Hollywood, Health and Society Director Sandra de Castro Buffington deliverd a special briefing at the Roybal campus of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta on May 22, exploring strategies, case studies and best practices used to incorporate public health messages into television storylines, and how these messages extend beyond TV.
Also in Atlanta, Buffington was the guest speaker March 23 at a HIV/AIDS presentation sponsored by the Prevention Communication Branch of CDC, where she talked about “Stories That Change Lives: Increasing Accuracy in TV Storylines and Measuring Impact on Viewers.” The prevention program develops and manages strategies and resources for HIV prevention with state and local public health departments, community-based organizations and other nongovernmental organizations. The CDC, according to its website, provides leadership in helping control the HIV/AIDS epidemic as a part of its overall public health mission. It estimates that about 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV, and that 21% of these people do not know they are infected.
Buffington’s visit to the agency’s Roybal campus came after the complex recently underwent a dramatic renovation that transformed a worn collection of buildings into world-class, sustainable facilities that include laboratories, lab support, office and special space.
Above: A two-story atrium at renovated CDC Roybal Campus filled with space and light.