PhD
Associate Professor
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Prevention and Control
Area of Interest
Allison Lazard’s research focuses on how visual and interactive design influences the perceptions and impact of health communication. She uses communication and health behavior theories to identify and evaluate visual strategies to increase the effectiveness of health communication efforts. Partnering with content experts, Lazard has examined the impact of visual and interactive message design for variety of applied health topics, including: designing icons to communicate harms of smoking, evaluating website designs for tobacco prevention and control, and the impact of pictorial warnings; evaluating the impact of implicit (visual) and explicit (text-based) claims in food marketing; leveraging visual metaphors to increase engagement with mental illness messages; tailoring interactive prenatal health education for secondary audiences (men); and using design cues to increase the feeling of being with others (social presence) with cancer prevention and survivorship apps. Lazard is interested in creating new partnerships to study how we can optimize the delivery of critical health information to have the greatest impact on health outcomes.
Awards and Honors
- American Academy of Advertising Dissertation Proposal Competition Award, 2015
- Texas Advertising Continuing Fellowship, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014
- Tracy-Locke/Morris Hite Endowed Presidential Scholarship for Advertising Studies, 2014
- Doctoral Honors Seminar Invitee, National Communication Association, 2014
- Texas Advertising Continuing Fellowship, The University of Texas at Austin, 2013
- Pre-emptive Graduate Fellowship, The University of Texas at Austin, 2012
News and Stories
Text messaging proves effective in communicating about colorectal cancer screening, promoting shared decision-making
A study by UNC researchers has demonstrated that text messaging is an effective and well-received tool to communicate about colorectal cancer screening.
Though concerned about COVID-19, cigar smokers are smoking more, survey finds
Published survey results from Sarah Kowitt, PhD, MPH, and Adam Goldstein, MD, MPH, found that more than twice as many cigar smokers reported increased tobacco use since the pandemic’s onset.
Goldstein to use $2.7M NCI grant to develop, test warnings for little cigars, cigarillos
The National Cancer Institute has awarded University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center researcher Adam Goldstein, MD, MPH, a five-year, $2.7 million grant to develop more effective health warnings for little cigars and cigarillos. Nearly 12 million U.S. adults reported smoking cigars within a single month, according to 2016 national survey, and little cigars …
Cigarillo packaging can influence product perception, study finds
Researchers led by UNC Lineberger's Adam Goldstein, MD, and Clare Meernik, MPH, surveyed 2,664 young adults who were current users, never users, or past users of little cigars and cigarillos, finding cigarillo packs with colors and containing a flavor descriptor were rated more positively for taste and smell.
