The daylong event offers hospital communicators a chance to connect with peers across the state and participate in sessions that provide valuable skills and insights for both emerging and experienced professionals.
The event will explore topics including crisis communications, reputation management and professional development for communications leaders. Additionally, leaders at the MHA will provide an update on state and federal healthcare priorities.
This event is designed specifically for professionals working in public relations, communications, media relations, marketing and community relations within Michigan hospitals. Members of these professions are encouraged to register and participate.
The registration fee is $35 per person. Breakfast, refreshments and lunch will be provided. Please register by Sept. 19 to attend the retreat.
A room block at the Henry Center is available for members who need accommodations the night of Sept. 30. Please use code MHH to receive the discounted room block rate.
Members with questions regarding registration should contact Kennedy Walters at the MHA. Questions regarding the retreat should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.
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, during a panel discussion.
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.
This year’s retreat offers a chance to network, learn from peers across the state and hear from experts for a deep dive into valuable skills for seasoned and new professionals.
The lineup of presenters and topics for the 2024 Communications Retreat includes:
Laura Appel, executive vice president of government relations and public policy, MHA, will be joined by Megan Brown, chief marketing and communications officer, Munson Healthcare, to discuss communications strategies to address the healthcare workforce and the importance of engaging with government relations and advocacy efforts.
Joshua Wilda, regional chief digital information officer, University of Michigan Health-West and Tony Lambert, chief technology officer, TechSmith, will discuss AI trends in healthcare and hospitals, and how it’s impacting communications and marketing.
A panel of communications will share internal communications strategies hospitals can implement to celebrate their workforce and share tactics they’ve used to address employee morale, support recruiting and improve brand perception.
Sue Tetzlaff, co-founder, Capstone Leadership Solutions
Lauren Zakalik, director, public & media relations strategy, Henry Ford Health
Hannan Deep, director of strategic communications operations, Henry Ford Health
Emily R. Sexton, communications coordinator, Holland Hospital,
A collection of speakers will present on how they are using communications tools to assist in reacting to the behavioral health crisis.
Kara Gavin, research and policy media relations manager, Michigan Medicine
Jim Rose, director of marketing, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services
Dallas Rau, executive director, Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership
Tera Szeliga, director of marketing and communications/institute for leaders, Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.
The registration fee is $35 per person. Breakfast, refreshments and lunch will be provided.
Members with questions regarding registration should contact Kennedy Walters at the MHA. Questions regarding the retreat should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.
The daylong event is geared toward the specific needs of hospital communicators. This year’s retreat offers a chance to network and learn from peers across the state and hear from experts for a deep dive into skills that are valuable for seasoned and new professionals.
Topics on the agenda will cover artificial intelligence, behavioral health, the healthcare workforce and internal communications. These issues relate to communicator skill development and MHA priorities, which are driven by the health system and hospital leaders that comprise the MHA Board of Trustees.
This event is designed specifically for professionals working in public relations, communications, media relations, marketing and community relations within Michigan hospitals. Members of these professions are encouraged to register and participate.
The registration fee is $35 per person. Breakfast, refreshments and lunch will be provided. Please register by April 25 to attend the retreat.
Members with questions regarding registration should contact Kennedy Walters at the MHA. Questions regarding the retreat should be directed to John Karasinski at the MHA.
Registration is open for the 2025 MHA Communications Retreat from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Henry Center for Executive Development in Lansing.
