Experience

Michael Reese Health Trust

• United States
• Philanthropy
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • 2020 - Present

  The Trust is a public grantmaking foundation that incubates, strengthens and advocates for health solutions to ensure all Chicagoans live healthy lives. I serve on numerous committees, including Strategic Planning, Finance, Advocacy and Strategic Communications. The Trust is a public grantmaking foundation that incubates, strengthens and advocates for health solutions to ensure all Chicagoans live healthy lives. I serve on numerous committees, including Strategic Planning, Finance, Advocacy and Strategic Communications.



CommunityHealth

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Board Member

  • 2004 - Present

  As a board member, I serve on the Governance Committee and served as board Vice President. CommunityHealth is the nation’s largest volunteer-based health center, providing primary and specialty care, medications, lab testing, mental health services, and health education at no charge to low-income, uninsured adults in Chicago. As a board member, I serve on the Governance Committee and served as board Vice President. CommunityHealth is the nation’s largest volunteer-based health center, providing primary and specialty care, medications, lab testing, mental health services, and health education at no charge to low-income, uninsured adults in Chicago.



Lundbeck

• Denmark
• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Senior Vice President, Public Affairs

  • 2020 - 2022

  A member of the senior leadership team and member of the North American management group, I served as strategic counselor to the CEO, North American president and senior team on business issues and opportunities; I led a team of 15, managed a budget of $13 million and oversaw federal and state government affairs, patient advocacy, corporate communications and public relations, employee engagement and culture building, and charitable giving. I led work resulting in Lundbeck US being ranked #1 in corporate reputation by patient groups for 5 consecutive years and co-created a data-driven partnership with Mental Health America to identify and address pandemic-driven mental health hot spots. Show less

• Vice President, Public Affairs

  • 2011 - 2020

• Vice President, Communications

  • 2009 - 2011

  Lundbeck acquired Ovation Pharmaceuticals in March 2009.



Ovation Pharmaceuticals

• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Communications

  • 2006 - 2009

  I established the Communications function for this pharmaceutical start-up. Through strategic thought leadership work, corporate brand development and work on the corporate development presentation, I helped position the company for sale to Lundbeck in what was considered one of most successful private equity-backed specialty pharmaceutical investments. The company sold for more than a 7x cash return. I established the Communications function for this pharmaceutical start-up. Through strategic thought leadership work, corporate brand development and work on the corporate development presentation, I helped position the company for sale to Lundbeck in what was considered one of most successful private equity-backed specialty pharmaceutical investments. The company sold for more than a 7x cash return.



Baxter International Inc.

• United States
• Medical Equipment Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President, Corporate Communications

  • 2001 - 2006

  I served as the top communications officer for this $10 billion global company, centralizing the global function into a team of 75. After directing the company through a global product crisis, I secured positive media coverage for how the situation was managed, elevating company reputation and reshaping risk management. I also managed a CEO transition, restructurings and led/launched the global OneBaxter brand platform. I served as the top communications officer for this $10 billion global company, centralizing the global function into a team of 75. After directing the company through a global product crisis, I secured positive media coverage for how the situation was managed, elevating company reputation and reshaping risk management. I also managed a CEO transition, restructurings and led/launched the global OneBaxter brand platform.



G.D. Searle

• Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Public Affairs

  • 1999 - 2000

  I led public relations for global drug launches, including Celebrex® which became the most successful pharmaceutical launch in US history, achieving first year sales of $1.5 billion and 19 million prescriptions. I conducted a promotional campaign that alone delivered $6 million in sales before marketing initiatives launched. Following the merger with Pharmacia, I played a key role in branding the new company. I led public relations for global drug launches, including Celebrex® which became the most successful pharmaceutical launch in US history, achieving first year sales of $1.5 billion and 19 million prescriptions. I conducted a promotional campaign that alone delivered $6 million in sales before marketing initiatives launched. Following the merger with Pharmacia, I played a key role in branding the new company.



MMI Companies

• Plastics Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President, Corporate Communications

  • 1996 - 1999

  I served as a corporate officer for this $400 million provider of healthcare risk management and consulting services (acquired by St. Paul), leading communications, financial reporting, marketing, and advertising. I served as a corporate officer for this $400 million provider of healthcare risk management and consulting services (acquired by St. Paul), leading communications, financial reporting, marketing, and advertising.



Caremark International

• United Kingdom
• Civic and Social Organizations

• Director, Corporate Communications

  • 1995 - 1996

  In this role I developed the company’s first global compliance and ethics training program following an OIG investigation and settlement decree. The program included the TRUST ethical decision-making model that I created. I led a company rebranding initiative that resulted in the company being named named to Fortune’s list of most-admired companies and Business Ethics’ 100 best corporate citizens. Caremark was acquired by MedPartners in 1996. In this role I developed the company’s first global compliance and ethics training program following an OIG investigation and settlement decree. The program included the TRUST ethical decision-making model that I created. I led a company rebranding initiative that resulted in the company being named named to Fortune’s list of most-admired companies and Business Ethics’ 100 best corporate citizens. Caremark was acquired by MedPartners in 1996.



Boots Pharmaceuticals

• Uganda
• Wholesale Drugs and Sundries

• Director, Advertising and Corporate Communications

  • 1992 - 1995

  I led development of sales collateral, product advertising, direct mail, medical congress exhibits and promotion, public relations, executive speeches, media relations and employee communications for the US prescription drug arm of UK-based Boots Company. I created several award-winning employee engagement programs and served as liaison to BASF’s merger committee in Germany after the acquisition. I led development of sales collateral, product advertising, direct mail, medical congress exhibits and promotion, public relations, executive speeches, media relations and employee communications for the US prescription drug arm of UK-based Boots Company. I created several award-winning employee engagement programs and served as liaison to BASF’s merger committee in Germany after the acquisition.



Porter Novelli

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Vice President

  • 1990 - 1992

  I established the Midwest health care group for this global public relations agency and led programming for pharmaceutical companies, professional associations, foundations, managed care organizations, health systems and federal agencies I established the Midwest health care group for this global public relations agency and led programming for pharmaceutical companies, professional associations, foundations, managed care organizations, health systems and federal agencies



Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Media Relations

  • 1985 - 1990

  In addition to leading international media relations for this leading comprehensive cancer center, I helped launch the BE SMART mobile mammography van, including sales and marketing of the program. In addition to leading international media relations for this leading comprehensive cancer center, I helped launch the BE SMART mobile mammography van, including sales and marketing of the program.



Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center

• Manager, Media Relations

  • 1980 - 1985

  I created a national brand for the medical center, landing a leading researcher on ABC-TV’s Nightline program and launching a first-of-its-kind video press release (later commonly referred to as a video news release) that resulted in national news coverage about a groundbreaking prenatal test. I created a national brand for the medical center, landing a leading researcher on ABC-TV’s Nightline program and launching a first-of-its-kind video press release (later commonly referred to as a video news release) that resulted in national news coverage about a groundbreaking prenatal test.