Ashley Archiopoli,

WSCA Health Communication Interest group seeks submissions for the 2018 Convention to be held February 15 – 19, 2018. Submissions should explore any aspect of health communication from health behaviors, interpersonal relationships within the health care context, community health initiatives, health policy, and the like. The interest group encourages submissions that align with the convention them: Mindfulness and Communication. Program planners describe mindfulness as the practice awareness of the present with simultaneous non-judgement of the self or others. Various interpretations of the theme are encouraged.

The interest groups will accept competitive papers, works in progress, and panel proposals. All submissions should be sent to Dr. Ashley Archiopoli, by September 1, 2017, no later.

I.COMPETITIVE PAPERS

  1. Authors are encouraged to submit papers to the interest groups for competitive selection. Papers may employ any humanistic, scientific, and/or other methodology(ies) and may address theoretical developments, critical analyses, disciplinary issues, pedagogical issues, and/or research advancements.

Submit each paper to only one interest group. (NOTE: Not all interest groups sponsor competitive papers. Therefore, authors should contact interest group planners prior to paper submission.)

Competitive Papers should not: (1) have been presented at another conference or convention; (2) have been published; or (3) have been accepted for publication.

  1. Submitted papers should include the following:
  1. A title page that includes the paper’s title; names, affiliation(s), email address(es), phone number(s) of all authors; and audio-visual requests. Equipment availability is extremely limited and expensive. See the WSCA policy on Audio-Visual Equipment at Conventions in the Policies and Procedures Manual on the WSCA web site at
  2. On a separate page, include a 100-200 word abstract of the paper (with the paper’s title appearing above the abstract);
  3. A maximum of 30 pages of text;
  4. No information in the paper that identifies the author(s) beyond that which appears on the title page.
  1. Debut Award: The WSCA Executives Club Debut Award is made to the author (or co-authors) of a paper presented at the convention “who have not presented a paper at a state, regional, national or international convention, or published in any academic journal.” Papers presented at student-only conferences are exempt from this requirement. All authors of a co-authored paper must meet these eligibility requirements for a paper to be considered a Debut Paper. Papers eligible for the Debut Award should be marked “DEBUT” in the upper-right-hand corner of the title page. Please also indicate whether each author is a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral student. Only one debut paper per interest group should be forwarded for consideration.
  1. Student submitters should be marked with “STUDENT” in the upper-right hand corner of the title page. Please also indicate whether each author is a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral student.

II. RESEARCH IN PROGRESS

  1. Research in progress will be accepted, but these papers will only be scheduled on high-density panels.
  1. Submissions Include:
  2. A title page that includes the paper’s title; names, affiliation(s), email address(es), phone number(s) of all authors; and audio-visual requests. Equipment availability is extremely limited and expensive. See the WSCA policy on Audio-Visual Equipment at Conventions in the Policies and Procedures Manual on the WSCA web site at
  3. On a separate page, include a 100-200 word abstract of the paper (with the paper’s title appearing above the abstract);
  4. A maximum of 10 pages of text;
  5. No information in the paper that identifies the author(s) beyond that which appears on the title page.
  1. Research in progress is not eligible for awards.

III. PROGRAM PROPOSALS

A.Program proposals should focus on a unifying theme relevant to research, theory, or instruction in the area of the sponsoring interest group. Programs may consist of a chair, individual presenters, and a critic/respondent in a traditional conference format. However, debates, roundtable discussions, performance activities, or other unique formats are encouraged. Innovative program proposals, especially those that provide opportunities for interaction among participants and attendees, are encouraged. Programs co-sponsored with other interest groups are also welcome. Programs that relate to the convention theme, “Mindfulness and Communication” are encouraged.

B.Program proposals must contain the following:

  1. Thematic title of the program;
  2. Names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and affiliations of all participants;
  3. Title and brief description of each presentation;
  4. Equipment needed for the program. Equipment availability is extremely limited and expensive. See the WSCA policy on Audio-Visual Equipment at Conventions in the Policies and Procedures Manual on the web site