When Comms is a Matter of Life and Death: Preparing for the Next Pandemic
This timely and urgent panel is designed for every PR professional and student who may one day face the "life or death" decision-making of public health communications.
Public health communicators today are not only dealing with impending new pandemics, but also with massive cuts to the public health agencies, rising tides of disinformation, and sharp declines in public trust.
But we can learn from the last five years.
You will be among the first in the industry to hear the results of the 2025 Edelman Trust Special Report on Healthcare. Jen Hauser, Global Co-Chair of Edelman’s health practice, will show how public opinion has been shaped by Covid-19. And a panel of other health experts will join her in exploring how you as a communicator can break through the noise and win back public trust.
A hybrid event
Thursday, April 24, 2025, 6pm–7pm ET
REGISTER to attend via ZOOM — Attendance is FREE
REGISTER to attend live, general $25
REGISTER to attend live, student $10
Event location will be emailed to in-person attendees prior to the program date.
Dr. Glen Nowak is Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, where he is also a professor of advertising and public relations and co-director of the Center for Health & Risk Communication. In this role, he oversees research initiatives and interdisciplinary projects focused on health and risk-related communication, including public health campaigns, media strategies, and patient-provider messaging.
Dr. Nowak has extensive experience in health and risk communication, having spent 14 years at the CDC, where he served as Director of Media Relations and later as Communications Director for the National Immunization Program. His work at the CDC involved leading major public health messaging efforts, crisis communication, and social marketing campaigns to enhance public understanding of health risks and interventions.
Before his time at the CDC, Dr. Nowak was a faculty member at the University of Georgia, where he taught courses in advertising, social marketing, and health communication. Throughout his career, he has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles and led workshops on risk communication, media relations, and public health messaging.
Dr. Nowak holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communications and an M.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a B.S. in Economics and Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His expertise in public health communication, social marketing, and media relations makes him a sought-after speaker and consultant on effective health messaging.
MODERATOR
Dr. Glen Nowak
Director, Center for Health and Risk Communication, and Professor, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Georgia
KEYNOTE
Dr. Scott Ratzan
Editor, Health Communications, Distinguished Lecturer, City University of New York
Jen Hauser, MPH
Co-Chair, Global Health, Edelman
Dr. Brooke McKeever
Chairman, Professor and Chair, Department of Advertising & Public Relations, University of Alabama; editor, of Public Relations for Public Health and Social Good (Routledge, 2025)
Elyse Margolis
Global President, Healthcare, Real Chemistry
Thanks to our Sponsors
The PR Museum wishes to recognize the ongoing support of our Founding Partners Edelman and PRSA; our Program Underwriters Burson and APCO Worldwide; and our Sustaining Sponsors, Amazon, Google, Honeywell, Muck Rack, Enbridge, Zeno, Hunter:, The Wallace Foundation, The Grossman Group, the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and The University of Florida. Promotional support for this event is also provided by CommPRO. Technical support provided by PRSA.
Founding Partners
Underwriters
Sustaining Sponsors
