The ability to develop effective health communication campaigns that can reach large audiences and influence behavior changes is a valuable skill in today’s digital age — that’s why the Diederich College of Communication continues to expand its health communication curriculum.
In fall 2024, Dr. Emily M. Cramer, associate professor of health communication, was hired to help grow the health communication minor by blending a focus on digital media and health disparities. She’s quickly done just that by adopting an ecological approach to teaching and research — examining the factors that contribute to effective — and ineffective — interactions and uncovering ways to improve communication at every level.
“Emily’s research on health disparities, new media and technology, and strategic communication is exactly what we needed to build stronger relationships across disciplines within the college and across the university,” says Acting Dean of the Diederich College of Communication Dr. Kati Tusinski Berg. “She’s currently teaching health communication campaigns as a service-learning class with two clients — Versiti and NMDP — where she brings her research expertise into the classroom. Emily brings the knowledge, curiosity and excitement to the classroom, which is what we need to grow the health communication minor.”
Looking at the data, this expansion couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. The need for experts in this field is growing rapidly.
Berg explains that “over the next five years, the health communication industry is expected to see double-digit growth across digital health, marketing communications and clinical collaboration market segments.”
The industry is also responding to research trends that show poor communication as a leading factor in medical errors, contributing to 30% of all malpractice claims in U.S. hospitals and medical practices. These communication failures resulted in 1,744 deaths and $1.7 billion in malpractice costs over five years.
The 18-credit health communication minor helps students approach a range of health-related issues systematically and gain knowledge in how using multiple communication processes is critical to improving the health of our society.
Improving information around maternal health
Along with teaching health communication, Cramer recently joined Marquette’s Telehealth Research Community and received a $20,000 grant to lead a research team studying “Capacity Building for Postpartum Preeclampsia Management Using Community Based Participatory Research-Derived Frames for Social Media Engagement.” It’s a topic that’s personal to Cramer.
During the birth of both her children, Cramer experienced preeclampsia, a dangerous pre- and post-natal condition marked by high blood pressure and signs of kidney or liver damage — it’s a leading cause of maternal death worldwide.
“It really scared me,” Cramer says. “And in both situations, I found the communication about preeclampsia from health providers around me to be inconsistent and vague. I also learned that this condition disproportionately impacts women of color, as Black women in the U.S. are 60% more likely to experience preeclampsia.”
The Marquette alumna now has goals to improve communication around the condition and maternal health.
“Thanks to a grant from the Telehealth Accelerator Program, I brought together an interdisciplinary research team of faculty from the College of Nursing, Howard University and the community to design a telehealth intervention for women who experience preeclampsia during the 12 weeks after baby is born,” Cramer explains. “The study has a unique emphasis on digital advertising, as first we are testing the effectiveness of two different recruitment ads on social media.”
Cramer adds: “I hope to combine my personal experience with more programming, capacity building and interdisciplinary research in maternal health and digital media to benefit students at Marquette looking to improve their communication skills in the health care environment and beyond.”
