ABSTRACT
Chapter 4 explores how health communication professionals can apply the whole person perspective to integrate an understanding of the nature of health, integration of healthcare systems, and inclusive high-quality care. Emerging directions in moving beyond the “physician-as-expert” model, self-management of chronic conditions, inclusion of multiple meanings of health and disease, and integrative medicine and complementary and alternative medicine in meeting diverse healthcare needs are examined. The chapter also examines emerging interests in understanding connections between the environment and human-animal relations, and how people communicate health and well-being. Students are challenged to employ the whole person, social justice activism approach to anticipate future health communication challenges, both locally and globally, and to envision diverse ways to meet people’s health needs.
