New journal section tackles AI, ethics, and digital health communication

New York, NY | January 21, 2026: The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is pleased to announce the launch of AI, Health, and Digital Spaces, a new section of the peer-reviewed Journal of Health Communication, International Perspectives. The section responds to the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital platforms on how health information is created, shared, and understood, and marks an important step forward in advancing scholarship at the intersection of technology and public health communication.

The section is edited by Amelia Burke-Garcia, PhD, MA, director of the Center for Health Communication Science and the Health Communication AI (HCAI) initiative at NORC at the University of Chicago. Dr. Burke-Garcia brings more than two decades of experience working at the intersection of digital innovation and health behavior change, and her leadership reflects a long-standing commitment to advancing evidence-based, ethical, and inclusive approaches to health communication.

As AI increasingly shapes public discourse and health decision-making, the field of health communication is at a pivotal moment. AI tools now make it possible to analyze vast streams of real-time conversation, tailor messages with unprecedented precision, and scale health communication in ways that were previously unimaginable. At the same time, these developments raise urgent questions about ethics, inclusion, trust, and the evolving role of human judgment in health communication practice and research.

This section features an editor’s note by Dr. Burke-Garcia that charts a new scientific agenda for the field, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between public health communication experts and AI researchers. It provides a dedicated scholarly home for work that integrates domain knowledge with technical innovation.

“The launch of this section reflects both the opportunities and responsibilities that come with AI’s growing role in health communication,” says Dr. Burke-Garcia. “It is essential that research in this space is grounded in public health values, ethical rigor, and a clear understanding of the communities we aim to serve.”

“As the journal enters its fourth decade of publication, we are pleased to address the challenges to advance scholarship at the intersection of technology and public health communication,” says Scott C. Ratzan, MD, founding editor-in-chief of the Journal of Health Communication and co-director of the master’s program in Health Communication for Social Change at CUNY SPH.

The creation of a new section on AI, Health, and Digital Spaces aligns with the shared missions of CUNY SPH and the Journal of Health Communication to advance rigorous, impactful scholarship that informs public health policy and practice. By providing a dedicated forum for high-quality research on emerging technologies, the new section supports CUNY SPH’s commitment to promoting healthier populations through excellence in education, research, and service, while also reinforcing the journal’s longstanding role as a top-tier publication, shaping the field of health communication. Together, these efforts emphasize a shared commitment to advancing evidence-based approaches that improve health outcomes and strengthen public trust in an increasingly digital communication landscape.

The section is accessible online here. Researchers and practitioners are encouraged to engage with the journal, setting the foundation for future contributions exploring AI-driven health messaging, digital trust, quality information, autonomy, and the future of health communication in the digital era.

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Media contact:

Ariana Costakes
Communications Editorial Manager
ariana.costakes@sph.cuny.edu

About CUNY SPH

The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) is committed to promoting and sustaining healthier populations in New York City and around the world through excellence in education, research, and service in public health and by advocating for sound policy and practice to advance social justice and improve health outcomes for all.

About the Journal of Health Communication, International Perspectives

The Journal of Health Communication publishes research on the communication of health information globally and developments in the field of health communications.

About NORC at the University of Chicago

NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, nonpartisan research organization that delivers insights and analysis decision-makers trust. NORC has been a pioneer in research and data science for more than 80 years. Our rigorously derived insights have informed the program, policy, and personal decisions of government agencies, businesses, organizations, and members of the public. And our methodological innovations have helped our clients ask new questions, include new populations, and further their missions.