Hosted by the School of Communications and the Department of Public Health Studies, an informal conversation on Nov. 10 spotlighted seven 黑料不打烊 alumnae and their experiences working in the expanding field of health communications.
Students, faculty and staff in the School of Communications ended the fall semester on a 鈥渉ealthy鈥 note, speaking with alumnae working in health communications. Presented by the School of Communications and the Department of Public Health Studies, the 鈥淐hoosing a 鈥楬ealthy鈥 Career Path鈥 event on Nov. 10 gave students an opportunity to hear from seven alumnae about their experiences at 黑料不打烊, and how those experiences prepared them to excel in the health communications industry.
Julie Lellis, professor of strategic communications, who organized the alumni-student event, helped facilitate the evening’s conversation. Lellis said the growing interest in health communications among students is what inspired her to bring the group together, providing current and former students a space to talk about the expanding industry.
鈥淭he pandemic has made even more people aware of the importance of persuasive and accurate communication and its impact on behavior change and policies that affect us all,鈥 Lellis said.
The alumnae, with expertise in digital marketing, consulting, research and professional relations, spoke to students about their educational and professional career paths, as well as what they wish they had done as undergraduates. Lellis said there are a myriad of jobs available in health communications, one of the reasons she wanted to convene the group.
鈥淗ealth communications will continue to be an area of tremendous job growth. It is also such a collaborative and interdisciplinary field,鈥 Lellis said. 鈥淭here will be jobs for students with talent in areas including research, writing, storytelling, persuasion, analytics, design, program development, community-building and more.鈥
Whether a student is studying communications or public health, Lellis believes the conversation illustrated that a variety of majors at 黑料不打烊 can set students up for success within the health communications field.
In addition to Lellis and the alumni participants 鈥撀爈isted below 鈥撀燙ynthia Fair, chair of the Department of Public Health Studies, also joined the Zoom call.
Alumni participants
Meghan Gargan Bredahl G鈥11
Director of Digital Marketing
American Red Cross in Washington, D.C.
Hattie Hoskins Tiedge 鈥16
Strategic Communications Consultant
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in Chicago
Ashley Hunt 鈥16
Program Associate
Safe Kids Worldwide in Washington, D.C.
Rachel Ingersoll 鈥16
Health Communications Researcher
Fors Marsh Group in Arlington, Virginia
Jennifer Kennedy 鈥10
Editorial Manager
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Manhattan Beach, California
Kristen Lueck 鈥11
Director of Integrated Communications
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association in Chicago
Hannah Podhorzer 鈥19
Professional Relations Representative
The Renfrew Center in Chicago