Gevrey Trunnell

Public Health Communication in the Museum Nonprofit: a Case Study Approach Gevrey Trunnell

Public health communication in a museum context is a vastly untapped resource for the promotion of health and wellness among communities. Due to the perceived obstacles that public health topics appear to be associated with, museum-based health promotion is not as prevalent as it might otherwise be. However, several museums have dismissed the idea that public health topics are an impediment; and have instead embraced pressing health concerns as important topics conveyed to the public through innovative use of communication media. Drawing on theory from the fields of Public Health, Communication, and Museum learning, four museum case studies are found to employ advanced communication technique in their display of pro-active topics and play central roles in their communities. Patterns, evident from the case studies, suggest that museum- based health promotion is found to be successful when five principles are followed. It is suggested that museums consider these points when presenting public health topics, and that regardless of the mission of a nonprofit organization, it is important to educate the public about health.