PWA2 - Building Public Trust in Health Centers: Strengthening Health Literacy and Quality Health Information in a Digital Age

Session Description: Health centers play a vital role in delivering trusted, equitable care to medically underserved populations. Yet the digital health information ecosystem is rapidly evolving and often undermines trust in health systems and public health interventions. Misconceptions and low-quality content erode confidence in health interventions, undermine adherence, and widen health disparities. Rebuilding public trust requires that health centers strengthen their role not only as providers of care but also as reliable stewards of quality health information. This session explores how health centers can lead efforts to restore trust, improve health literacy, and safeguard communities against misleading or false information.

The session will bring together experts, including from the Nature Medicine Commission on Quality Health Information for All, to present a roadmap for integrating quality health communication into whole-person care models. They will share a framework for advancing health literacy. Panelists will discuss evidence-based policy strategies to strengthen the equitable dissemination of health information across communities and illustrate how embedding communication practices into clinical workflows, workforce training, and community partnerships can reinforce trust and improve health outcomes.

The session will explore opportunities and risks of digital technologies including AI, to improve information delivery while addressing ethical, legal, and fairness considerations. Participants will leave with actionable strategies, policy insights, and a resource toolkit to strengthen their role as trusted providers, employers, and partners of choice. By embedding quality communication into everyday practice, health centers can deepen community trust and reinforce their essential role in advancing fairness and whole-person care.