Health Communication Leadership Institute
Networking

Networking

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Innovation

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Management

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Leadership

 

HCLI speaker

What is HCLI

The Health Communication Leadership Institute (HCLI) is the UT Center for Health Communication’s premier professional education offering. In this engaging advanced workshop, current and aspiring health communication leaders will evaluate their leadership practices and explore strategies and best practices for leadership, management, and innovation. Speakers include respected experts from diverse sectors and settings.

Agenda

All times are in CT

Wednesday, June 11

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Check-in and breakfast

9:30 - 9:45 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
Mike Mackert, Ph.D. | Center for Health Communication

9:45 - 10:45 a.m.
Improv for Health Communication: Establishing a Growth Mindset
Shana Merlin | Merlin Works
Rob Milman, M.D. | Texas A&M College of Medicine

10:45 - 11:00 a.m.
Break

11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Finding Meaning at Work, Together
Greg Wallingford, M.D., MPAFF | Dell Medical School

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00-1:30 p.m.
Wastewater Surveillance and Health Comm Lessons
Jennifer Deegan, M.A., MPAFF | UTHealth Houston

1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Application of AI in Public Health Communication
Mike Mackert, Ph.D. | Center for Health Communication

3:00 - 3:15 p.m.
Break

3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Case Study Breakout

Thursday, June 12

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast and networking

9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Fostering Community Engagement and Alignment with Subject-Matter Experts
Shirene Garcia | Steve Hicks School of Social Work

10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Break

10:30 - 12:00 p.m.
Leading without Authority amidst Uncertainty
Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, Ph.D. | The University of Texas at Austin

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Panel: Health Communication Campaigns
Catherine Cunningham, M.S. | Center for Health Communication
Paula Cuccaro, Ph.D. | UTHealth School of Public Health
Christina Thompson | St. David's Foundation

2:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Fostering Creativity in Communication Strategy
Mike Devlin, Ph.D. | Texas State University

3:15 - 4:00 p.m.
Case Study Breakout

Friday, June 13

9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Breakfast and networking

9:30 - 12:00 p.m.
Case Study

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Closing Keynote
David Lakey, M.D. | The University of Texas System

2:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Closing Thoughts and Network Activation
Mike Mackert, Ph.D. | Center for Health Communication

Two attendees of the Health Communication Leadership Institute - a Black woman with short curly hair in a green blouse and black cardigan sitting next to an Asian woman with long dark hair wearing a black and white striped shirt. Both are looking off to the side at someone speaking.

Previous Agendas

HCLI early bird banner
HCLI 2025
June 11-13, 2025

Speakers

 

Headshot of David Lakey, M.D., a older white man with short, dark hair wearing glasses and a suit and smiling at the camera.

David Lakey, M.D.

(he/him) The University of Texas System
Headshot of Shana Merlin, 2025 HCLI speaker, a white woman with long curly hair wearing glasses and smiling at the camera. There is a beige and navy overlay on the photo.

Shana Merlin

(she/her) Merlin Works
A headshot of Dr. Rob Milman, an older white man with short hair in a button-down shirt. The image has a gray and beige overlay.

Rob Milman, M.D.

(he/him) Texas A&M College of Medicine
Headshot of Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, Ph.D., a white person (she/they) with chin-length black hair wearing a black shirt and black leather jacket looking at the camera.

Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, Ph.D.

(she/they) The University of Texas at Austin
Headshot of Catherine Cunningham, CHC Program Manager and 2025 Health Communication Leadership Institute speaker. A white woman with long brown hair in a braid over one shoulder wearing a white blouse, gray blazer, and glasses smiling at the camera.

Catherine Cunningham, M.S.

(she/her) Center for Health Communication)
Headshot of Jennifer Deegan, a white woman with long, dark hair wearing a black blazer smiling at the camera.

Jennifer Deegan, M.A., MPAFF

(she/her) UT Health Houston
Headshot of Mike Mackert, a bald, white man in his 40s wearing a dress shirt and tie and smiling at the camera.

Mike Mackert, Ph.D.

(he/him) Center for Health Communication
Headshot of Shirene Garcia, a Latina woman with short, dark, curly hair wearing a white top and smiling at the camera.

Shirene Garcia

(she/her) Steve Hicks School of Social Work
Headshot of Christina Thompson, a white woman with shoulder-length hair wearing a dark colored sweater and smiling at the camera.

Christina Thompson

(she/her) St. David's Foundation
The image shows Greg Wallingford, M.D., MBA, wearing a dark suit jacket and a light-colored, patterend dress shirt. The background appears to be an indoor setting with blurred elements, possibly windows or walls. The image is in grayscale.

Greg Wallingford, M.D., MBA

(he/him) Dell Medical School
Headshot of Paula Cuccaro, a Latina woman with long dark hair wearing a polka dot shirt.

Paula Cuccaro

(she/her) UTHealth Houston
Headshot of Mike Devlin, a white man with short, dark hair and a beard wearing a light-colored polo and smiling at the camera.

Mike Devlin, Ph.D.

(he/him) Mosaic Creative Solutions
A photo of a Latina woman with short, curly dark hair wearing blue glasses, a blue and red chevron patterned blouse and smiling at another person who is out of focus. In the bottom corner is the reduced registration cost for the 2025 Health Communication Leadership Institute of $850.

Event Pricing

Join us June 11-13, 2025, for an engaging workshop on current strategies and best practices for health communication leadership, management, and innovation.

We are pleased to offer a $850 registration fee for the 2025 Health Communication Leadership Institute. We understand the funding concerns facing many of our peers in public health and health communication, and we hope this adjustment will make it easier for you to join us.

 

Event Details

Dates:
June 11-13, 2025 (optional networking reception June 10, 2025)

Location:
G.B. Dealey Center for new Media
DMC 5.208
300 W Dean Keeton Ave
Austin, TX 78712

Registration deadline:
May 16, 2025

venue map
A combined graphic of the St. David's HealthCare and Texas Epidemic Public Health Institue logos. Both logos are navy blue text with the names of the organizations displayed.

Thank You Sponsors

The Health Communication Leadership Institute would not be possible without our sponsors. Thank you for your dedication to supporting current and aspiring health communication leaders in their professional development.

Contact our events team