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Health communication plays a vital role in reducing misinformation and influencing health behaviours, like vaccine uptake.
The Communicable Diseases and Immunisation Conference, to be held in Brisbane/Meanjin on 11 – 13 June, is an opportunity for delegates to learn new ways of managing misinformation in disease control efforts.
Dr Joe Smyser, CEO of US nonprofit The Public Good Projects, will be speaking at CDIC on the growing field of infodemiology (short for information epidemiology), which identifies the gaps between what experts know and what people do.
Dr Smyser recently shared some reflections on his career in health communications, and the value of showing up to work with the intent of helping others.
What’s been your career trajectory to date, and why did you decide to lead The Public Good Projects?
I’ve been working in public health for a little over 20 years, starting in the US Peace Corps in the Kingdom of Eswatini. When I returned to the US, I worked for various health agencies at the local, state, and national level.
During that time I pursued a masters in public health, then my doctorate in public health, and finally did my postdoctoral work at the US CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Within public health I’ve always worked in health communications.
I found that health communication programs were strong in theory but weak in practice, so in parallel to what I would call “traditional” public health jobs, I always worked as a consultant for media and technology companies.
What I learned there benefitted my public health practice tremendously.
I’ve worked for Google, Tumblr, and in the music and entertainment industries. For example, I led marketing and partnerships for OutKast’s reunion tour, with Big Boi.
I was teaching at Columbia University when I learned of The Public Good Projects (PGP), and I immediately felt like it presented an opportunity to finally use both sides of my experience and network.
I’ve been at PGP for eight years now and I don’t plan on ever leaving.
PGP works through partnerships, creating large and complex health communications programs that require a native understanding of how corporations and health systems function. It fits me very well.
What have been your proudest professional achievements or successes?
When I was younger I cared a lot about accolades.
I thought about how I would be remembered, and I had awards and news stories that featured me framed on my office wall.
I remember believing that it would be wonderful if a public health fellowship was named after me.
There is absolutely no meaning in such things. It’s an empty, unfulfilling pursuit that misses the entire point of life, and certainly of public health.
I feel very lucky that as I’ve aged I’ve gained the wisdom to understand this.
So to answer the question, professionally I am most proud of simply being a person that can show up to work every day with the intent of helping others.
I help in the ways that I can, just as my organisation does. That’s it, and that’s everything.
What would you like delegates to gain from your presentation about infodemiology?
Infodemiology is a growing field within public health that brings some new tools and methods with it. We really need that right now.
It doesn’t matter what country, or city, you’re in.
There is growing discontent everywhere, exacerbated by the pandemic, and there are massive changes underway due to climate change.
If we don’t adapt to our new circumstances, we will be ambulance chasers.
Running from one disaster to the next with no underlying strategy and limited effectiveness.
Infodemiology gives us some ways we can catch up. It’s not the answer, but it’s part of it.
Was there anything else you wished to add?
Australia’s public health community is renowned the world over for its innovations. You are leaders to a lot of people you’ve never met. I’m happy to be your partner and to contribute any way I can.
Hear more from Dr Smyser at the Communicable Diseases & Immunisation Conference. Register now.
Picture: Supplied / Dr Joe Smyser
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