Includes bibliographical references and index.

The growth of health communications : a story of consumer power and medical innovation -- Both sides now viewing media through the public relations prism -- Research for health communication -- The communication planning process -- Using paid and shared media in communication campaigns -- A practical guide to ethical health communication -- Health literacy and risk communication -- Health professional associations : finding the balance between profession and business -- Building a national brand for a children's hospital -- Crisis communication in the health sector -- Hospital media relations in a time of change -- An A to Z guide for communicating the launch of a new pharmaceutical product -- The journey to becoming one ascension : building a unified health care brand -- Plan for your health : a public education campaign to build awareness and gain consumer preference -- "It's all coming together" : communication strategy for the Medicare part D national education and enrollment campaign -- Spurring action on heart disease in women : how a nonprofit can strategically partner with a government campaign -- Best bones forever! : lifecycle of a social marketing campaign -- Reaching targeted audiences in an evolving media environment -- The society for women's health research : advocacy and communications at work -- Changing obesity policies and behavioral risk factors through social marketing : case study of the chicago 5-4-3-2-1 go! program -- Health reform : the new era of prevention -- Insuring the uninsured : reaching consumers in the DC marketplace.