Student event explores media influence on women's health

March 8, 2010 – The Student Sub-Committee of the McMaster Health Forum hosted a public event featuring noted Canadian physician Marla Shapiro, to mark International Women’s Day on March 8.

Dr. Shapiro, an author and health consultant for Canadian news programs, explored how media coverage of women’s health issues can have a major impact on public sentiment, particularly regarding pharmaceuticals.

She provided an inside look at how the different types of media make decisions about which health topics to cover, and provided several examples of how that coverage significantly influenced opinions and decisions about health care.

Her talk was followed by a panel discussion featuring Pat Campbell, CEO of Echo: Improving Women's Health in Ontario, a provincial organization that promotes equity and improved health for women, and Shari Graydon, a writer and consultant who works to help individuals and organizations communicate effectively about education, health and social justice issues. There was also a question and answer session. The presentation was the Forum’s second Student-Led event in the Dialogue and Debate series.