Everyday Words for Public Health Communication

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This document lists frequently used terms in public health materials and their common, everyday alternatives in plain language sentences. Original sentence examples come from materials on CDC.gov. Some words and phrases may have multiple meanings, so check the context of use before you substitute.

Year of publication

2026

Author

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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The Open Academy x ERDERA accompanies patient advocates by offering rare-disease specific comprehensive training programmes that empower advocates with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to engage with different stakeholders as equal partners.
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On 3–4 June, EURORDIS–Rare Diseases Europe and Orphanet convened the rare disease community at ECRD 2026 in Prague around a shared call for coordinated European action, including the forthcoming European Blueprint for Rare Diseases.
The 2026 Open Academy x ERDERA Schools in Barcelona brought patient advocates and early-career researchers together for practical training on medicines development, translational research and meaningful participation in rare disease research.