The study and practice of health communication have never been confined to the classroom context, as health communication is inherently practice-oriented while being simultaneously based in theory. In this article, Teresa Thompson, editor of "Health Communication" journal for over 30 years, reflects on the interrelationships between communication and pedagogy. According to Thompson, the goal of all health communication research is educational, in that investigation should be focused on changing health related behaviors and communication within health care contexts. Thus, teaching and learning are foundational to health communication educators' work. Though she emphasizes that instructional communication does not occur exclusively within the classroom. There is much promise for collaborative studies focused in a variety of nonclassroom settings in upcoming research related to communication teaching, learning, and health.