About us

Franklin Apfel Franklin Apfel MD MHS is Managing Director and founding partner of World Health Communication Associates Ltd. Previously, Franklin has worked as Head of Communications for the WHO Regional Office for Europe (Copenhagen), Primary Health Care Fellow of the King’s Fund (London), Regional Director Central and Eastern Europe Project HOPE (Bratislava), and a General Practitioner and medical director/CEO of California Health Leadership Inc. (Ukiah). Franklin has five children, 2 cats and enjoys cooking, hiking and reframing.

Contact: franklin@whcaonline.org

The World Health Communication Associates (WHCA) works to improve health by helping public health advocates and organisations acquire the knowledge, savvy and resources to enable their messages to stand out and positively shape health choices, behaviours and perceptions in local, national and global information marketplaces. WHCA focuses exclusively on health and environmental issues and does no product promotion. The Associates are an independent network of active, strategically-placed communicators, with practical experience in health and environment reporting, investigative journalism, policy advocacy, intergovernmental and non-governmental public and press relations, international conference organisation and cross-border campaigning.

 

WHCA Core Activities

  • Conference communications. We help develop communication strategies and provide on-the-ground support for press activities before, during and after events.
  • Training. We provide on-site and virtual training in individual, organizational, national and cross-border media advocacy. We develop training tools and host an interactive website at www.whcaonline.org.
  • Networking. We negotiate partnerships and alliances which link clients to relevant communication networks, knowledge and resources.
  • Cross-border campaigning. Locally-based WHCA associates coordinate and customise campaigns in selected information marketplaces.
  • Fund raising. We work with clients to find third-party support for their communication activities as well as identifying ways of shifting existing resources.

WHCA Core Clients/Partners

  • World Health Organization (WHO)
  • European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
  • International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO)
  • International Council of Nurses (ICN)
  • World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA)
  • Johnson & Johnson