The John P. McGovern Lecture was established in the Moody College of Communication in 1983 by a gift from the John P. McGovern Foundation. The endowed lectureship enables Moody College to invite a leading figure in communication to deliver a lecture related to health policy or the practice of health communication.
John P. McGovern, M.D., was a celebrated physician, educator, author, medical historian, philosopher, philanthropist, and humanitarian based in Houston. According to the American Medical Association, he was "one of the giants in American medicine." His international reputation in various fields was reflected in honorary degrees from 30 colleges and universities. He died in 2007.
Upcoming Lectures
![Headshot of Katelyn Jetelina, Ph.D., MPH, a white woman with long dark hair in a white blazer and black shirt smiling at the camera with her arms crossed.](https://moody.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2024-01/katelyn-jetelina-mcgovern-showcase.png?itok=I6ma4Uoy)
March 26, 2024
McGovern Health Communication Lecture
Katelyn Jetelina, Ph.D., MPH
Katelyn Jetelina, Ph.D., MPH, is an epidemiologist and scientific communicator. She is the co-founder of the Health Trust Initiative and is a Senior Scientific Advisor to several government and non-profit agencies, including the White House, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Resolve to Save Lives. In addition, Dr. Jetelina is the publisher of Your Local Epidemiologist — a public health newsletter that "translates" ever-evolving science to the public, reaching over 300 million views. Dr. Jetelina has received numerous national awards, including National Academies of Science and a medal of honor from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Katelyn resides with her husband and two toddlers in San Diego, California.
Past Lectures
![Headshot of Andy King, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the University of Utah. A white male, bald, wearing a plaid button down shirt smiling at the camera.](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-08/andy-king-mcgovern-showcase.jpg?itok=LwNeOdhk)
Challenges of Studying Cancer Communication in a Changing Health Communication Ecosystem
Andy King, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of Utah
![Headshot of a white woman with dark hair, glasses, a blouse, and blazer smiling for the camera.](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-05/maria_bottazzi_showcase.jpg?itok=8QzaCo27)
A Discussion with Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi
Maria Elena Bottazzi, Ph.D.
Sr. Associate Dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine
Baylor College of Medicine
![Headshot of Ashani Johnson-Turbes](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-03/ashani_johnson-turbes_showcase.jpg?itok=JjtSYT_-)
“Let’s Talk about a New “E” Word”: Equity Science…and Health Equity, and Big Data”
Ashani Johnson-Turbes, Ph.D.
Vice President and Director
NORC's Center for Equity Research
![Headshot of Jay Bernhardt, 2023 McGovern Lecture in Health Communication speaker](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-04/jay-bernhardt_past.jpg?itok=TAeebCOl)
Final Thoughts on Health Communication at UT: A Look Back with Dean Bernhardt
Jay M. Bernhardt, Ph.D., MPH
Dean of Moody College of Communication
The University of Texas at Austin
![Headshot of Heather Voorhees, featured speaker for the 2023 McGovern Lecture Series](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-01/heather-voorhees_past_1.jpg?itok=XB0FhQYk)
"Why Won't You Listen to Reason?" Understanding and Combatting Interpersonal Health Misinformation
Heather Voorhees, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Montana
![Headshot of Scott Gottlieb, 2022 McGovern Lecture speaker](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-01/scott_gottlieb_past.jpg?itok=6eDjNX6x)
Communicating Amidst Uncertainty: Lessons from COVID-19 and Next Steps
Scott Gottlieb, M.D.
Senior Fellow
American Enterprise Institute
![Headshot of Octavio Martinez, 2021 McGovern Lecture speaker](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-01/octavio_martinez_past.png?itok=r-U2VkjV)
Health Communication: An Integral Tool in Eliminating Disparities and Achieving Health Equity
Octavio Martinez, Jr., M.D., MPH
Executive Director
Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
![Headshot of Siddhartha Mukherjee, 2017 McGovern Lecture speaker](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-01/siddhartha_mukherjee_past.jpeg?itok=NGm01YRb)
Using Narratives to Make Complicated Health Issues More Accessible
Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Columbia University
![Headshot of Seema Yasmin, 2016 McGovern Lecture speaker](/sites/default/files/styles/utexas_image_style_120w_150h/public/2023-01/seema_yasmin_past.jpg?itok=KcvbK_wF)
From Ebola to Zika: Lessons Learned from Reporting on Public Health Emergencies
Seema Yasmin, M.D.
Director
Stanford Health Communication Initiative