Strategic Health Communications

Throughout most of her career, Ellyn worked to advance the mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – particularly women’s health – by promoting biomedical research findings and making them understandable to both the general public and the scientific community. She is cognizant of the need to reach men and women of all racial/ethnic/socioeconomic backgrounds, and that reaching each public requires a carefully segmented and targeted approach. During her career, Ellyn:

• Gold Medal, U.S. Department of Commerce For 2020 Integrated Communications Contract
• Bronze Medal, U.S. Bureau of the Census For 2020 Integrated Communications Contract
• Received the NIH Director’s Award for Leadership in the Hormone Therapy Workshop with special focus on planning, execution, and follow-up. Held standing room only press conference, obtained national and international coverage, including syndicated Spanish broadcast network (UNIVISION).
• Developed an outreach communications strategy for the $2.5 million Agenda for Research on Women’s Health for the 21st Century, which included 4 national scientific workshops and public hearings.
• Produced an 8-volume report, Agenda for Research on Women’s Health for the 21st Century, which became the scientific community’s blueprint on women’s health research for the next decade.
• Created health exhibit, The Changing Face of Women’s Health, with a consortium of 8 museums across the country. Exhibit displayed at major metropolitan science museums across the country for 5 years.
• Launched a website dedicated to exploring and advocating for the careers of women scientists. Produced and disseminated findings for the 1st scientific workshop for women in biomedical careers.
• Partnered with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to produce an award-winning film on women’s health.  Received Cine Golden Eagle Award and New York Film Festival award, among others.
• Planned and coordinated a 2-day, multi-venue event acknowledging the 10th anniversary of the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health. More than 1,000 attended, including members of Congress who were instrumental in the establishment of the office and advancing women’s health research.  
• Developed and implemented award-winning, multi-media Medicine for the Public community outreach program.
• Designed and executed multi-media, award-winning Crime Watch Campaign, resulting in 32 percent drop in crime in the NIH Clinical Center. Campaign was expanded to cover entire NIH campus, and later adopted by the Veterans Administration hospitals across the country.