Audio podcast featuring Kathy Lewton on balancing social media in health care PR

The Internet is a tool -- not nirvana or the magic bullet. That's what PR Lifelines in Health Care conference speaker Kathy Lewton warns health care PR professionals when considering results-driven tactics. Today's multiple media channels are imposing big changes in the PR environment.

Hear a sample of what Kathy says about balancing today's new social media channels with the tried-and-true personally delivered product, and get Kathy's view on how you can stay on top, be proactive, and effectively utilize today's social media channels by attending the April 10 PR Lifelines conference at the IUPUI Campus Center.

Don't wait for the April 6 deadline. Register NOW!

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Learn more about speaker Kathy Lewton

The PR Lifelines in Health Care conference is proud to feature Kathy Lewton, one of the nation's most recognized professionals in health care public relations. Join us on April 10 when Kathy will be talking about PR in Health Care: Beyond Blogs and Transcending Twitter to Build Sustainable Relationships.

If you're not familiar with Kathy's work, read on -- then be sure to register for the PR Lifelines conference by April 6.

Kathleen Lewton is one of the most experienced professionals in the field of healthcare public relations and marketing, with a career spanning 23 years in scientific and healthcare organizations and 13 years as a senior executive at several major U.S. PR agencies, working with pharmaceutical, biotech and healthcare provider clients.

In 2005 she established her own consulting practice, providing strategic counsel to clients including The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, The University of Cincinnati and its foundation, The Lasker Foundation, Thomson Corporation’s Scientific and Healthcare businesses, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In 2006, she led a 60-person team that developed and executed a 44-market, six-month consumer education campaign on the new Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit on behalf of the National Council on Aging and AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.

Ms. Lewton was 2001 President of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). She is the author of Public Relations in Health Care: A Guide for Professionals, the only textbook of its kind (third edition now in progress) and writes and speaks extensively on the role of public relations in healthcare organizations and American corporations, including being a featured speaker at the prestigious Economic Club of Detroit in 2001.

The trade publication PR Reporter cited Ms. Lewton as one of four “most admired” professionals in health care public relations, and Working Woman magazine profiled her as one of the “key people making news in hospital marketing." She was also the 1997 Lifetime Achievement Award winner from the Health Academy of PRSA. Her work has received dozens of awards including PRSA Silver Anvils, IABC Gold Quills, and the American Hospital Association’s Touchstone Awards.

Stay tuned to this blog as we post an audio podcast featuring Kathy Lewton, talking about health care public relations.

GRE requirement waived at IUPUI's PR master's degree program for professionals with APR or ABC accreditation

What often holds professionals back from pursuing a graduate degree are three dreaded letters: G-R-E, the exam required for acceptance into just about any master's degree-granting program. Most people - even smart people - don't like the idea of studying for and taking standardized tests. Who can blame them?

But, for those professionals in public relations here in Central Indiana who are serious about returning to school for their master's degree no longer have to fear the GRE. At IUPUI's master of arts in public relations management program, PR pros who have earned their Accredited in Public Relations (APR) or Accredited in Business Communication (ABC) designation, the GRE requirement is waived.

So, if you're interested in taking your career to the next level, a graduate degree just might be the ticket. And your APR can help get you that much closer. Check out the program and see if it's right for you. You'll never have to fear the GRE again.

Learn more about speaker Bob Dittmer

Need another reason to register for the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference? Look no further than speaker Bob Dittmer, who will be speaking at the conference on the topic of multi-generational communication in the 21st century workforce. Here's more information on someone you should not miss:

Bob Dittmer is Director of Public Relations Graduate Studies, Sequence Coordinator of the Public Relations Undergraduate Sequence, and is Academic Advisor for the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter and Jaguar Communications.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Dittmer served in leadership roles in combat units and senior staff positions during a 20-year career. While Deputy Director of the Public Affairs Department at the Defense Information School in 1992 he developed the Joint Public Affairs Advanced Course under the direction of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. At Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, he developed the Indiana University graduate program in Public Relations in 2007.

He has received several Public Relation honors including the 1998 PRSA Excellence in Professional Service Award from the Hoosier Chapter, PRSA, and the Lloyd B. Dennis Award from the Public Affairs and Government Section of PRSA in 2008. He was Accredited in Public Relations (APR) in 1992. He has also served as a PRSA District Chair and as a PRSA Section Chair. He has more than 36 years of professional leadership and management experience, of which 26 years are in professional public relations and more than 20 years as an educator.

Register for the April 10 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference, and hear Bob speak at 1:30 p.m. in IUPUI's Campus Center.

Learn more about speaker Mark Swearingen

Learn more about another of the speakers who will present at the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference -- Mark Swearingen, an attorney from Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman. He'll be talking about using social media in regulated industries -- a hot topic for public relations professionals in health care.

Mark coordinates the firm's HIPAA practice and provides counsel on matters relating to the creation, use, disclosure, retention and destruction of medical records and other health information. He also counsels clients on a variety of other health care topics including regulatory compliance, joint ventures and collaborations, antitrust, clinical and patient care issues, and certificate of need. He has provided such services to a broad spectrum of clients, including health systems, hospitals, physician practices, diagnostic imaging centers, ambulatory surgical centers and long-term care facilities. Mark has spoken and written nationally and regionally on numerous topics, such as electronic medical records, health information privacy and confidentiality, and antitrust. He is an adjunct professor of a course in Law and Medicine in the Indiana University School of Informatics at IUPUI.

Register for the April 10 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference, and hear Mark speak at 1:30 p.m. at IUPUI's Campus Center.

Master's Degree in PR at IUPUI Gives Students Access to Top Talent

One of the perks you get as a student in the master’s program in public relations at IUPUI is direct access to some of the best talent we have in Central Indiana in many areas of business. The PR Campaigns class recently welcomed guest speaker James Burnes from MediaSauce, who delivered a crash course inn social media to graduate students.

Burnes’ presentation was an introduction to this new communication channel and gave students good information on how they could use social media in their professions to push out key messages that rise to the top of all the clutter. What is one of the keys to success in tackling the growing social media trend? According to Burnes, to be heard you have to say something relevant, and you have to be consistent in your postings to generate traction. But, being at the social media party also means less work for you because other people are helping push your message out. The choice for today’s PR and marketing practitioners is to either lead the change, follow others who are leading change, or quit altogether. Good food for thought, and great insight that can be taken from the classroom to your office.

This is where grad school becomes not just another line on your resume – but a great way to take your career to the next level. The master’s program at IUPUI is unique in that it’s the first of its kind to offer both a general management and health care and life sciences track, with no thesis required. It’s tailored to the working professional with evening and online courses to fit in with a full-time job and family obligations, and it incorporates coursework from the nationally renowned Kelley School of Business Direct. So, you’re not getting just any graduate degree in PR – it’s a hybrid-MBA that prepares you to become a leader in your field with expertise in research, strategic planning, plan execution, and essential evaluation measures.

If you’re interested in learning more about the graduate program, check out the Web site. Also consider stepping up your knowledge on social media (it’s here to stay, so you better learn it!) and getting refreshed in new public relations strategies by registering for the April 10 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference. It’s your opportunity to learn from and have lunch with PR experts – without having to pick up the tab.

Meet Paul Gillin at PR Lifelines Conference

Want to know more about one of the featured speakers who will appear at the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference? Read about Paul Gillin below, then register for the conference here and meet Paul Gillin in person on April 10 at the IUPUI Campus Center, where he'll be talking about The New Influencers: How Social Media are Revolutionizing Media and Markets.

Paul Gillin is a writer and content marketing consultant specializing in technology and new media. He advises business-to-business marketers on strategies to optimize their use of online channels to reach buyers cost-effectively at different stages of the buying cycle. He specializes in social media and the application of personal publishing to brand awareness and business marketing.

Paul is a veteran technology journalist with more than 23 years of editorial leadership experience. He was founding editor-in-chief of TechTarget, one of the most successful Internet media companies. Previously, he was editor-in-chief and executive editor of Computerworld. His award-winning book, The New Influencers, chronicles the changes in markets being driven by the new breed of bloggers and podcasters. His latest book, Secrets of Social Media Marketing, was published in the fall of 2008.

Paul is a Research Fellow at the Society for New Communications Research. He also chairs the Social Media cluster for the Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council. His Web site is www.gillin.com and he blogs at paulgillin.com.

Registration Page is Now Live for PR Lifelines Conference

The PR Lifelines in Health Care Web site is now live! Click here to be taken to the site to register for the April 10 conference at the IUPUI Campus Center. Things you'll find on the site include:

• Full schedule
• Speaker biographies
• How to register (deadline is April 6)
• About IUPUI Campus Center
• Where to park (and more importantly, how to park for free)
  
• Links to follow for the blog, Twitter and Facebook pages
  

Register today for the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference - sponsored by the PRSA Health Academy.

Full conference schedule released for PR Lifelines in Health Care

The full schedule for the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference has been released. In addition to industry experts Paul Gillin and Kathy Lewton, check out all the other great speakers and topics on hand for THE must-see event for PR professionals in health care and life sciences.

April 10, 2009 at the IUPUI Campus Center

8:00 – 9:00
Registration with coffee/tea (Reception area, Level 4, top of escalators)

9:00 – 10:15
Plenary Session: Kathy Lewton (CE 450 C)
“PR in Healthcare: Beyond Blogs, Transcending Twitter to Build Sustainable Relationships”

10:30 – 11:45
Breakout Session A: Chuck Gose (CE 305)
“Maximizing Affordable Communication Tools in a Social Media Era”
Breakout Session B: Fred Bagg and Dan Millar (CE 305)
“Crisis and Issues Management in a Social Media Era”

12:00 – 1:15
Luncheon: Paul Gillin (CE 450 C)
“The New Influencers: How Social Media are Revolutionizing Media and Markets”

1:30 – 2:30
Breakout Sessions C: Mark Swearingen (CE 409)
“Using Social Media in Regulated Industries”
Breakout Session D: Bob Dittmer (CE 409)
“Multi-generational Communication in the 21 Century Workforce”

2:45 – 3:45
Networking : Reception area (4th Floor)
“Paying it Forward in the Competitive Workforce: Networking Session with Professional Peers” (light refreshments will be served)

More information on each speaker still to come. Be sure to follow this blog here as well as Twitter for updates @PRlifelines.