ABSTRACT
Complex health-related crises can arise at any time and affect multiple communities, either initially or over time. Often, as in the case of food- and water-borne illnesses, radiation and chemical exposures, bioterrorism, medical product safety issues, and infectious diseases, these crises bring a multitude of communication challenges. This chapter identifies and describes the challenges facing crisis communication scholars and working professionals. The chapter highlights major crisis realities facing frontline communicators and the implications of those realities for crisis communication collaborations. Knowledge of these realities is essential. One, they are often barriers to academic-professional collaboration. Two, to be valid and useful, it is essential that the research and theory building efforts of crisis communication scholars be reflective of frontline realities. The chapter concludes with suggestions regarding how to foster academic-professional collaboration related to complex health-related crises. It also identifies the possibilities and opportunities where such collaborations would advance both scholarship and professional practice.
