degree curriculum for health communication.
The third professor for the Health Communication Initiative will be hired this fall.
Contact College of Communication and Information reporter Darren D'Altorio at ddaltor@kent.edu.
Traditionally, the field of nursing has maintained the spotlight as the industry expands.
But a new area of health care that marries the knowledge of health with theories of human communication is gaining momentum: health communication.
Kent State will be at the forefront of this field come fall, training professionals under its new Health Communication Initiative in the College of Communication and Information.
"Health communication is a huge mess in this country," said Stan Wearden, director of the School of Communication Studies. "No one is training people to be communication experts in this field."
Little comprehensive training exists in the area of health communication as it's relatively new in the American professional landscape.
There are many "uncharted waters" in the field, said Rebecca Cline, senior scientist at the Karmanos Cancer Institute and newly hired professor of Communication Studies at Kent State next fall.
Cline will be one of three new professors developing the Health Communication Initiative at Kent State. She wrote more than 60 articles and chapters in books and conducted extensive research in multiple areas of the field, from media messages and peer pressure to unplanned messages with health implications, like commercials, people encounter every day.
Cline said people unintentionally limit health communication to doctor-patient interaction or educational materials. But those, though extensively explored by researchers, are only "small parts" of the health messages people encounter daily.
Provost Robert Frank launched an initiative to make Kent State a formidable presence in the health care industry, said Nichole Egbert, associate professor of communication studies.
"For Northeast Ohio, there is nothing like this," Wearden said. "And there is a real need for it. This will put us in a handful of universities nationwide that have health communication programs."
Wearden said the initiative will increase enrollment and establish visibility in the health care industry.
He said the program will allow for cutting-edge research funding because health communication is a "hot grant funding area."
Along with Cline, Ohio State University graduate Catherine Goodall will head the initiative as an assistant professor of communication studies.
Goodall's specialty is the media. More specifically, she focuses on how health messages communicated in the media impact people.
After they arrive at Kent State in the fall, Cline and Goodall will focus on developing grant proposals and a master's degree curriculum for health communication.
The third professor for the Health Communication Initiative will be hired this fall.
Contact College of Communication and Information reporter Darren D'Altorio at ddaltor@kent.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 15
Mary Jo
posted 4/15/09 @ 10:10 AM EST
This is all well and good I suppose, but I would think the KSU future in health care would be better served by expanding the nursing field, which has shortages in facilities here and on a national level. (Continued…)
Robin Anderson
posted 4/15/09 @ 4:38 PM EST
Truth be told, nurses, from mid-wives to community care-givers, have always been the most important cog of any community health-care program! Even as far back as when society had to convice doctors that, yes, they too had to wash their hands to prevent the spread of disease!
But then, what else do the administrative-policy-wonks of the University know if not "communication"???
Your bloody Valentine
posted 4/17/09 @ 2:54 AM EST
MJo,
Does your talking head ever take a rest?
I agree with you, though, on the coming battle between Comm vs Nurs at KSU.
Let's see, Mrs. Cline, is not really a "scientist"; she has a degree in communication/homely banter. (Continued…)
Robin Anderson
posted 4/18/09 @ 7:26 AM EST
'Blood red' is the only one.
Do you think anyone wishing to enter the 'competitive' field of nursing would get a full scholarship with an ACT Score of 16?
AE
posted 4/21/09 @ 9:11 PM EST
YBV, you completely misconstrued my comments. I never said that new grads having difficulties finding jobs had anything to do with communication skills. (Continued…)
Your bloody Valentine
posted 4/22/09 @ 12:39 AM EST
AE,
Not so sure I misconstrued.
The job market for comm grads is still pretty good, compared to that of hist, phil, or english folk, the main reason being that comm/rhet is the most bubbly and inflationary of the humanist traits. (Continued…)
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