Figuring out what ails you and how to cope can be a daunting task. But the road to good mental, emotional and physical health is available to those who are informed.

Maria Brann, associate professor in the Department of Communication Studies, and her Health Communication Dissemination class focus on arming the public with the tools they need to make those informed decisions about their health.

On Tuesday, April 15, the class will host its first health communication fair from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Mountainlair on the Downtown Campus. Students, faculty and staff will be able to learn about leading healthier lifestyles through guided activities and displays.

“This health fair is completely student generated,” Brann said. “Undergraduate and graduate students have worked together to really address the needs of the community.”

Comm 509: Health Communication Dissemination is a dual-level course that focuses on health messaging. During the semester, students conduct health communication research, develop interventions and present their outcomes to community groups, schools, and at conferences and workshops.

“The materials are all original, and all messages have been tested with target audience members and adapted based on their feedback,” Brann added.

Among the interactive displays at the fair will be a booth with medical models allowing participants to feel for breast and testicular cancer lumps so that they’ll better understand self-examinations. There also will be quick, stress reducing techniques and time-management aids available to help with hectic, end-of-the-semester schedules.

“It has been a great learning experience for the students in class, and now the entire campus community will get to benefit from their hard work,” Brann said.

For more information on the fair please contact Maria Brann at maria.brann@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

gm/04/10/14

CONTACT: Devon Copeland, Director of Communication and Marketing, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
304-293-6867, Devon.Copeland@mail.wvu.edu

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