Save the Date 2011

Please save the date for the 2011 PR Lifelines in Health Care Conference. It's Thursday, April 7th, 2011 from 8:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. Same location as last year - the IUPUI Campus Center, 4th Floor. More information to come in the coming weeks. Follow us on Twitter for updates on programs and speakers. www.twitter.com/PRLifelines

Only 5 days til registration closes for the 2010 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference! Things are moving along behind the scenes, and we're finalizing many of the materials this week. Jump over to the right side of the blog and download your registration form today!

We have many notable speakers, including Katie Delahaye Paine, who will speak on "Measuring Naked Conversations," and Dr. Eric Wright, who will speak on "The Public Impact of Health Care Reform."

If you have any questions, email prlifelines@gmail.com.

Student Breakout Sessions

Are you a student attending the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference? We will have a morning and an afternoon breakout session designed specifically for students.

In the morning, a session on "Building Media Relationships" will be hosted by Crystal Livers-Powers and Kyle Thomas.

In the afternoon, Rick Nelson, APR, will host "Writing Powerful Résumés." After the session, four public relations professionals will host a résumé review session, offering critiques of student résumés.

Students are also welcome to attend any of the professional breakout sessions. The conference will run from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Students get a special price of $30. Download the registration form on the right, and pay via check or PayPal. Send questions to PRLifelines@gmail.com. Also check out our Twitter @PRLifelines or search for the PR Lifelines group on Facebook.

The PR Lifelines in Health Care conference is shaping up to be both informational and interesting! Our keynote speaker will be Katie Delahaye Paine, author of Measuring Public Relationships, speaking on "Measuring Naked Conversations." Katie's talk will cover how to integrate metrics for continuous quality improvement. Come learn more about how to measure the effectiveness of your communication programs across a variety of stakeholders and audiences.

At lunch, Dr. Eric Wright, Director of IUPUI's Center on Health Policy, will discuss "The Public Impact of Health Care Reform." He will focus on the implications of the latest health care reform and how public relations professionals can effectively communicate the ever-changing messages of health care reform to stakeholders.

In addition to the main speakers, there will also be breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon. Check out the sessions we're offering:
Morning:

• "Are We Engaged Yet?" with Katie Delahaye Paine: This session will discuss how to develop your engagement metric. The rise in influence of social media has turned the entire communications paradigm upside down. The session will explore both quantitative and qualitative metrics.
  

• "Developing Blogger Relationships" with Julie Vincent and Rob Muller: This session will discuss what bloggers are, what they're not, why they are in the social media space, and how they differ from traditional and trade reporters. The social media "rules of engagement" are indeed different from how we establish and maintain relationships with journalists. The session will explore the dos and don'ts of blogging and much more.

Afternoon:

• "Super Targeting Publics" with Fred Bagg: This session will examine ways to segment strategic publics and maximize results.
  
• "The Wishard Referendum: Lessons Learned" with Tom Hirons and Deana Haworth: This session will address the public relations lessons learned during the communication management of the Wishard Referendum project.
  

Are you interested in attending the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference? Download the registration form located on the right side of the blog. Professionals are $50, and students are $30. The fee includes lunch and parking. You can pay via check or PayPal. Email prlifelines@gmail.com, check out @PRLifelines on Twitter, or watch the blog for more information.

Registration opens today

Starting today, you can register for the 2010 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference. Last week we told you that Katie Paine, author of Measuring Public Relationships, was coming... we will also have Dr. Eric Wright, IUPUI's Director of Health Policy, as a speaker.

To register, just click on the registration form on the right side of this blog. You can download and email it back, or print and mail it in.

PR Lifelines 2010 info is headed your way!

The planning for the 2010 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference is picking up speed. The blog, Twitter (@PRLifelines), and Facebook are all updated and ready to give you all the info you'll need over the next few weeks to sign up for the conference.

The conference is designed for PR professionals in the health care and life sciences industries in Central Indiana.

We're really excited that Katie Delahaye Paine will be the keynote speaker. She's the author of Measuring Public Relationships and has the experience and knowledge to talk about how we really measure relationships, including social media.

Fred Bagg of St. Francis Hospital will discuss Super Targeting Publics, and Julie Vincent and Rob Muller will talk about Developing/Managing Blogger Relationships.

Watch your email and check out the social media for more information.

Where to park at the IUPUI Campus Center for PR Lifelines

The PR Lifelines in Health Care conference is just a day away -- and here is some information to help you with parking at IUPUI's Campus Center. If you're not strolling over from downtown Indianapolis, free parking is available in the Vermont Street garage, which is connected to the building. So, remember to bring your ticket for validation on Level 4 when you register.

For more information about the Campus Center, click here.

For a map of the IUPUI campus, click here.
Address:
420 University Blvd.
Indianapolis, IN 46202

See everyone at the conference!

(Photo courtesy of Noah Wesley)

Bagg and Millar on Crisis and Issues Management in a Social Media Era

It's time to meet the final two speakers who will present to the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference at IUPUI's Campus Center on April 10. Come see Fred Bagg and Dan Millar talk about Crisis and Issues Management in a Social Media Era.

Fred Bagg
Director Planning and Research

Frederick C. Bagg, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, is Director Planning and Research for St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers, a three-hospital Catholic healthcare entity in suburban Indianapolis, IN, that is part of the Sisters of St. Francis Health Services, Inc., system. Fred is a 30-year public relations and marketing veteran, an adjunct college professor and frequent speaker at national conferences on healthcare and public relations. He is a past Board member of SHSMD and has served in a variety of roles in PRSA, IABC, and other organizations at the local, district and national level. Fred has an undergraduate degree in journalism and business, has studied for a Masters in Public Relations, and has an MBA.

Dan Millar
President & Owner, Millar Communication Strategies, Inc.

Dan P. Millar, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, serves as President of Millar Communication Strategies in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has more than 40 years in public relations, university teaching, research and consulting. Dr. Millar has been a professor of public relations at Central Michigan University, Indiana State University, and Butler University. He is past member of the SHSMD Chicago (2005) conference planning committee and has served in a variety of roles in PRSA and other organizations at the local, district and national level. Dan is co-author of two award-winning books on crisis communication: Crisis Management and Communication (1998, 2002), and Responding to Crisis (2004) as well as several other books and articles.

Fred Bagg and Dan Millar will present Crisis and Issue Management in a Social Media Era at PR Lifelines in Health Care on April 10 - IUPUI Campus Center - CE 409.

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REGISTRATION FOR PR LIFELINES IS EXTENDED

Last minute registrations for Friday’s PR Lifelines in Health Care conference being accepted until 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 7. Take advantage of this professional learning opportunity led by industry experts in strategic planning (Kathy Lewton) and optimizing social media in PR (Paul Gillin).

Register Here NOW and don’t miss the 10 a.m. deadline!

PR Lifelines in Health Care is presented by the Indiana University School of Journalism Master of Arts in Public Relations program at IUPUI, and sponsored by the PRSA Health Academy.

Monday, April 6, is your LAST CHANCE to register for the April 10 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference

Monday, April 6, is your LAST CHANCE to register for the April 10 PR Lifelines in Health Care conference at IUPUI’s Campus Center. Get in step with using social media to advance your public relations and marketing strategies and restock your public relations toolbox with recommendations from professionals in health care and life sciences. You won’t want to miss this inaugural conference designed to give today’s PR practitioner a lifeline to new ideas and innovative programs!

PR Lifelines in Health Care Conference Presenters:
Paul Gillin
The New Influencers: How Social Media are Revolutionizing Media and Markets
Kathy Lewton
PR in Health Care: Beyond Blogs, Transcending Twitter to Build Sustainable Relationships
Chuck Gose
Maximizing Affordable Communication Tools in a Social Media Era
Fred Bagg & Dan Millar
Crisis and Issues Management in a Social Media Era
Mark Swearingen
Using Social Media in Regulated Industries
Bob Dittmer
Multi-generational Communication in the 21st Century Workforce

Plus, stick around after the event for an opportunity to network with these industry experts and your public relations colleagues.

PR Lifelines in Health Care is presented by the Indiana University School of Journalism Master of Arts in Public Relations program at IUPUI, and sponsored by the PRSA Health Academy.

Don’t miss your last registration opportunity! Register NOW at:
http://journalism.iupui.edu/PRconferences/LifelinesHealthCare/Registration.html

Get in the PR Lifelines social circle and follow us on:
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

Chuck Gose on Maximizing Affordable Communication Tools in a Social Media Era

We’re closing in on the final day to register for the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference. Monday, April 6 is your last chance to sign up for the first conference in Central Indiana merging social media technology with the practice of public relations in health care and life sciences.

So, register today, and learn more about the latest tool to ensure your PR strategy is successful. Not only will the conference be packed with informative presentations, but in this time of shrinking professional opportunities, PR Lifelines will provide a valuable networking opportunity for professionals ready to invest in the growth fields of health care and life sciences.

Who will you see at PR Lifelines on April 10?
It’s time to meet another of the conference’s outstanding speakers – Chuck Gose, director of business development at MediaTile. You may already follow his posts on Twitter or stay connected through his latest blog. Come meet Chuck Gose in person at PR Lifelines in Health Care as he presents:

Maximizing Affordable Communication Tools in a Social Media Era
In this difficult economy, budgets are being trimmed and positions eliminated. But all is not lost. Now, more than ever, communicators must effectively use the communication vehicles available to them. This means we must take advantage of cost-effective and message-laden vehicles to deliver the message where we need it most.

Chuck Gose will be presenting from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. in CE 305.

More about Chuck Gose
Chuck Gose has more than 10 years’ experience in corporate communications, holding key positions in successful enterprise operations, such as General Motors and Rolls-Royce.

An expert in devising creative ways to engage employees with detailed and deadline-oriented messaging, Chuck was among the first to promote digital signage for its key benefits and advantages for employee communication. In his role at MediaTile, Chuck works closely with customers to access their digital signage network needs and recommend effective deployment scenarios, and impactful, influential employee-related content.

So you think social media won’t affect your market? Think again!

PR Lifelines in Health Care conference speaker and social media strategist Paul Gillin will share why social networking is a hot phenomenon that is changing the media world and mass communication. Find your company’s potential sweet spot in podcasting, and learn about Gillin’s thoughts on the “new influencers” who could have an impact on your market.

Get a glimpse of Gillin’s social media viewpoints in this video of a past presentation for Inc. magazine at: http://gillin.com/engaging-paul-gillin-as-a-speaker/

Then, don’t miss Gillin at the PR Lifelines in Health Care conference on April 10 at IUPUI’s Campus Center, and join others who say his presentations are “right on the money” and delivered in a way that “translates anecdotes and business knowledge into actionable information.”

Register by Monday, April 6 -- no late registrations allowed.

For more information on the conference, and to get a crash course on all things social media, follow PR Lifelines on these sites:
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

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!

And stay in touch with conference news by following us on:
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube

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.