The pandemic has inspired more students to apply for graduate-level degree programs for public health, with a particular emphasis on health crisis communication studies, according to a report released May 20 by the Association of Schools and Public Health Programs.

As COVID-19 cases decline and vaccinations increase, hospital marketing teams have the opportunity to broaden their messaging and refocus their strategies.

Below are six healthcare marketing campaigns launched recently by health departments, nonprofits, the federal government and private companies.

Nine popular dating apps will offer incentives to users who are vaccinated against COVID-19 as part of the White House's goal of getting 70 percent of adults at least one shot by July 4, The Hill reported May 21.

Virtua Health's recent marketing campaign aimed at increasing mammogram screenings drove a 350 percent increase in scheduled screenings and more than $750,000 in service line revenue. 

In the last decade, hospital marketing teams have increasingly focused on transparency. For many hospitals, part of transparency is displaying patient reviews on their website.

Moderna, Pfizer, Regeneron and Eli Lilly are using television, radio and social media ads to promote COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, although they don't mention their products by name, The Wall Street Journal reported May 16.

Facebook is trying to remove misleading anti-vaccine messaging, but the tech giant is finding that by the time an anti-vaccine profile picture frame has been removed, several others have popped up.

When Americans need to find care, the first place they usually go is Google. With hospitals' ratings and reviews often affecting healthcare consumers' decision about where to seek care, what options are available when a patient writes a misleading or dishonest review?

Twelve people are responsible for 65 percent of anti-vaccine misinformation on social media, according to a recent study conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Many parents who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 are apprehensive about vaccinating their children, The New York Times reported May 12.

To craft successful strategies, health system marketing and communications teams need to be well-informed about their organizations' holistic operations and maintain collaborative relationships with other departments.

The COVID-19 pandemic pushed ahead a very big shift that was already trickling into the healthcare industry, which is digital health and virtual engagement.

Facebook has become a go-to for pharmaceutical companies looking to target their drug advertisements to users who suffer from a specific illness, according to a May 6 report by The Markup.

Consumers increasingly expect to have user-friendly digital interactions with their healthcare providers, so it’s imperative to ensure your organization’s digital front door is strong and engaging. Otherwise, your organization may not be meeting consumers’ needs.

The Massachusetts attorney general penned a letter May 3 to CVS, Walgreens, Costco and other pharmacies asking them to disclose their data collection practices on people seeking COVID-19 vaccines and their connection to marketing efforts. 

From their thoughts on crafting an authentic brand voice to combating COVID-19 misinformation to executing a strong digital front door strategy, here are six key quotes about healthcare marketing and communications that hospital executives recently shared with Becker's Hospital Review:

U.S. advertisers are on pace to spend $11.36 billion on streaming TV commercials in 2021, but some roadblocks are preventing companies from monitoring their target reach, according to a May 4 Bloomberg report.

Despite more women becoming chief marketing officers in 2020, the profession saw a drop in overall racial and ethnic diversity, according to a recent report from executive search firm Spencer Stuart.

The average tenure of a chief marketing officer in 2020 fell to 40 months, the shortest it has been since 2009, according to a recent report from executive search firm Spencer Stuart.