Strategic Issues/Trends

Subtopics: Thought Leadership, Market and Regulatory Landscape, etc.

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Beyond Medicine: A Modern Approach to Health Care Brand Storytelling

Stephanie Wierwille, executive vice president of engagement, BPD

// By Susan Dubuque // As consumer expectations rise and attention spans shrink, traditional messaging about excellence and empathy is no longer enough. Today’s audiences are tuning out institutional voices and tuning in to brands that feel authentic, emotionally relevant, and boldly human. Here, industry leader Stephanie Wierwille offers insights into creating a compelling brand story.

MD Anderson Brings a Fresh Approach to Annual Reports with Dual-Format Strategy

Laura Nathan-Garner, Director, Strategic Communications, MD Anderson Cancer Center

For many health care marketers, annual reports often walk a fine line between fulfilling institutional obligations and sparking genuine audience engagement. MD Anderson Cancer Center’s FY23 Annual Report didn’t just meet expectations — it redefined them. Discover how the team executed a single vision for the organization’s annual report across print and digital.

Hospitals and FQHCs: Why Partnerships Matter Now More Than Ever

Toniann Richard, CEO, HCC Network

// By Susan Dubuque // Community Health Centers are bracing for major Medicaid cuts. Community Health Centers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), have been the backbone of health care access since 1965. Hospitals and health systems have a vested interest in supporting their sustainability. Read on to see how health systems benefit by partnering with FQHCs.

From the Inside Out: Onvida Health’s Approach to Reimagining Its Brand

Headshot - Shay-Andres-Onvida

// By Susan Dubuque // Onvida Health reinvented itself with a renewed purpose and values — and then wrapped the package with a new name, brand identity, and smart positioning. Learn how Onvida Health introduced its brand internally and externally, launched a multichannel campaign, and created a platform for long-term connection and growth.

Stay Ahead: What Shapes the Future of Health Care Marketing

Lacey Reichwald, director of marketing, Aha Media

// By Susan Dubuque // To better understand trends reshaping strategy, execution, and engagement, we turned to trusted voices from organizations supporting the eHealthcare Leadership Awards. These experts offer a roadmap for staying relevant and impactful in today’s health care environment. Keep reading for frontline insights to help you stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.

How MedStar Health Unifies Marketing and Philanthropy to Drive Impact

Jessica McLain, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, MedStar Health

As health systems face rising costs, shrinking margins, and growing demand for services, charitable contributions can provide critical funding for capital improvements, medical research, and community health programs. Fundraising professionals are among the most recruited health care executives today. Read on to discover the mutual benefits of philanthropy and marketing joining forces.

Health Care’s (and America’s) Troubling Dichotomy

Health Care’s and America’s Troubling Dichotomy

// By Ross Goldberg // The health care system is full of contradictions: more care, more technology — and more frustration. This opinion piece unpacks the growing disconnect with health care and how marketers can close the gap. Read on to explore four critical strategies to rebuild trust, reframe expectations, and reconnect with a new generation of patients.

What Does It Take to Succeed as a New Health Care CMO?

Andrew Chang, chief marketing officer, UChicago Medicine

What a new CMO accomplishes in the first three months on the job can make or break their legacy. Three seasoned CMOs joined a panel at the 2025 Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit to share how they started in their roles and what really works when stepping into the top marketing job.

Embracing Change in a Turbulent Era: Paul Keckley’s Roadmap for Health Care Leaders

Paul Keckley, The Keckley Report

The U.S. health care industry is approaching a critical inflection point. In a candid and thought-provoking keynote at the 2025 Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit, Paul Keckley outlined the challenges and potential opportunities health care leaders must navigate in an era of unprecedented economic uncertainty, regulatory disruption, and consumer discontent.

A Leading Light in Health Care Storytelling: MD Anderson’s Award-Winning FY23 Annual Report

// By Susan Dubuque // For many health care marketers, annual reports often walk a fine line between fulfilling institutional obligations and sparking genuine audience engagement. MD Anderson Cancer Center’s FY23 Annual Report didn’t just meet expectations — it redefined them. Discover how the team executed a single vision for the organization’s annual report across print and digital.

How Can Health Systems Align Internal Culture With Public Perception?

Cynthia Newton, President, Cynthia Newton Consulting

In an SHCM exclusive Q&A, marketing strategist Cynthia Newton unpacks how review platforms, transparency, and employee engagement reshape health care reputation from the inside out. Read the full article for insights to help ensure that your employer reputation matches your culture.

Doing More with Less: How AMC Marketers Balance Digital Growth with Financial Pressures

Suzanne Bharati Hendery, Renown Health

Marketing leaders from Banner Health, Renown Health, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and Primacy share how academic medical centers adapt strategy, structure, and technology to align today’s health care landscape. Learn how academic medical center marketers adjust their strategies to optimize effectiveness today and focus on the future.

Behind the Mic: Strategies from 4 Award-Winning Health Care Podcasts

Jordana Taylor

Award-winning marketers from Orlando Health, Norton Healthcare, CommonSpirit Health, and BayCare Health System share how they launched, evolved, and elevated their podcasts. Keep reading for insights, practical tips, and inspiration to help you launch your organization’s podcast or take it to the next level.

MedStar Health: Aligning Marketing and Philanthropy for Greater Impact

Mike Varner, Vice President of Brand Marketing and Strategy, MedStar Health

// By Susan Dubuque // As health systems face rising costs, shrinking margins, and growing demand for services, charitable contributions can provide critical funding for capital improvements, medical research, and community health programs. Fundraising professionals are among the most recruited health care executives today. Read on to discover the mutual benefits of philanthropy and marketing joining forces.

How to Succeed in a New CMO Role: Lessons from Top Health Care Marketing Leaders

Kathy Smith, vice president and chief marketing and digital officer, Roper St. Francis Healthcare

// By Wendy Margolin // What a new CMO accomplishes in the first three months on the job can make or break their legacy. Three seasoned CMOs joined a panel at the 2025 Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit to share how they started in their roles and what really works when stepping into the top marketing job.

From Budget Battles to Consumer Backlash: Paul Keckley on the Future of U.S. Health Care

Jared Johnson

// By Jared Johnson // The U.S. health care industry is approaching a critical inflection point. In a candid and thought-provoking keynote at the 2025 Healthcare Marketing & Physician Strategies Summit, Paul Keckley outlined the challenges and potential opportunities health care leaders must navigate in an era of unprecedented economic uncertainty, regulatory disruption, and consumer discontent.

Your Employer Brand Shows What Candidates and Patients See

John Marzano

// By John Marzano // In an SHCM exclusive Q&A, marketing strategist Cynthia Newton unpacks how review platforms, transparency, and employee engagement reshape health care reputation from the inside out. Read the full article for insights to help ensure that your employer reputation matches your culture.

Health Care Advertising Showcase Featuring Campaigns from Community Health Systems, CHI St. Vincent, Baptist Health, and Centra

In February 2024, Strategic Health Care Marketing launched a new column called Advertising Showcase. Each month, we feature a multimedia advertising campaign from some of the nation’s leading hospitals and health systems — many are winners of eHealthcare Leadership Awards.

In this new report from Strategic Health Care Marketing, we have compiled four varied Advertising Showcases. We hope this excellent work gives you a little inspiration for your next creative endeavor.

Download now »

Biggest Issues Facing Academic Medical Center Marketers in 2025

// By Therese Lockemy, MBA // Marketing leaders from Banner Health, Renown Health, the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and Primacy share how academic medical centers adapt strategy, structure, and technology to align today’s health care landscape. Learn how academic medical center marketers adjust their strategies to optimize effectiveness today and focus on the future.

How Tanner Health Aligns Marketing and Philanthropy to Maximize Impact

Kelly Meigs, Vice President, Marketing Strategy and Planning, Tanner Health

Health care philanthropy’s resurgence is leading to larger fundraising initiatives, expanded development departments, and new partnerships between marketing and philanthropy to help organizations tell their stories, leverage their brands, and engage donors. Keep reading to discover how marketing and fundraising work together to create a greater impact.

Health Care Podcasts: Making an Impact with Sight and Sound

Karen Busse- Norton Healthcare

// By Susan Dubuque // Award-winning marketers from Orlando Health, Norton Healthcare, CommonSpirit Health, and BayCare Health System share how they launched, evolved, and elevated their podcasts. Keep reading for insights, practical tips, and inspiration to help you launch your organization’s podcast or take it to the next level.

From Adversity to Action

Susan Dubuque, a strategist and writer specializing in health care and behavior change, was a cofounder and principal of Two Tango (formerly NDP Agency).

// By Susan Dubuque // The ACEs ECHO Program at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center brings new hope to children suffering from the impact of traumatic life experiences. Read on to learn more about the program and explore how health care marketing can play a vital role in addressing the needs of this population.

How Roper St. Francis Built a Data-Driven Case for a Bigger Marketing Budget — and Won

Kathy Smith, vice president and chief marketing and digital officer, Roper St. Francis Healthcare

Marketing budgets have rebounded since the pandemic, and health systems are focused on efficiency and ROI-driven spending. Roper St. Francis shares its approach to justifying a robust marketing and communications budget using benchmarking data. Learn how to create a budget proposal grounded in benchmarking data and how you can master strategic presentations.

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