The 2024 MHA Communications Retreat brought together nearly 100 communications, marketing and public relations professionals from MHA-member facilities May 7 to network and learn from peers across the state. Topics on the agenda included artificial intelligence (AI), behavioral health, the healthcare workforce and internal communications.
The event began with several speakers presenting on how they are using communications tools to assist in reacting to the behavioral health crisis. Speakers included Kara Gavin, lead public relations representative, Michigan Medicine; and research & policy media relations manager, U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation; Jim Rose, director of marketing and communications, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health services; Dallas Rau, executive director, Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership; and Tera Szeliga, director of marketing, communications and Institute for Leaders, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.
A panel discussion was conducted discussing communications strategies to address the healthcare workforce and the importance of engaging with government relations and advocacy efforts. Angela Minicuci, APR, partner, Martin Waymire, moderated the panel comprised of Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, and Megan Brown, chief marketing and communications officer, Munson Healthcare. MHA CEO Brian Peters followed the panel with an update on the MHA strategic action priorities.
AI industry experts Joshua Wilda, chief digital and information officer, University of Michigan Health – Regional Network; and Tony Lambert chief technology officer, TechSmith, presented on the AI trends in healthcare and hospitals and how its impacting communications and marketing.
The event concluded with a topic focused on internal communications strategies hospitals can implement to celebrate their workforce and tactics they can use to address employee morale, support recruiting and improve brand perception. Each speaker shared strategies for different sized hospitals. Those speakers included Sue Tetzlaff, co-founder, Capstone Leadership Solutions; Emily R. Sexton, communications coordinator, Holland Hospital; Hannan Deep, director of strategic communications operations, Henry Ford Health; and Lauren Zakalik, director, public & media relations strategy, Henry Ford Health.
The event was sponsored by Martin Waymire and MHA Data Services, who attended the event and provided resources about their products and services. Photos from the event are available on the MHA Facebook page. For more information and resources from the event, contact John Karasinski at the MHA.