Healthcare Communication Strategies

Jonathan S. Berek is a distinguished physician-scientist who serves as the Laurie Kraus Lacob Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, where he has made transformative contributions to gynecologic oncology and healthcare communication since 2005. After completing his education at Brown University, Johns Hopkins Medical School, and Harvard Medical School, he established himself as a renowned expert in gynecologic oncology and surgical innovation. As the founding Director of Stanford Women's Cancer Center, he pioneered one of the first programs combining breast and gynecologic oncology with translational research and genetics services. His research spans immunology, immunotherapy, and clinical trials for ovarian cancer treatments. Berek's academic influence extends through his widely-adopted textbooks, including "Berek & Hacker's Gynecologic Oncology" and "Berek & Novak's Gynecology," alongside over 330 peer-reviewed publications. In 2019, he founded the Stanford Center for Health Communication, focusing on effective medical communication and combating health misinformation. His leadership roles include serving as Department Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2005-2017), Past President of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, and Executive Director of the Stanford Health Communication Initiative. His exceptional contributions have earned him prestigious recognitions, including Lifetime Achievement Awards from both the American Cancer Society and the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. Through MedArts Films and the Stanford Center for Health Education, he continues to advance medical communication and education while improving patient care outcomes.

Seema Yasmin stands at the intersection of medicine, journalism, and public health as an Emmy Award-winning journalist, physician, and Director of Stanford's Health Communication Initiative. After training in medicine at the University of Cambridge and journalism at the University of Toronto, she served as an officer in the CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service, investigating disease outbreaks across the United States. Her unique career path led her to become a trusted voice in health communication, serving as a medical analyst for CNN, science correspondent for The Dallas Morning News, and professor at multiple institutions. As a prolific author, she has published eight influential books spanning genres from medical myth-busting to poetry, including "Viral BS: Medical Myths and Why We Fall For Them" and "If God Is A Virus: Poems." Her journalism has earned prestigious recognition, including being a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2017 and receiving multiple grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. At Stanford University, she directs research on health misinformation and information equity while teaching multimedia storytelling to medical students. Recently appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine committee, she continues to combat disease misinformation through innovative communication strategies. Her work appears in leading publications like The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Scientific American, establishing her as a leading authority in translating complex medical information for public understanding.