Likely Healthy

filmigeek asked: hi there! Just wanted to say I love your blog! I've just applied to a bunch of MPH programs, and I'm hoping to do similar work with health media. I haven't come across too many people interested in this, so I'm glad I found your tumblr! Any words of wisdom for people interested in this field?

Thank you for the kind words!

The MPH program I’m taking right now is really focused on epidemiology and biostatistics - and you really need to know how to interpret and critically analyze data in order to succeed in the field - even if your focus is entertainment education or media-based health promotion.  These skills are necessary to translate health information for the public.

In terms of developing your health promotion skill set, may I recommend:

• The Kaiser Family Foundation - They work to embed health messaging in popular media and TV shows (i.e. MTV, FOX, CBS). http://www.kff.org/about/hcmp_intern_mp.cfm
• Norman Lear Center - Hollywood Health and Society program.  Similar to the Kaiser Family Foundation.  http://www.learcenter.org/html/projects/?&cm=hhs/past
• Nedra Kline Weinreich is a Social Change Marketing expert and has published a how-to health promotion book called “Hands-On Social Marketing”.  I have it and highly recommend it.
• Also, watch the health promotion 101 lecture on YouTube.  I took a full health promotion and communication course and this is an excellent summary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fPqQvc6vAg
• Look into the the Sabido Methodology of embedding health messaging in TV programs, such as Spanish-language soap operas in Latin America, which has proven to be very effective in motivating behavior change.
• Also, get familiar with behavior change models, the PRECEDE/PROCEED model, LOGIC Modeling, and forming a Creative Brief for health promotion work.  All these skills are crucial in the field.

This is just a start, so I hope this helps and inspires you to continue looking for more resources!  Good luck!