Deb Pappas Archives – Strategic Health Care Marketing

Deb Pappas

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Deb Pappas

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Connecticut Children’s
Hartford, CT

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Deb Pappas serves as the Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Connecticut Children’s, where she leads the development of comprehensive marketing, communications, and brand strategies. Under her leadership, her award-winning team and agency partners have significantly enhanced the organization’s brand awareness, reputation and preference, solidifying its position as the only health system in Connecticut exclusively dedicated to pediatric care.

In her role, Deb is responsible for formulating and executing strategic marketing and communication plans for service lines, partners and access to care initiatives that support Connecticut Children’s geographic expansion and growth, aligning with the organization’s vision of transforming children’s health and well-being. She also serves as the Executive Champion for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Education & Awareness Pillar, which develops content and resources to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment within the organization.

With 16 years in the health care sector, Deb previously held senior leadership positions in marketing, communications and national physician relations at Boston Children’s Hospital and UMass Memorial Health. Prior to her health care tenure, she gained more than two decades of experience in marketing leadership roles across global technology, financial services, and retail brands.

Deb holds an MBA in Marketing from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College and a BA in Psychology from Colby College.

Deb has contributed her expertise to the articles listed below.

Pediatric Marketing in 2025: What Are Parents Really Thinking About Children’s Health Care?

April 18, 2025

A new Strategic Health Care Marketing webinar for healthcare marketers and strategists

Klein & Partners’ first pediatric-focused National Consumer Insights Study reveals how parents make decisions about their children’s health care. If your organization markets pediatric services, this webinar will give you essential data to inform your strategies.

Wednesday | May 21, 2025 | 2 p.m. Eastern

Your Presenters:

Deb Pappas, Vice President, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Connecticut Children’s
Bob Davidson, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, Children’s Nebraska
Leona Wong, Director of Brand Strategy, Stanford Medicine/Children’s Health

Moderated by:

Rob Klein, Founder & CEO, Klein & Partners

You’ll learn:

The four segments of children’s health and how they shape parent behavior
Where parents turn for information and what they actually want to know
How hospital brand, pediatrician choice, and awards factor into decisions
What drives parent loyalty and what pushes them away
Digital touchpoints that matter urgent care, virtual visits, online research
Why maternity experience impacts lifetime customer value

And much more!

Presenters
Register Now »

Marketing’s Role in Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

August 3, 2023

Victor Reiss, vice president— Consumerism & Insights, UNC Health

DEI is about more than representation. It’s all about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered. No other industry has more of an imperative to embrace DEI than health care as the path to a healthier future for everyone. At this year’s Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit (HMPS23) in Austin, Texas, Read More

Best Practices for Bringing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) to Life

July 18, 2023

Deb Pappas, chief marketing and communications officer and executive champion for DEI Education & Awareness Pillar, Connecticut Children’s

Executives from Connecticut Children’s, UNC Health, and Stanford Health Care share how they integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into the organizational culture. // By Susan Dubuque // DEI is about more than representation. It’s all about creating an environment where everyone feels heard, respected, and empowered. No other industry has more of an imperative Read More

Deb Pappas Takes the Reins as Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

September 4, 2018

Deb Pappas, vice president & chief marketing and communications officer at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center

View from the C-Suite // By Sheryl S. Jackson // Agile, flexible, innovative, and open to change are just a few of the adjectives that Deb Pappas, vice president and chief marketing & communications officer for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, uses to describe the organization she joined in early 2018. Pappas came to Connecticut Children’s Read More