UNM Communication & Journalism Professor and health scholar Tamar Ginossar recently received a prestigious career award for her extensive public health communication work.
The American Public Health Association (APHA) will present Ginossar with the Everett M. Rogers award Monday, Nov. 7.
This award was created to honor people who advance the study and practice of public health communication.
Its namesake, Rogers, a UNM Professor Emeritus who made significant contributions to this area of communication, through innovative practices at UNM. He is hailed as the author of the diffusion of innovations theory, which became the second most-cited social sciences book. Rogers, who taught and retired at UNM, helped launch its doctoral program in communication with a special emphasis on cross-cultural and intercultural contexts.
Ginossar lives up to the tall list of accomplishments in her extensive experience and variety of works.
She received this award in recognition of her 20-year career in which she advanced the field of health communication in public health through research, teaching, and mentoring, as well as service.
“I came to New Mexico as I was drawn to applied research and health communication in multicultural settings, and this award brings it a full circle,” she said. “I am honored to join the respected list of previous awardees.”
Before joining the department of Communication and Journalism in 2011, Ginossar held a research faculty appointment with the UNM School of Medicine.
Her contributions to research include issues regarding public health communication and cancer, infectious diseases, the environment, and science.
“This focus was formed by my life-long interest in inclusive innovations and my commitment to research that advances communities’ well-being,” she said.
Her current research program expands on health communication in diverse cultural contexts, including the role of communication technologies in the dissemination of information, misinformation, and advocacy.
“I am grateful to UNM for supporting my research and my teaching, to my strong collaborators, my amazing students, the generous colleagues who nominated me for this award, and to my family for their love and support,” Ginossar said. “I am particularly indebted to the patients, community members, healthcare providers, and stakeholders who agreed to participate in research.”
She will be honored Nov. 7 at the APHA’s annual meeting, in Boston at 4:30 p.m. MT. You can view the agenda and stay up to date with the nominees at APHA’s website here.