Who Are We and What Do We Do?

The primary goal of the CommUnity Health Action Lab (CUHAL) is to understand and provide feasible, workable solutions to problems through partnerships with affected communities. We aim to improve health across the lifespan in contexts ranging from the healthcare environment, to the community, to the digital web. Our research prioritizes circumstances that can be improved through communication intervention and are experienced within vulnerable communities. We partner with individuals, families, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, social welfare organizations, and across all levels of government.

We engage theory to understand problems and contexts and use field experiences with communities to build theory. Most notably we use information management theories, technology adoption theory, and theories of supportive communication to inform our efforts.

Our recent scholarship is published in Health Communication, Journal of Health Communication, Journal of Applied Communication Research, Journal of Surgical Oncology, Supportive Care in Cancer, American Journal of Clinical Oncology, BMC Women’s Health, and Computers in Human Behavior.

CUHAL Directors:

Dr. Kate Magsamen-Conrad, University of Iowa

Dr. Maria Venetis, Rutgers University