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Dr. Teresa Wagner, associate professor of health administration and health policy at The University of North Texas Health Science Center College of Public Health, was honored with an Appreciation Award for Global Service at the recent Global Health Literacy Summit of the International Health Literacy Association, held in the Netherlands.

The summit was the first in-person global meeting of its kind, providing an opportunity for organizations and individuals worldwide to raise awareness about the importance of understandable health information.

Many deaths and events of serious harm occurring in health care are preventable but keep happening for several reasons. The reasons may include social determinants of health, such as a lack of access to healthy food, limited access to health care and low income, as well as culture, language, education and low health literacy. Helping people access and understand health information can improve, and even save, their lives.

Dr. Wagner serves on IHLA’s executive board of directors and was part of the global summit’s planning committee. She also led the North American Strategic Planning Session where experts from the United States, Mexico and Canada convened to outline areas of health literacy advocacy focus for the next three years.

In addition, Dr. Wagner moderated a panel discussing the role of libraries in health literacy; co-hosted a workshop with Dr. Kate Taylor, Assistant Dean in the HSC College of Nursing, on using health literate materials to facilitate advance care planning; presented a solo workshop on teaching Community Health Workers to use AI to abate health disparities and better serve their communities; and was highlighted at a “Meet the Author” session featuring her health literacy chapter in the book, “Cultural Humility in Libraries.”

IHLA is a non-governmental, not-for-profit, member-based organization, dedicated to creating an international voice for health literacy and raising awareness worldwide. Evidence-based research and practice, partnership and collaboration, professional development, respect, equity and empowerment are all a part of IHLA’s approach.

“The IHLA summit brought home the fact that health literacy is a global issue,” Dr. Wagner said. “Health Literacy is celebrated across the world each October, and was recently recognized by Governor Greg Abbott through a proclamation designating Health Literacy Month in Texas.

The proclamation notes that, “In the most literal sense, it is vital that medical information – from medication warnings and post-operation instructions to hospital bills and dialogue with doctors – be presented in an accessible, practical manner.”

“Difficulty accessing or understanding health information can undermine one’s health, emotions and finances and can likewise contribute to rising health care costs by introducing inefficiencies into our health care system,” the Governor wrote.

“Each year,” he said, “the month of October is set aside to shed light on health literacy and celebrate the individuals and groups that advance it. During this month and hereafter, we must strive to improve our health literacy. By so doing, we will strengthen our overall health care system and pave the way for the best possible patient outcomes.”

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