03/26/2025
Before March comes to a close, I want to take the time to acknowledge a somber 5-year anniversary: when a mysterious infectious disease came onto the scene and changed many lives forever.
I was leading a PR team at Maimonides Medical Center in at the time, fielding hundreds of media requests from around the world - journalists wanting to interview our physicians to learn more about and how to treat and prevent it. While coordinating interview after interview (first onsite at our Command Center, then remotely), I was also helping to lead a social media campaign, , aimed to boost the morale of weary frontline staff, while shining a light on local businesses who had generously donated supplies, food, and numerous other items day after day.
I was committed to keeping family members in the loop about their loved ones battling COVID-19. I monitored every social media message and connected families to the Patient Relations Department on a regular basis. I worked with Emergency Department and ICU teams to gather staff photos via text messages for social media, so we could acknowledge the that were putting their own lives on the line each day.
When the Pfizer vaccine was introduced in December 2020, we were filled with excitement and hope. With every sleeve that was raised, the light at the end of the tunnel grew brighter.
Everyone on our PR & Marketing team worked 14 to 16-hour days for several weeks without a day off at the height of the pandemic. We were tired, we were frightened, but we pulled through the storm and made it through to the other side.
Now, as a Communications Consultant, I apply many of those lessons learned and always stress the importance of communications, transparency, and being human. Recognizing hard-working staff who go above and beyond is crucial for an organization to succeed. Exhibiting empathy and understanding is also important, especially in times of crisis. Leadership also needs to keep the messaging flowing - internally and externally - to keep people informed of significant developments that will impact them. I'm grateful to be working with a number of clients who understand those strategies and who are committed to engaging and retaining their staff who are at the heart of their organizations' productivity and success.