Okan Orkan

Prof. Okan Orkan is a Professor of Health Literacy at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), part of the Department of Health and Sport Sciences within the TUM School of Medicine and Health. He holds a doctorate in educational science from Bielefeld University and specializes in health literacy in childhood and adolescence, particularly in educational contexts. His research addresses societal issues like digitalization, media, and infodemiology.

Education: Studied education at the University of Duisburg-Essen, earned a doctorate at Bielefeld University (2020). He is Vice President of the International Health Literacy Association and coordinates the Global Covid-Health Literacy Network. He also leads the Health Literacy Unit at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Literacy.

Research focuses on school-based health literacy interventions, pandemic response strategies, and digital health literacy. Key contributions include the International Handbook of Health Literacy and studies on health literacy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Awards include roles in major health promotion organizations.

Grants and collaborations include projects like GeKoOrg-Schule (organizational health literacy in schools) and HLCA (Health Literacy in Childhood and Adolescence). He advises on global health literacy policies and co-leads initiatives like the Health Literacy and School Alliance.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Health Literacy Unit at TUM, collaborating with international networks like WHO and UNESCO. Current projects include promoting health literacy in schools and addressing infodemics through education.