November 2010

Getting to Know Jon Siegal, director, Schwartz Communications

Name: Jon Siegal
Title: Director
Company:  Schwartz Communications

My first Schwartz healthcare client was: the Sleep Well, Be Healthy campaign to raise awareness of obstructive sleep apnea.

What I like most about working in healthcare is:  the positive impact our work has in improving the lives of patients.

When I’m not working, I like to: spend time with the two women in my life, my wonderful wife and my just-as-wonderful Labrador retriever. As a Patriots season ticket holder you can find me at Gillette Stadium in the Fall. Beyond that, I’m always on the hunt for the next great steakhouse in Boston or wherever my travels take me.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?:  I basically fell into healthcare PR, so I can’t pinpoint one person. However, I soon realized the effect of our work and became hooked.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: began to lose my hair in high school. I enjoy being bald, but I didn’t have much of a choice.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: in aviation, sports or casino gaming.

You can find me at: jsiegal@schwartzcomm.com;  @PRJon;  www.linkedin.com/in/jonsiegal
 

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 30, 2010 at 9:33 AM
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Getting to Know Amy Capetta, freelance writer

Name: Amy Capetta

Title: Freelance writer for websites and national magazines, including AOL Health

Company: Independent 

My first reporting job was: At a start-up teenage newspaper. It didn't survive very long, but it was fun while it lasted.
 
What I like most about working in healthcare is: knowing that my stories may be improving the lives of others. 

When I’m not working, I like to: laugh, cook, bake, power walk, watch TV, go to the movies and shop for bargains.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: It started with Judy Blume...she made writing seem so damn easy!

People would be most surprised to learn that I: Do my best writing while listening to Howard Stern.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: a therapist. Oh wait, that's still healthcare. Then I'd go the opposite (brainless) route and be a celebrity's assistant. 

You can find me at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/amycapetta
http://www.twitter.com/amycapetta

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 29, 2010 at 9:19 AM
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Engage With Grace Thanksgiving Blog Rally

One of our clients, Eliza Corporation, is spreading the word about sharing end of life wishes with loved ones through the non-profit Engage With Grace. They are doing this through their annual Thanksgiving weekend blog rally.

Below is the text. We suggest you post it starting on Wednesday evening, November 24 and leave it up through the entire weekend (consider it a much-deserved break from blogging for a couple days).  Please share this with friends who might be willing to participate, too.

Secondly, we are hoping that you will consider donating your Facebook and/or Twitter status to the rally (we're using "Much to be thankful for - including the opportunity to have our end-of-life wishes honored through  engagewithgrace.org.  #EWG") but of course use whatever suits your style best.  The hashtag #EWG will help track the rally.

For three years running now, many of us bloggers have participated in what we’ve called a “blog rally” to promote Engage With Grace – a movement aimed at making sure all of us understand, communicate, and have honored our end-of-life wishes.

The rally is timed to coincide with a weekend when most of us are with the very people with whom we should be having these unbelievably important conversations – our closest friends and family.

At the heart of Engage With Grace are five questions designed to get the conversation about end-of-life started. Click here to view them. They’re not easy questions, but they are important – and believe it or not, most people find they actually enjoy discussing their answers with loved ones. The key is having the conversation before it’s too late.

This past year has done so much to support our mission to get more and more people talking about their end-of-life wishes. We’ve heard stories with happy endings … and stories with endings that could’ve (and should’ve) been better. We’ve stared down political opposition. We’ve supported each other’s efforts.

And we’ve helped make this a topic of national importance — as underscored by this recent piece on CNN.

So in the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend, we’d like to highlight some things for which we’re grateful.

Thank you to Atul Gawande for writing such a fiercely intelligent and compelling piece on “letting go”– it is a work of art, and a must read.

Thank you to whomever perpetuated the myth of “death panels” for putting a fine point on all the things we don’t stand for, and in the process, shining a light on the right we all have to live our lives with intent – right through to the end.

Thank you to TEDMED for letting us share our story and our vision.

And of course, thank you to everyone who has taken this topic so seriously, and to all who have done so much to spread the word, including sharing The One Slide.

We share our thanks with you, and we ask that you share this slide with your family, friends, and followers. Know the answers for yourself, know the answers for your loved ones, and appoint an advocate who can make sure those wishes get honored – it’s something we think you’ll be thankful for when it matters most.

Here’s to a holiday filled with joy – and as we engage in conversation with the ones we love, we engage with grace.

To learn more please go to www.engagewithgrace.org. This post was written by Alexandra Drane and the Engage With Grace team.

Posted by Doug Russell on November 24, 2010 at 9:17 AM
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Getting to Know Stacey Holifield, Director, Schwartz Communications

Name: Stacey Holifield
Title: Director
Company: Schwartz Communications

My first Schwartz healthcare client was: Cytyc

What I like most about working in healthcare is: Healthcare is an innovative industry that is constantly changing; an industry poised with unique business, governmental and ethical challenges that truly impact the well being of our society. I find it fascinating and a constant opportunity for learning and growth.

When I’m not working, I like to: My life outside of work revolves around three things: my adorable 14-month old son Noah whose giggles, smiles and chubby little thighs let me momentarily forget about the chaos of life;  eating chocolate, lots of chocolate; and, trying to squeeze in moments of something that semi-resemble jogging and/or yoga.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: Mary Hart of Entertainment Tonight. After I spent a semester interning in the media relations department of the show, I knew I was too cynical for the world of entertainment PR.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: I love the beach but I can't swim. Unless you consider the doggie paddle a swimming style. 

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: A very unsuccessful fiction book writer. I love to write and I would love to write a book. Someday.

You can find me at (email, Twitter, LinkedIn): sholifield@schwartzcomm.com; @Stacey4Crazy; www.linkedin.com/in/staceyholifield

Posted by Risa Goldman Burgess on at 8:59 AM
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Getting to Know Davida Dinerman, director, Schwartz Communications

Name: Davida Dinerman
Title: Director
Company: Schwartz Communications

My first Schwartz healthcare client was: HealthShare Technology in 1996.

What I like most about working in healthcare is: Health, fitness and wellness have always been topics of great interest to me. It is motivating to know that our work to promote healthcare, pharmaceutical and biotech companies can contribute to the good welfare of our society.

When I’m not working, I like to: spend time with my husband and two terrific children, ages 12 and 9; play tennis; work out with weights or through yoga; be outdoors as much as possible.

Who had the biggest influence on my career:  I have worked in many industries – from teaching and banking to retail and marketing – and I learn something new from people in each place. However, I need to give a lot of credit to my parents, who instilled in me a strong work ethic since I was a young girl. That has transcended my career.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: I performed stand-up comedy routines at camp (age 11 – 16). I did one for a business school talent show as well. Also, I have been playing competitive tennis for 36 years, and I plan to keep going. Last week, I was a member of the New England team at the annual United States Tennis Association National Women’s Intersectional tournament in San Antonio. We played against teams from around the country.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: teaching elementary school.

You can find me at: ddinerman@schwartzcomm.com; @DavidaDinerman on Twitter;
Davida Dinerman on LinkedIn; http://www.facebook.com/davidad on Facebook

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 22, 2010 at 3:37 PM
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Getting to Know Joannah Connolly, editor of Healthcare magazine

Name: Joannah Connolly
Title: Editor
Company: Healthcare magazine

My first publishing job was: Copy-editing articles for mountain-biking and cycling magazines in the UK, where I hail from. I later went on to become production editor of Pulse, a weekly newspaper for physicians.
 
What I like most about working in healthcare is: that it is such an exciting, innovative, dynamic and - above all - important industry. My only hesitation about entering a career in magazines was that it was not a profession of fundamental importance to mankind, unlike being a doctor or nurse. Now I get to impart information about life-saving technology and innovation to those doctors and nurses - and play a role in this wonderful profession, however small.

When I’m not working, I like to:   Walk and cycle around Vancouver, the most beautiful city in the world, to where I have recently emigrated from the UK.
 
Who had the biggest influence on your career?:  My first boss at Building, an architectural magazine in the UK, who taught me that there was always a better way to present a story and to think laterally about all the possible ways to get that story out to the reader.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: am in a Vancouver show choir called Sing City. It's like Glee for grown-ups.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: working for a movie magazine - I'm a big movie enthusiast, if not exactly a film buff.

You can find me at: jconnolly@baumpub.com  

Posted by Lauren Arnold on at 9:09 AM
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The Future of 510Ks

The recently completed IN3 conference in San Francisco provided a valuable opportunity for companies and VCs to network, share ideas and come together as an industry of medtech innovation evangelists. Even with the ongoing uncertain economic environment, new medical technology innovators and those who financially support great ideas and people, are eager to network and discuss the latest medical device advances for potential investments or partnerships.  After all, the industry will not slow down when new treatments, diagnostics and efficiencies are necessary to ensure the future of medicine.  

A common thread to nearly all public conversations at the event was the need for more transparency at the FDA. With fewer PMA approvals for devices (52 in 2004 v 8 to date in 2010) the medical device industry wants to understand is innovation supported by the FDA and should medical technology companies look to future advancements outside the US?  Will the medical technology industry survive with the existing 510K clearance path or has the perception of gridlock from the government created more hurdles and inefficiency?

To address the industry’s concerns, the organizers invited Christy Foreman, Acting Director, Office of Device Evaluation, CDRH to address the attendees during a Friday morning keynote panel discussion.  She articulately defended the agency’s proper position that it is in place to protect the citizens and ensure safety and efficacy.  Without a doubt, everyone in the room appreciated, respected and supported the mission, however at what cost to stifle innovation.

Foreman asked the audience to appreciate the challenges of the 510K process. She said that who in 1976 could imagine that clinicians would be reviewing radiology images and other information from devices called iPhones, hundreds of miles away from their patient? Should today’s device be compared to antiquated technology and concepts?

It is clear that the FDA and medical technology industry need to understand what a new 510K review process needs to look like. A smoother and more predictable process, never compromising the FDA’s mission, will ensure investment, medtech innovation and better care in the future.
 

Posted by Nigel Smith on November 18, 2010 at 5:36 PM
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Getting to Know Anthony Guerra, founder/editor of healthsystemCIO.com

Name: Anthony Guerra      
Title: Founder/Editor
Company: healthsystemCIO.com

My first reporting job was: for Wall Street & Technology magazine.

What I like most about working in healthcare is: how collaborative the CIO community is

When I'm not working, I like to: read interesting historical biographies, watch football, play with my son

Who had the biggest influence on my career: my wife, who supported me quitting my job and starting a company from scratch

People would be most surprised to learn that I: am soon to be a parent of two under two

If I didn't work in healthcare, I would probably be: a journalist covering some other industry, albeit far less engaged

You can find me at: aguerra@healthsystemCIO.com

Posted by Lauren Arnold on at 4:03 PM
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Getting to Know Debbi Kim, CBS Boston

Name:  Debbi Kim
Title: Medical Producer
Company: WBZ-TV
 
My first job in healthcare was: Medical Producer/WBZ-TV (2000 – Present)

What I like most about working in healthcare is: there is always exciting new research, technology and other developments to report on and that we are giving important information to help our viewers stay healthy

When I'm not working, I like to: spend time with my family and friends

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: My mom who decided to become a doctor to help others because she was always sick as a child

People would be most surprised to learn: that after spending ten years as a general assignment reporter,  I don’t miss being on-air one bit!

If I wasn't in healthcare, I would probably be: a teacher because I love kids!

You can find me at: dikim@cbs.com

Our website is: www.wbztv.com/health
 

Posted by Risa Goldman Burgess on at 10:05 AM
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Getting to Know Helen Shik, senior vice president, Schwartz Communications

Name: Helen Shik
Title: Senior Vice President
Company: Schwartz Communications

My first Schwartz healthcare client was: Heartstream, maker of the ForeRunner automatice external defibrillator (now the Philips HeartStart AED). I started at Schwartz a couple of months before the FDA clearance of the ForeRunner-- and what an amazing launch to work on. From CBS Evening News to USA Today to the Wall Street Journal, the clearance of this tiny AED made headlines everywhere. And for years, my father-in-law would email me every time he heard an AED story on the news (and in most cases, it was about our client). Luckily, I've had the good fortune to work with many of the founders of Heartstream again, as they went on to other companies.
 
What I like most about working in healthcare is: There's no greater satisfaction than speaking with a patient or caregiver who says one of my client's technology/therapy helped them-- and that they learned about the therapy from a news story.

When I’m not working, I like to: Not necessarily in this order: run (I've completed 5 half-marathons), go to the movies, host friends at my house, dance, travel, watch my boys play soccer and cook.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: My mentor, Betsy Buffington Bates. She was my first boss in marketing and PR. She's an incredible writer and editor, a world traveler, and now a professor of communications and history. Although I worked with her more than 16 years ago, the lessons she taught me about PR, writing and editing, client relations, and business continue to impact how I do my job.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: got my first car at the age of 30.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably: Own a shoe store.

You can find me at: hshik@schwartzcomm.com, @helenshik and http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=19427976&trk=tab_pro
 

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 16, 2010 at 2:21 PM
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Getting to Know Lara Salahi of ABC News

Name:  Lara Salahi
Title:  Associate Producer/Reporter          
Company: ABC News

My first reporting job was: on-air as a one man band reporter/anchor in small town Michigan.

What I like most about working in healthcare is: that it personally affects each and every individual; everyone has a story to share.

When I’m not working, I like to: travel, write, and spend time with my husband

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: My family (near, far, immediate and extended), who taught me never to quit.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: speak four languages fluently.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: an author.

You can find me at: www.larasalahi.net

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 15, 2010 at 5:25 PM
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Getting to Know Luke Timmerman, Xconomy

Learn about Luke Timmerman, national biotechnology editor at Xconomy. Good for you for giving up your car!

Name: Luke Timmerman
Title: National Biotechnology Editor
Company: Xconomy

My first reporting job was:  Covering high school sports for my hometown newspaper, the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald. I was a senior in high school, writing for a newspaper with circulation of about 30,000 daily copies in northeast Iowa and southwestern Wisconsin. I was able to continue writing for the Telegraph-Herald after I graduated and went to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. They gave me an opportunity to be a regular beat reporter covering Big Ten football and basketball for a real newspaper when I was just 18. It was a real thrill, gave me several hundred clips before I graduated college, plus really valuable experience in interviewing prominent coaches and athletes. It really forced me to file fast, accurate copy on tight deadlines.

What I like most about working in healthcare is:  It's just plain fascinating. No other journalistic beat that I know of can draw on so many ingredients for great storytelling---science, medicine, business, politics, ethics. There are also many great characters in the biotech industry. For the men and women who actually beat the odds and create a drug, device or diagnostic that is really useful, it actually matters to a lot of people and can make a difference in their lives. It's not just some passing consumer fad.

When I’m not working, I like to: Go for long runs, climb mountains, play fantasy sports online with old friends.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: Steven Walters. He was the capitol bureau chief for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, and a part-time professor at UW-Madison. He taught a class I took in college on public affairs reporting. He really inspired me to think about how to do journalism the right way, how it's something much bigger than any individual, and plays a vital role in our democracy.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: ride my bicycle all around Seattle, and gave up car ownership completely three years ago. I rely on occasional use of zipcar, rental cars and taxis. I love it.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: Covering some federal agency that is supposed to do something important, but for some reason causes few people and few journalists to pay much attention.

You can find me at: ltimmerman@xconomy.com,@ldtimmerman, www.linkedin.com/pub/luke-timmerman/3/434/427,

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 12, 2010 at 11:42 AM
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Getting to Know Shannon Murphy, VP at Schwartz Communications

Name: Shannon Murphy
Title: Vice President, Healthcare
Company: Schwartz Communications

My first Schwartz healthcare client was: Sleep Well, Be Healthy campaign for obstructive sleep apnea; Nobel Biocare.

What I like most about working in healthcare is: helping to raise awareness of a new treatment option (device, therapy, etc)., and being able to do so through the personal stories of patients and physicians, with the goal of improving quality of life via education.

When I’m not working, I like to: travel, exercise (CrossFit, yoga, running, hiking, skiing, etc), check out new restaurants and bars, listen to live music and standup comedy, catch a baseball or lacrosse game, see the latest movies in theaters, visit wine country, spend time with family and friends.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: my colleagues who have continued to challenge and inspire me along the way

People would be most surprised to learn that I: was captain of my collegiate lacrosse team (Colby College), was an "extra" in Fatal Attraction and Regarding Henry when I was in grade school, and lived in France for 4 months (no, unfortunately no longer fluent) during college.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: A screenwriter or director (as I almost went to film school).

You can find me at: smurphy@schwartzcomm.com;http://www.linkedin.com/pub/shannon-murphy/1/bb1/207

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 11, 2010 at 5:23 PM
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Getting to Know Vijay Vaitheeswaran, The Economist

Up next in our series is Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran, health correspondent at The Economist.

Name: Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran
Title: Health Correspondent
Company: The Economist   

What I like most about working in healthcare is:   It’s an important and dynamic field

When I’m not working, I like to:  Work

Who had the biggest influence on your career?:  Johnny Walker

People would be most surprised to learn that I:  am actually quite shy

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be:  Writing about innovation

You can find me at: Ideas.Economist.com

Posted by Lauren Arnold on at 9:05 AM
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Getting to Know Brad Perriello, MassDevice.com

Next up in our "Getting to Know You" series is Brad Perriello at MassDevice.com. Making beer, sounds great to me, Brad !

Name: Brad Perriello
Title: Co-founder, executive editor
Company: MassDevice.com

My first reporting job was: The Associated Press, South Dakota bureau

What I like most about working in healthcare is: Covering cutting-edge technological innovations that help improve - or even save - people's lives.

When I’m not working, I like to: Spend time with the fam, go for long bike rides, read and cook.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: A former Boston Globe reporter and journalism professor, Mitchell Zuckoff, who gave me the grounding and inspiration to ply my trade.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: Made beer for a living for most of the 1990s.

If I wasn’t in healthcare, I would probably be: Making beer.

You can find me at: editor@massdevice.com
 

Posted by Risa Goldman Burgess on November 10, 2010 at 11:35 AM
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Getting to Know Jon Kamp, Dow Jones Newswires

The Schwartz Healthcare Practice has had the pleasure of working with hundreds of biopharma and medtech clients and journalists. Over the next few weeks we'll introduce you to many journalists, innovators, entrepreneurs as well as our HC Practice staff, in our "Getting to Know" series. First up is Jon Kamp with Dow Jones Newswires here in Boston:

Name: Jon Kamp
Title: Special Writer
Company: Dow Jones Newswires

My first reporting job was: Worcester Magazine, where I interned in college and then did some post-college freelance work.

What I like most about working in healthcare is: Healthcare is a great reporting beat. It's inherently interesting for a broad swath of people because we're often reporting on topics that really affect peoples' lives. It can also be a fascinating and challenging beat for reporters, given the fact many of us (me included) are writers and English majors by nature, and not scientists and statisticians. Because of this, it's a beat where bad reporting is a serious risk. Healthcare reporters have to be especially diligent in their efforts to understand the subject matter and strike the right chord. I like that challenge.

When I'm not working, I like to: My wife and I are busy raising a little baby girl these days, and we spend time with friends and family when we can. I used to run and play basketball, back when I found time to exercise, and I have all sorts of plans to start that up again next year. To avoid a conflict of interest, I'm trying to not become a cardiology patient.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?: From the early days it was always great writers, especially John Steinbeck. I was a voracious reader as a kid, and I've always wanted to be a writer. My journalism career evolved later as a practical outlet. But I read and admire a great many journalists today, too many to name, and I learn from them daily.

People would be most surprised to learn that I: I can play "Run to You" by Bryan Adams on guitar, in its entirety, and I'm not even remotely ashamed by this. I'm still working on the rest of the Adams canon.

If I wasn't in healthcare, I would probably be: Covering some other beat for Dow Jones. I covered energy companies here for years and enjoyed it, and I imagine some day I'll delve into something else beyond health care.

You can find me at:Jon.kamp@dowjones.com; http://www.linkedin.com/pub/jon-kamp/2/598/b17
 

Posted by Lauren Arnold on November 9, 2010 at 9:15 AM
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Twenty Years of PR - Is Past Prologue?

This post will kick off a series of twenty posts in symbolic commemoration of the twenty year anniversary of Schwartz Communications and our twenty years of work representing some of the most exciting biopharma and medtech companies and developments to from the past two decades.  Going forward you’ll be hearing from more of us in the healthcare group at Schwartz as well as others whom we’ve been fortunate enough to meet along our twenty years in the business.

So much has changed during this time. Yet much has stayed the same for the medical marketer and PR pro. The essence of our work has stayed essentially constant -  To effectively and accurately convey our client’s messages to critical constituencies. Clinicians.  Advocacy groups. Payers. Patients. We still have that same jaw-dropping reaction when we first hear of a new, amazing scientific advance that has the potential to change the standard of care. And we still get an exhilarated feeling of accomplishment when we realize that our work has been directly responsible for improving the quality of patient lives and in numerous campaigns over the past two decades — actually saving lives.  No other PR discipline can top that. 

But changes abound. While twenty years ago we were on the virtual dawn of e-mail popularity, today the Internet has dramatically changed the very essence of communication.  Patients are now vastly more informed than their mothers and fathers, with access to vital information that would have been unthinkable a generation ago. This has helped to drive and shape the way we conduct PR campaigns.  We’ve been through several recessions that have changed the landscape of the newsroom. The role, size and mission of the traditional print and broadcast media have been recast, while online media has added a new, vital channel for medical marketers. And now we are in the embryonic stages of a whole new form of communication - social media - that offers vast opportunities to build and communicate to disease and treatment-specific communities.

The managed-care environment has transformed the way that new advances are ultimately delivered to the marketplace and paid for, which affects not only the availability of care but also the context of many a healthcare PR campaign.  Much needed levels of transparency between researchers, scientists and clinicians and the companies for whom they work are now in place. This is a good thing.

Who can predict with certainty what the next 20 years will hold? One thing we know is true.  The spirit of innovation will drive new therapies and diagnostics. Who could have predicted 20 years ago that tiny, life-saving defibrillators would be virtually ubiquitous or  that the most severe forms of epilepsy could be controlled not by drugs — but rather by a small implantable device, or that those suffering from renal disease could actually have life-prolonging dialysis in the comfort of their own homes, or that robotic radiosurgery would change the quality of life cancer patients?

We hope you enjoy this 20 year anniversary PRx Blog series, as you get to know the members of our practice group, healthcare innovators, members of the media and industry leaders.
 

Posted by Lloyd Benson on November 8, 2010 at 9:00 AM
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