Family Health Radio Program Extends Reach Overseas
Contact: Bryan Gibson, Family Health producer, (740) 593-4979
ATHENS, Ohio (September 21, 2000) -- The radio doctor is making house calls across the ocean. Family Health, a radio series produced by Ohio University that focuses on health-related topics, is extending its broadcasts to Europe. The program is a collaborative effort of the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the College of Communication's Telecommunications Center.
"We have received word that two radio stations in Wales are airing Family Health on a regular basis," said Bryan Gibson, the show's producer. "Xtreme Radio, which is based at the University of Wales, Swansea, began airing the program on two AM frequencies. Also, the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, has joined the list of overseas institutions that use Family Health programs to teach English to international medical students."
"The audio segments on the Family Health site are a wonderful source for authentic and relevant listening practice," said Joan McClean, section head of the English for Medicine program at the University of Edinburgh, who became familiar with Family Health through its Web site, www.fhradio.org. She teaches English to doctors, medical students and others for whom English is a foreign language.
The program already is used by Kanazawa Medical University in Japan and at the School of Executive English in Argentina to help students learn English.
"Although this isn't the original purpose of the series, I'm glad that so many find the programs useful," Gibson said.
About 12 million people tune in daily to the nearly 300 stations that broadcast the program in the United States. Locally, it is carried by WOUB-FM weekdays at 9 a.m., WOUB-AM at 12:25 p.m., WAIS in Nelsonville at 12:30 p.m. and WJKW in Athens at 5:15 p.m.
Another 2 million international listeners have been taking the radio prescription. International affiliates carrying the program include U.S. Armed Forces Radio Network, KSAI-AM in Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands and Family FM in Montserrat, British West Indies.
Each month, radio affiliates receive a compact disc that contains 20 2 1/2-minute programs. Harold C. Thompson III, D.O., assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, is the host and Carl J. Denbow, OU-COM director of communication, is the writer and coordinator of the program. Assisting with the project are four students: Todd Johnson, graduate assistant; Bridget Kroll, marketing; Ryan Wilson, Web site design; and Steven Gutelius, audio assistant.
Family Health is now in its 20th season of providing useful health information to radio listeners. The series began in 1980 to provide answers to commonly asked medical questions and utilizes Ohio University's resources in health information and broadcast communication.
Family Health is a registered trademark.
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