Knowledge translation and communication
PPHS-614: Knowledge translation, communications, and evidence-informed public health leadership
Course Overview
All health professionals, especially those in public and global health, must learn about media, journalism, communications, advocacy and diplomacy.
Course Description
Why? We are living in an era of epidemics and infodemics. Fake news travels faster than true news. Everything, including junk science, is getting airtime. The public is getting more information from Whatsapp and social media than trusted health agencies and scientists. For example, WHO considers the anti-vaccination movement among the 10 biggest threats to global health.Bad science, combined with poor science communication and reporting, is eroding public faith in research and the deadly rise of anti-science is a scary phenomenon that everyone in medicine and healthcare must learn to manage. With science under attack, scientists have little choice but to step into the limelight. This includes writing in the media, giving interviews, speaking at public meetings, whether it is giving a TED talk, speaking at a neighborhood community meeting, addressing parliament, or delivering a speech at the UN or World Health Assembly. All health professionals must learn about media, journalism, communications, advocacy and diplomacy. They should also learn about how to simplify public health messages, how to engage with media, the public, as well as politicians.Knowledge translation in global and public health is a dynamic and iterative process that includes synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically-sound application of knowledge to policy and programming. This introductory, graduate-level course is designed to provide students with an overview of knowledge translation processes for effective evidence-informed public health leadership and to build knowledge translation, media, communications and advocacy skills. Classes include discussions of background readings, lectures, small group discussions, student presentations, and interactive, hands-on exercises. Several journalists, advocates, policy makers and diplomats will join the class and deliver guest lectures. Hands-on skill development would be emphasized throughout the course.
Public health professionals must engage the public. Communications training is key. (Forbes)
Master of Public Health students publish series of op-eds. (McGill Reporter)