State Hygienic Laboratory heading image.
Strategic Communications
University of Iowa employee and graduate student Robyn Miessler-Kubanek stands by the interactive display she created for the UI Mobile Museum.
University of Iowa employee and graduate student Robyn Miessler-Kubanek stands by the interactive display she created for the UI Mobile Museum.

Ebola, fracking, measles, arsenic in drinking water and a Newborn Screening children’s book are some of the public health news shared with state and national media outlets.

The Office of Strategic Communications serves as the lead communications section for the agency, and develops the focus and themes for external messaging. It is the primary interface between the Hygienic Laboratory and the local, state and national media; the University of Iowa communication portals; and other external publications. It provides crisis communications during environmental and public health emergencies and manages the Hygienic Laboratory’s electronic and social media accounts.

  • Appointed to the Genetic Alliance Steering and Advisors board, and the Consumer and Community Work Group.
  • Created an annual report that highlights areas of specialty and volume of testing.
  • Designed and produced a monthly newsletter, marketing materials, a testing guide book and other collateral materials to highlight expertise and activities.
  • Redesigned the Disease Control Division’s and Environmental Health Division’s sections of the website, expanding access to the menu of tests.
  • Partnered with the UI School of Journalism and Mass Communication in a graduate student capstone project for an interactive display in the UI Mobile Museum.
  • Created a branding campaign, logo and supporting materials for the Center for the Advancement of Laboratory Science.
  • Implemented the online payment capabilities for the website.