My work
I’m passionate about uncovering stories in unexpected places and amplifying quiet voices. Since 2013, I have worked in communications for nonprofit hospitals in Chicago. Currently, I serve on the Foundation Communications team Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, where I gather compelling stories to inform the public, foster community and inspire philanthropy. My stories, developed with providers and patient families, appear in media coverage, ad campaigns, newsletters, social media, at events and on our blog. In my spare time, I write reviews, news features and human interest stories for the South Side Weekly.
Previously, I worked at La Rabida Children’s Hospital as the in-house writer and editor for the safety net pediatric hospital. I have also worked at Sinai Health System on the public affairs team, supporting community initiatives in underserved neighborhoods. I double-majored in writing-intensive English and women’s and gender studies at Marquette University, graduating in 2012.
Media
I'm a firm believer in the public service that results from solid partnerships between PR teams and the media. When it comes to storytelling in this capacity, my strengths include building relationships with reporters to generate press leads, managing stories from pitch through publication and collaborating as part of a cross-functional team to deliver an inspiring message.
4-year-old girl gets the best birthday present: A new heart
TODAY covered the story of Adelyn Hughes, a young girl who spent a year in the hospital and 10 months on the wait list for a new heart, highlighting the expertise and innovation of Lurie Children’s Ventricular Assistance Device program.
Durbin Highlights Buffalo Grove Resident's Health Care Story As Third Day Of Supreme Court Nomination Hearing Begins
During the Supreme Court nomination hearing for Judge Amy Coney Barrett in October 2020, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, shared the story of Lurie Children’s brain tumor patient Jared Ray, who had access to lifesaving treatments thanks to protections provided by the Affordable Care Act. I wrote the story that Senator Durbin shared at the hearing.
Like with the Cubs, Anthony Rizzo’s contributions to Lurie Children’s Hospital won’t be forgotten
When Chicago Cubs’ first baseman and Lurie Children’s supporter Anthony Rizzo announced his move to the New York Yankees in August 2021, I coordinated interviews between WGN and our oncology care team members to share messages of gratitude for his philanthropy through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation.
Chicago Adventurer Continues Fundraising Mission With Mount Everest Climb
In 2019, brain tumor survivor Alex Pancoe began his quest to achieve the Explorers Grand Slam by scaling the highest mountain on each continent and traversing across each pole while raising $1 million for brain tumor research at Lurie Children’s, the hospital that saved his life. I planned a press conference and reception with current patients before he departed for Mount Everest, securing coverage from the Chicago Tribune, ABC, NBC, CBS and WBBM.
On Girl’s First Birthday, Her Family Gives Back to Other Sick Children
CBS 2 featured a story on the launch of a new care coordination program for families with medically complex newborns at Lurie Children’s, a story I managed from pitch to publication.
Volunteers at Children's Hospital Give One-on-One Care to Kids
I worked with NBC to create a segment that highlighted a special new volunteer program in July 2017, resulting in a surge of volunteer applications.
Chefs Serve Thanksgiving Dinner at La Rabida Children's Hospital
Since 1960, professional chefs have donated their food, time and talents to serve Thanksgiving dinner for families at La Rabida. I coordinated on-site coverage for the Chicago Tribune, NBC, CBS and WBBM.
Mount Sinai Medical Center Eyeing New Way to Treat Trauma
Bound by the shared prevalence of violence in their communities, a Chicago hospital and an Israel trauma center partnered to launch the Chicago Trauma and Resiliency Center. I pitched this program and managed publicity at the launch event.
Mount Sinai Hospital Resumes Normal Operations After Lockdown
After Mount Sinai Hospital received a threatening phone call in July 2014, I served on the crisis communications team that disseminated information internally and externally.
Events
At the heart of every celebration is a story. I identify and develop compelling stories to highlight at major events, write speeches, and manage pre- and post-event publicity.
Lurie Children’s Ball
I am responsible for researching, writing, and overseeing video productions highlighting the patient stories at the center of the Children’s Research Fund Ball benefiting Lurie Children’s. In 2021, we featured the story of a young girl cured of sickle cell disease. The event raised $4 million, a record for the annual Children’s Ball.
Radiothon
Once a year, Lurie Children’s patient families take over the Chicago airwaves to share their stories. I have been responsible for sourcing and developing the stories from all areas of the hospital for the highly successful Radiothon campaign in partnership with our corporate giving team since 2018. In 2021, Univision began a similar campaign, Milagros Por Los Niños, showcasing the stories of our Spanish-speaking families and the work of our community health leaders.
Dinner on the Bluff
The annual Dinner on the Bluff and Pro Amateur Golf Championship, hosted by the Founders’ Board of Lurie Children’s, is the most successful annual fundraising event in the Hospital's history, with cumulative proceeds totaling more than $20 million. In 2021 I identified the patient story — about Greta, a baby girl who went into heart failure during the pandemic and was saved by a heart transplant — at the center of the program, and developed a script for her parents and cardiologist.
Run for Gus
Gus Evangelides died of a brain tumor just three months shy of his second birthday. Now, his inspiring legacy lives on through Run for Gus, an annual 5K run and 1-mile walk event in support of pediatric brain tumor research. Since 2018, I have identified and provided content for our patient champions, like Abbey and Jaysen, whose stories inspire participation and donations at the event.
Day of Joy
When Starlight Children's Foundation and the Joy in Childhood Foundation partnered to fund an accessible kitchen renovation at La Rabida Children's Hospital, I organized a check presentation, scripted the program, arranged the attendance of patient families, supported media relations, coordinated video production, led tours, and coordinated social media coverage among participating organizations.
Historic bill signing
Governor Pat Quinn visited Sinai Community Institute to sign a bill expanding health and wellness services in communities throughout Illinois in July 2014. I served on the team that coordinated this high-profile event with the Office of the Governor and supported media relations.
Creatives
I enjoy contributing my editorial, interview, design and video editing skills to creative team efforts.
Newsletters
I lead a team of content creators as the managing editor of every child update, Lurie Children’s suite of monthly digital newsletters for over 180,000 donors and patient families.
Ranked #1 for a Reason
I co-authored the script for a commercial featuring a Lurie Children’s cardiologist as part of a marketing campaign emphasizing the hospital’s top ranking in Illinois by U.S.News & World Report.
Thank You, Volunteers
I scripted, coordinated filming and edited the thank-you video shared with hospital volunteers and on social media during National Volunteer Week in April 2022.
All for Kaleb
I coordinated interviews and oversaw video production of the delicate story of Kaleb and his mother Yessica, who benefited from the expertise and support of the Child Abuse Pediatrics program at Lurie Children’s. The video was shared with donors to inspire philanthropy in support of the program.
All for Mylah
To spread the word about the arrival of Lurie Children’s new Chief of Nephrology, I identified a compelling patient story from the hospital’s Kidney Disease prorgram, coordinated video shoots with the patient family and clinicians, and scripted the piece.
All for Jaquez
In light of the pandemic, Lurie Children’s hosted a virtual, month-long event challenging the public to take 10,000 steps every day in January 2022 in support of the philanthropy-funded Family Services department. To inspire participation, I identified the story of Jaquez, a young man who lost his father during the pandemic and formed a lifesaving bond with a Family Services team member while he waited in relative isolation for a new heart.
A Mother’s Healing Touch
I coordinated video shoots and provided scripting for a short video designed for social media on Mother’s Day, telling the story of a mother’s mindful efforts to bond with her extremely premature son in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Keeping Molly Happy and Healthy While Waiting for a New Heart
To celebrate Heart Month, I coordinated a video following a day in the life of Molly, a young girl waiting for a heart transplant, and conducted interviews with her family and care team for a piece showcasing the work behind the heart transplant program’s exceptional outcomes.
Writing
Away from the hospital, I keep an ear to the ground for stories that need telling. I love spending time with unique people and seeing how they work, cope and celebrate in their communities. I’m a big fan of Studs Terkel-style interviews, and I’m always interested in writing about art and food.
Sharing the Wisdom of Time
My interview with Joan Lawson, a longtime Chicago public health nurse, appears in Pope Francis’ collection of elder wisdom published by Loyola Press. The unabridged version was also the cover story for the South Side Weekly.
State Hospital
My short story won the Chicago Reader’s Fiction Contest.
A New Home for Home Movies
I wrote about an initiative to immortalize family film footage known as the South Side Movie Project.
How to Gamble and Win: Al Klinger celebrates his 90th with all of Hyde Park
I documented the lively 90th birthday of a one-of-a-kind physician, activist and writer.
Saving a Black Aesthetic
I wrote about the future lives of the Johnson Publishing Building’s iconic interiors.
Exploring Empathy and Entitlement in Ecology
I reviewed a man-versus-nature art installation at the Hyde Park Art Center.
Working It Out: Talking income inequality at the Uri-Eichen Gallery
I interviewed a co-owner of a Pilsen gallery where art and activism intersect.
Thank you for listening
I signed off from my post as a columnist at my college newspaper before graduation.
Illustrations by Lucy Hawblitzel