Health Communication examines the role of communication in understanding, promoting and maintaining health. Communication is an essential tool that health care professionals use in preventing, diagnosing, managing and treating illness. It is also through communication that individuals learn what constitutes health and healthy behaviors. Students choosing to conduct research in this area will study patient-provider communication, health care campaigns, communication in health care organizations, interpersonal and family communication about health, mental health, gender, spirituality, disability and aging.
Dr. Christine Davis, Dr. Jillian Tullis,and Dr. Margaret M. Quinlan specialize in Health Communication. Dr. Ashli Stokes also does some research in Health Communication.