Ștefan-Augustin Lazăr

What inspired your interest in public health?

I have always had a strong interest in both the health and creative fields. When I started university and enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, I realized that I wanted to continue developing my knowledge and career in this area. At the same time, my passion for creativity led me to pursue a Master’s degree in Advertising, where I discovered how communication and creative strategies can be powerful tools for promoting health. Since then, my interest in health promotion has continued to grow. I have had the opportunity to work on health-related campaigns and connect with professionals in the field, which has helped me better understand the impact that effective communication can have on people’s health and well-being. These experiences have strengthened my desire to combine my background in public health with my creative and communication skills and to continue contributing to the field of health promotion.

What public health issue or area are you most passionate about, and why?

Overall, I am particularly interested in health literacy and in finding ways to make complex health information more accessible and understandable. I enjoy translating complex health topics into clear, simple language that can be easily understood by the general population, while also adapting messages to the specific needs of different groups. I am especially interested in understanding how different communities interpret health-related language and information, and how communication can be tailored to their experiences, perspectives, and level of understanding. I find it meaningful to explore how the way we frame a health issue can influence how people perceive and engage with it, and I enjoy finding ways to present information in a context that feels relevant and easy for a particular audience to understand.

Briefly describe the TIPH Global project you are supporting and your role in it.

As an ambassador for this project, I primarily focus on researching health-related misinformation and disinformation circulating in the public space, with the aim of identifying, addressing, and debunking common myths and misconceptions. I also use my graphic design skills to create engaging, modern, and accessible visual content that can effectively communicate reliable health information to the public. In addition, I contribute to the creation of video content by recording and editing videos focused on debunking health-related myths and presenting evidence-based information in a clear and engaging way. Through these activities, I aim to make accurate health information more accessible while helping people navigate the large amount of information they encounter online and in everyday life.

What do you hope your project will contribute to your institution, community, or the broader public health field?

Through the work I have done so far, I have strengthened collaborations with other institutions and NGOs working on health-related topics. We have shared knowledge, resources, and communication materials, while also building trust and creating stronger connections between organizations. Over time, these collaborations have developed into an ecosystem where we regularly come together to exchange ideas, discuss our experiences, and explore how we can further develop and sustain our work. We also focus on finding new ways to engage more people and expand the impact of our initiatives. I believe that creating these long-term partnerships is essential for ensuring that our efforts remain sustainable and continue to reach and benefit a wider audience.

What are your future study or career interests?

With a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a Master’s degree in Advertising, I aim to pursue a PhD in Communication, with a particular focus on the use of medical comics as a tool for health communication and health literacy. This is an area I have already started exploring through my work within TIPH, where I developed an initial concept around using comics to communicate health-related topics in a more accessible and engaging way. The idea was well received, which encouraged me to explore its potential further. Through my PhD, I would like to develop and scale this concept by researching how medical comics can be effectively used to simplify complex health information, engage different audiences, and improve health literacy. My goal is to combine my background in public health and advertising with research in communication to develop an innovative and evidence-based approach that could have a wider impact in health promotion.