2025 National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media

The purpose of this track is to share new concepts and knowledge that would influence theory- and evidence-based practice of health communication science, social marketing, and behavior change communication. This track invites papers that present original research, findings from pilot studies, and results of comprehensive evaluations of health communication and marketing campaigns and programs.  Works discussing emerging trends, new theories, theoretical refinements or theoretical applications, and new conceptual models that can contribute to the success of health communication and marketing programs are welcomed.  Submission to this track should be based on rigorous analysis of data and/or extant literature.

The purpose of this track is to share new ideas about the use of new communication technologies and strategies across the fields of health communication science, social marketing, and behavior change communication.  Abstracts in this track should focus on novel work being done with existing technologies as well as work that utilizes new and emerging applications such as large language models and artificial intelligence. Abstracts focusing on existing technologies must include more than different audiences or focus areas. For example, simply using social media, podcasts or video games for a new audience or public health challenge does not qualify a submission for this track unless there is a truly innovative element in the program or development effort. These should be submitted to a more appropriate track in this conference. 

In the background section of the abstract, authors should explain what makes their tool, technology or program innovative. Abstracts submitted to this track should also emphasize the development strategies and efforts, along with the application of the new tools and technologies. Presentations that are data-driven and that help participants understand and leverage innovations to improve their health communication, marketing, and media programs are encouraged.

The purpose of this track is to share health communication science, social marketing, and behavior change communication discoveries and strategies that effectively reach diverse populations and promote the reduction of health disparities.  This track invites submissions concerning research findings, best practices, and emerging trends that address the needs of historically marginalized and minoritized communities including, but not limited to, racial/ethnic and rural communities, and people living with disabilities.

These abstracts include those that identify and describe health disparities, and that provide examples of models and programs that promote health equity across all segments of the society. In addition, this track welcomes abstracts that focus on the generational differences in communication habits and behaviors and offer ways to meet the communication challenges presented by the generational differences.

The purpose of this track is to share insights into evidence-based health communication science, social marketing, and behavior change communication programs that successfully translate knowledge into practice.  This track invites submissions that contribute to better practice by presenting lessons learned, scalable model programs, or on improving the process by which health communication and marketing programs are managed. 

Presentations of model campaigns should focus on implementation details, contextual information for where the program was successful, and strong evidence for effectiveness.   Abstracts on processes should focus on key elements such as program development, implementation, challenges to program success, and evaluation. Special consideration will be given to presentations that focus on concepts, campaigns or programs that did NOT perform as expected and resulted in lessons learned. These submissions should include a description of the underperforming initiative, the evaluation strategies that helped identify performance problems, and lessons learned, including the solutions that were implemented.