Education for the Health Communication Professional: A Collaborative Curricular Partnership

This article provides the context and rationale for a unique partnership of a communication college and medical school synergistically combining resources to create a master's degree program specifically in health communication. The architects of this revolutionary educational approach to health communication at Emerson College and Tufts University School of Medicine offer suggestions for administrators and professors interested in advancing health communication education. A slightly modified version of the actual proposal of a unique academic relationship to educate leaders in the field of health communication is discussed in relation to the target audience, curriculum, and career opportunities. Given the groundbreaking nature of the program, it is presented as an exemplar, with a copy of the proposal approved by each institution's Board of Trustees.