Pauline C. Hamel

Title: Adjunct Faculty

Degrees: B.S., Physical Therapy, Northeastern University, Boston Bouve College
M.Ed., Education/Rehabilitation Administration, Northeastern University Graduate School of Education
Ed.D., Administration, Training, and Policy, Boston University School of Education

Courses: Introduction to Health Communication (MET CM 781)
The American Health Care System for Health Communicators (MET CM 750)

Pauline C. Hamel, Ed.D, PT has been teaching in the Master of Science in Health Communication program at Boston University since its inaugural semester in the Fall of 2008. Prior to this, she was a Clinical Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Physical Therapy Department at Northeastern University’s Bouve´ College of Health Sciences, in Boston, MA., where she was responsible for doctoral level clinical education internship placements, student mentoring, advisement, contract negotiations, and recruitment/development of physical therapy clinical sites across the country. She continues to teach as adjunct faculty in Northeastern’s Health Sciences Department. For over 25 years, Dr. Hamel’s professional career has included numerous roles as professor, clinician (physical therapist and rehabilitation/ geriatric specialist), administrator, public speaker and consultant in both academia and the health care industry.

Dr. Hamel earned a Doctor of Education degree in Administration, Training, and Policy from Boston University’s School of Education in 2006 with her dissertation entitled Communication and Health Literacy: A Changing Focus in Physical Therapist Education. She received a Master’s Degree in Education/Rehabilitation Administration from Northeastern University’s Graduate School of Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Northeastern University’s Boston Bouve´ College. Prior to her work at Northeastern University, she was an Associate Clinical Professor at Boston University’s Sargent College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, co-developed/co-taught an interdisciplinary geriatric course at Harvard Medical School, and designed/taught numerous other courses on subjects that include  health communication, health literacy, communication skills for health professionals, health care ethics, the American health care system, health promotion and wellness, management and fitness assessment of older adults, community health care trends, psychosocial aspects of health and illness, service learning, and professional development seminars. Dr. Hamel has also taught in London for Boston University’s International Programs and directed the university’s Educational Resource Center.

Dr. Hamel has also worked and consulted with patients/clients of all ages (with a specialization in older adults) in acute and subacute rehabilitation, community health, and home care settings in Boston, Cape Cod, and the New England area. She is currently a member of the American Public Health Association and the American Medical Writer’s Association. While a member of the Education, Geriatric, and Health Policy/Administration Sections of the American Physical Therapy Association, she presented her work on health communication, health literacy, and geriatric rehabilitation at national and regional conferences, including the American Physical Therapy Association’s national conferences, expositions and combined sections meetings in San Francisco, Denver, San Antonio, and Boston;  as well as the Institute of Healthcare Advancement (IHA)’s National Health Literacy Conference in Irvine, CA, and the Medical Education for the 21st Century/Teaching for Health Equity conference in Havana, Cuba. Additionally, she has provided interviews on various areas of expertise, including a recent podcast on intergenerational health communication.

Ongoing Research:

Dr. Hamel’s research and consulting interests include interdisciplinary and intergenerational health communications, health literacy, the American health care system, patient safety and the prevention of medical errors, public health, clinical education, health promotion, older adult and women’s health, and professional development and training.

Dr. Hamel’s recent national and regional communication and health literacy presentations include:

Additional Resources:

Advice for New Students: Just as students learn from their professors (hopefully!), teachers also learn from their students, so I heartily encourage new MSHC students to bring a spirit of collegiality, creativity, and adventure to our program, and share not only your personal and professional goals and aspirations with faculty and classmates, but also what you know from your own life experiences. Today’s health communications students bring an incredible vibrancy, wealth of knowledge and technology, and professional experience from both the communications and healthcare environments to our virtual, but highly interactive classrooms.  We are coming together in this dynamic and emerging field at one of the most exciting and exhilarating times in our nation’s history. By integrating your own commitment and hard work with our faculty’s quality instruction, new media, ongoing discussion and networking, and the tremendous tools, resources, and support offered by the program, Boston University’s MSHC graduates will be the leaders in the field who will surely define and shape the future of Health Communication. Welcome Aboard!