about me
Jennifer Manganello, Ph.D., M.P.H.
I am a Professor at the University at Albany School of Public Health. I am a health communication scholar who uses theories, concepts, and methods from the fields of public health and communication. My research focuses on health literacy as well as the effects of media on attitudes, behaviors, and policies that put people at risk for negative health outcomes. Much of my work focuses on children, adolescents, young adults and parents, and I often seek to include groups impacted by health disparities. More recently, I have emphasized how health literacy and health communication can help support youth with disabilities and their families.
My main area of expertise is health communication. My work in this area has primarily focused on the effects of media and/or technology use on health attitudes, knowledge, and behavior, health information seeking among youth and parents, and identifying best practices for the dissemination of health information to the general public, including through news and social media. It has also involved a focus on health literacy. I also examine the use of digital technology for health information and health interventions, also known as eHealth.
I have published my work in journals such as the Journal of Health Communication, Pediatrics, Public Health Management and Practice, Journal of Children and Media, and Public Health Nutrition.
Before starting at UAlbany, I was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania. I earned my Ph.D. from the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
I am a Professor at the University at Albany School of Public Health. I am a health communication scholar who uses theories, concepts, and methods from the fields of public health and communication. My research focuses on health literacy as well as the effects of media on attitudes, behaviors, and policies that put people at risk for negative health outcomes. Much of my work focuses on children, adolescents, young adults and parents, and I often seek to include groups impacted by health disparities. More recently, I have emphasized how health literacy and health communication can help support youth with disabilities and their families.
My main area of expertise is health communication. My work in this area has primarily focused on the effects of media and/or technology use on health attitudes, knowledge, and behavior, health information seeking among youth and parents, and identifying best practices for the dissemination of health information to the general public, including through news and social media. It has also involved a focus on health literacy. I also examine the use of digital technology for health information and health interventions, also known as eHealth.
I have published my work in journals such as the Journal of Health Communication, Pediatrics, Public Health Management and Practice, Journal of Children and Media, and Public Health Nutrition.
Before starting at UAlbany, I was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania. I earned my Ph.D. from the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Courses taught
HPM525: Social and Behavioral Aspects of Public Health (online and in-class)
HPM619: Communication and Public Health (online and in-class)
HPM669: Health Communication and Health Disparities (online)
HPM569: Health Literacy
SPH343: Mass Media and Health Behavior (undergraduate)
Services
I am available for guest lectures, workshops, podcasts, media interviews, consulting, and research collaborations. Whether you are another researcher or conference planner, or if you represent an academic institution, healthcare organization, government agency, or non-profit group, I am happy to talk with you about how we can work together. I am also happy to talk at libraries or schools.
A partial list of topics related to my expertise includes:
I am available for guest lectures, workshops, podcasts, media interviews, consulting, and research collaborations. Whether you are another researcher or conference planner, or if you represent an academic institution, healthcare organization, government agency, or non-profit group, I am happy to talk with you about how we can work together. I am also happy to talk at libraries or schools.
A partial list of topics related to my expertise includes:
- Health literacy (what it is, how we measure it)
- How to make health information easier to understand
- Health literate organizations
- Media effects on youth
- Health information seeking
- Dissemination of health information
- Digital technology and health
- Social media and health
- What is public health