by Tara Beverly

Nothing can slow down Carl J. Denbow, Ph.D. Whether he was teaching journalism at Marshall University, director of public relations at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, working for WOUB radio, serving in the U.S. Navy or director of communication for OU-COM, Denbow puts his heart and soul into his work. He is a co-founder of the Family Health® radio program and now serves as the program’s special media project director.

How long have you been here at OU-COM?

Denbow: I started in the fall of 1978; this past September it was 26 years.

What is your educational background?

Denbow: I received by bachelor of science degree in journalism from Ohio University in 1968, my master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1969 and a Ph.D. in mass communication from Ohio University in 1973.

What do you like best about your job?

Denbow: I really enjoy working part time as the project director for the Family Health® radio show, as well as working with on the Family Medicine newspaper column. I like these two because there is a great deal of interesting content. I am constantly learning new things about the medical field, which I really enjoy.

What year was the radio show started?

Denbow: Family Health® was started in 1981. The idea for the show came out of brainstorming session that a WOUB producer, Ed McDonald; Fred Jensen, D.O., and I had.

What led to the development of the show?

Denbow: There were very unusual circumstances that led to the development of the show. Ed had a show, Appalachia Health Help, prior to this for several years. To get ideas for the show he would call me, and I would recommend people on the faculty that had expertise in the topics that he was doing stories on. Dr. Jensen was a pathologist on the medical faculty, but he also had radio background. The three of us came up with the idea of having a short-form — 2-1/2 minute and tightly scripted — radio show. The show began and has been a success ever since.

What are the keys to the success of the radio program?

Denbow: Family Health aims at providing information about current medical topics that people are asking their family physicians about as well as to answer specific medical questions from the listeners. We try to pick topics that are of general interest and those which are being discussed in the lay-oriented health care newsletters at the time. This seems to make the show successful; we are now in our 20^th season. 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, WAIS and WJKW.

What direction do you think the program will take when you do leave permanently?

Denbow: I hope that doesn’t happen any time soon. When it does though, I’m hoping that we have a strong enough infrastructure for the program so that it can continue indefinitely. One of the things we have had is an annual battle for funding. The radio show is not very expensive to run, but there are production, distribution and other costs that must be covered. I would like to leave the program with a stable funding base. Ideally, I would like to find someone that could take over my job after working with me for a year. It takes a lot of hard work.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Denbow: I am an officer in the Athens County Amateur Radio Association. I also enjoy researching genealogy. I am co-editor of a family quarterly newsletter called The Denbow Diaspora with my cousin James Denbow, a professor of archaeology at the University of Texas, and I have served as a beta tester for a computer program called “The Master Genealogist.” I love to study and read about history. I also enjoy computer programming. I’m also a relatively new grandpa and enjoy seeing my granddaughter, Solvéig, when she comes to visit. Finally, I’m writing a novel about the Civil War that’s loosely based on my family history here in Southeastern Ohio.

What contributions do you feel OU-COM has made to Athens County and Southeastern Ohio?

Denbow: After having worked for OU-COM for such a long time, I know it is a very special place. Our mission and role here is very unique. This school was put here to provide health care to underserved families in Ohio. We have done this very well. A high percentage of our graduates go into family practice. In fact, many of our graduates practice in Southeastern Ohio. OU-COM has made a tremendous difference in health care in this area through our graduates, clinical services and outreach programs. I feel very honored to have played a small part in this success.