Gun violence is a significant public health issue. The U.S. has more than one mass shooting a day in which four or more people are injured or killed. However, mass shootings are only the tip of the iceberg of gun violence. Among developed nations, the U.S. is an outlier in both gun possession and gun deaths. Gun deaths affect not only the victim…

Using Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free policies on college and university campuses as an example this article discusses these initiatives in the context of the role of health educators and health education programs. Issues raised are ones that health educators need to consider in any intervention effort. While the importance of intervention is well…

The purpose of this paper is to update and enhance the 1989 Association for Health Education (AAHE) Scholar presentation, "Reflections on Directions in Health Education: Implications for Policy and Practice," at the American Association for Health Education (AAHE) National Convention in Boston. It describes and complements the notion of…

There is a growing concern among scientists and educators alike that we are failing in our mission to demonstrate the importance of science and of the scientific method and hypothesis testing. We discuss the alarming rise of misinformation, particularly on the Internet, and the inability of readers, particularly students, to decipher real, valid…

Health care has been an ongoing issue of public concern for decades, well before President Obama took office. Passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, in March 2010 and upheld by a Supreme Court in June 2012. With Republicans now in control of both the House and Senate as well as the presidency, the ACA in its current…

Name changes of university departments that have professional preparation health education programs have been ongoing and significant. This study analyzes changes in the names of health education degree-offering departments between 1974 and 2009. It also discusses the implications for the health education discipline going forward with respect to…

The purpose of this study was to replicate the Notaro, O'Rourke, and Eddy study to rank doctoral programs in health education, incorporating comments from professionals in health education to enhance the ranking study methods. This study used a multiple set of variables weighted by scholars and leaders in the field of health education. These…