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07/21/2026
2027 ECA Convention Health Communication Interest Group Call for Submissions
Call for Submissions
Health Communication Interest Group
118th Eastern Communication Association Annual Convention
Conference Theme: Full Circle
Hyatt Regency, Reston, VA
March 30–April 4, 2027
Submission Deadline: October 9, 2026, 11:59 PM PST
For the first time in 16 years, the Commonwealth of Virginia will host the ECA Annual Convention. The 2027 convention will be held at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Fairfax County — an area where discourse shapes national dialogue, diverse communities converge, and history unfolds. The theme, "Full Circle," invites reflection on cyclical ideas, relationships, and professional journeys.
The Health Communication Interest Group invites paper, panel, and round table submissions that engage creatively and rigorously with the Full Circle theme.
Suggested Theme Prompts for Health Communication:
- How have public health communication campaigns and strategies come full circle in the wake of COVID-19, chronic disease, and emerging health crises?
- In what ways do foundational models of health communication (SMCR, Extended Parallel Process Model) remain relevant to contemporary health challenges?
- How can health communication scholars revisit the relationship between community trust and medical authority – a cycle visible across generations?
- What does a full circle approach to health literacy – from patient education to systems advocacy and back – look like in practice and research?
Paper Submission Guidelines
Completed papers that report original research, provide an extensive literature review, or showcase some other form of scholarship are invited. Papers should be a maximum of 25 double-spaced pages (excluding title page, abstract, references, and appendices), comply with the APA 7th edition guidelines, and be submitted as a PDF. Remove all identifying information (author name, university affiliation) from the document file before submitting.
When submitting a paper, complete the following Attendee Interactive fields:
- Title
- Author/s
- Abstract
- Categories: Indicate if student and/or debut paper.
- Additional Information:
- Scheduling & Special Requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling.
- Documents: Upload Main Document (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.)
- At the bottom of the cover page, please include the following statement of professional responsibility: In submitting the attached paper, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this paper if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
Panel/Round Table/Workshop Submissions Guidelines
We welcome submissions for a variety of programs including thematic paper panels, roundtable discussion panels, and other creative formats that support the convention theme. Submitters are highly encouraged to include participants from more than one institution.
When submitting a panel, complete the following Attendee Interactive fields:
- Title
- Chair/Respondents
- Abstracts: Add individual presentation titles, descriptions, and presenters
- Panel Description
- Rationale
- Documents: Upload any relevant documents. (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.)
- In the document, please include the following statement of professional responsibility: In submitting the attached proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
- Additional Information:
- Scheduling & Special Requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling.
When submitting roundtable/workshop proposals, complete the following Attendee Interactive fields:
- Title
- Participants: Enter Chair and Featured Expert/s information
- Round Table Description (100 words or less)
- Rationale
- Documents: Upload any relevant documents. (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.)
- In the document, please include the following statement of professional responsibility: In submitting the attached proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
- Additional Information:
- Scheduling & Special Requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling.
- Target Audience: Describe the intended audience, including who would most benefit from attending.
Technology A/V Availability
The 2027 Convention will be equipped with technology capabilities. A projector, screen, sound, wireless mouse and slide advancer, and Wi-Fi will be available in most breakout rooms. Submitters will be asked to request technology, if needed, as part of the submission. Presenters must supply their own laptop. Google Slides and PowerPoint templates featuring the convention theme and logo are available on the convention tab of the website. We encourage all attendees to take full advantage of these resources to create engaging presentations!
Additional Information
Please note that a paper or panel should only be submitted to one interest group for consideration.
The Health Communication Interest Group at ECA utilizes Attendee Interactive for all submissions and blind reviews, accessed by this link https://ww4.aievolution.com/eca2701/
Please contact Katie Neary Dunleavy at dunleavy@lasalle.edu if you have questions about the submission process. For additional information about the convention, including short courses and other programming, please see the ECA website available at www.ecasite.org.
Convention Acceptance Notifications: January 2027
