The UAMS Center for Health Literacy continued to demonstrate leadership in health communication through impactful presentations, insightful publications, and prestigious recognitions. The team’s accomplishments throughout the year reflect their commitment to advancing health literacy across various platforms.
At the Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA) 23rd Annual Health Literacy Conference, CHL made its debut with Misty Paschall, MPH, MAEd, CHES®, and Katie Leath, MPH, M.A., taking the stage to emphasize the critical importance of Organizational Health Literacy (OHL). Their presentation focused on how OHL can be seamlessly integrated into health care policies and practices, offering practical insights to help organizations improve their communication with patients. Meanwhile, at the very first Health Literacy Collaborative Summit, Anna-Kate Bogaards, B.A., Reagan Laborde, and Leath presented “Increasing Health Insurance Literacy in Young Adults with Online Learning,” which highlighted CHL’s new online learning module designed to help this population understand their insurance.
Beyond presentations, CHL’s expertise also extended to thought leadership in health literacy through written contributions. The team authored a blog post for IHA titled “How to Write and Evaluate Health Questionnaires.” This piece offers valuable guidance on designing surveys to better assess and improve health literacy, providing a practical tool for professionals in the field.
CHL staff were also recognized for their expertise in plain language and health communication by being selected to judge the 2024 ClearMark Awards, presented by the Center for Plain Language. Leath served as the lead judge, with Anita Bucur, MBA, MPA, Bogaards, and Paschall joining as category judges. Their role in evaluating submissions exemplified CHL’s standing as a trusted authority in plain language best practices. Further underscoring her leadership in the field, Bucur was also invited to judge submissions for the 23rd Annual Health Literacy Conference. In addition, Leath was further acknowledged when she was elected to the board of directors for the Center for Plain Language. Her three-year term started in June 2024.
The team’s contributions to health literacy innovation were also celebrated when CHL was named a runner-up in the Apps category for the ClearMark Awards. This recognition highlighted the team’s success in developing innovative tools that make health information more accessible and easier to understand.
From thought-provoking presentations and insightful publications to leadership roles and award recognitions, 2024 was a year of meaningful impact for CHL, continuing to drive progress in the field of health literacy.