NACCHO staff attended the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media in Atlanta from August 19-21. This year’s conference explored the theme, “What’s Your Story?” and the majority of sessions covered the importance of storytelling in health promotion and prevention. Numerous concepts presented at the conference will be used to help optimize NACCHO’s storytelling initiatives and health communications efforts overall. Additionally, staff attended breakout sessions on gamification and simulation to help inform development of the new MRC Connect application; the use of digital platforms to foster communities of practice; and social media best practices.
The closing plenary featured former interim CDC director and 2013 Public Health Preparedness Summit plenary speaker Dr. Richard Besser, who highlighted the importance of open communication during the H1N1 response in 2009. Staff also received an update on the Ebola outbreak during lunch on August 20.
