SC&I faculty members and student scholars participated in the 7th biennial D.C. Health Communication Conference (DCHC), sponsored by George Mason University’s Department of Communication and Center for Health and Risk Communication. Held April 27-29, DCHC celebrated its 11th anniversary this year with the theme “Health Communication for a Changing World.” DCHC 2023 brought participants together to discuss research, theory, and practice in health communication.

Keynote speaker Edward Maibach, Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Communication and founding director of the Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University, opened the session. Mohan Dutta, Dean’s Chair Professor of Communication and founding Director of the Center for Culture-Centered Approach to Research and Evaluation (CARE) at Massey University in New Zealand presented the closing keynote address.

SC&I Professor of Communication Kathryn Greene was a panelist on “Building/Supporting Community, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access through NIH Grant Mechanisms,” a session focused on describing promising avenues for improving the diversity of scholarship and scholars. Greene also sat on the “Graduate Student and Early Career Scholar Mentoring” panel.

During the poster session, SC&I doctoral student Arpita Jindani and Associate Professor of Communication Matthew Matsaganis presented “Towards a Multilevel Communication-Centered Model of Community Resilience in Times of Health Crises.” Jindani, who works at the Rutgers Global Health Institute and leads the development of health equity programs for vulnerable communities in New Jersey, received the conference award for top student poster. During the “Issue in Social Support and Health” panel, Matsaganis presented “Providing Healthcare & Social Support During Economic Crises: Lessons Learned from ‘Solidarity Outpatient Clinics’ in Greece.” SC&I doctoral student Sahana Natarajan presented on “Exploring Internalized Racism and Health through the Strong Black Woman Stereotype and Schema” during the “Looking Back and Forward in Approaches to Address Racism in Black Women’s Health: Have We Gone Far Enough?” panel.

Want to know more about SC&I’s excellent communication-related programs? Check out our Communication major, master’s programs in Health Communication and Information (MHCI) and Communication and Media (MCM), and Communication, Information, and Media Ph.D. program.

Image credit-SC&I Faculty