#56-Why is communication important in genetic care?

Dr. Marleah Dean Kruzel explores the critical role of communication in healthcare, emphasizing how effective dialogue between clinicians and patients can improve health outcomes, reduce errors, and foster trust. She shares personal stories, research findings, and practical tips for enhancing health communication, especially around uncertainty and complex medical information.

Key Words: healthcare communication, patient-provider interaction, medical uncertainty, storytelling in science, health literacy, genetic counseling, medical errors, patient engagement, science communication, healthcare research

Topics Covered:

Importance of communication in healthcare

Impact of uncertainty on patient decisions

Role of storytelling in science and medicine

Barriers to effective patient-provider communication

Strategies for improving health literacy and trust

Guest Bio:

Marleah Dean Kruzel (PhD, Texas A&M University) is a professor, researcher, and speaker in healthcare communication. Her research focuses on communication of genetic risk information, has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, and funded by the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. The daughter of a 28-year-old breast cancer survivor and BRCA2 previvor herself, she is committed to patient engagement and science communication. For example, she participated in the CDC’s “Bring Your Brave” campaign designed to educate and inspire young women regarding breast cancer risk, frequently gives community presentations and is featured on podcasts to disseminate her about research results. Dr. Dean Kruzel is also a Scientific Advisory Board member for the non-profits FORCE and My Faulty Gene.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marleah-dean-kruzel-ph-d-02062128/

Here are more resources related to today’s topic: