The 2009 COTY Award Winner: Carol Burke

It was a night of Hollywood Glitz and Glamour at the 17th Annual Health Care Communicators (HCC) of San Diego Finest Awards, which took place on April 15, 2010 at The Dana Hotel on Mission Bay.

The spotlight was on the night’s top honoree, Carol Burke, who received the 2009 Communicator of the Year (COTY) award. The COTY award is HCC’s most prestigious honor, given each year to recognize outstanding leadership, innovation, accomplishment and community service in effectively communicating health care issues.

Carol Burke has more than 20 years of marketing and communications leadership experience, most recently as senior director of marketing and communications with AMN Healthcare, the largest temporary health care staffing company in the United States. Throughout her career, she has displayed a dedication and commitment to the field of communications—with a specific focus on health care.

Carol has been with AMN HealthCare for nine years, and pivotal in managing the communications and marketing strategy related to its most recent growth. With the acquisition of six national companies during her tenure, Carol played a crucial role in integrating these companies’ marketing and communications efforts into the overall corporate strategy of AMN Healthcare.

 When Carol began with AMN Healthcare, the company only owned 10 Web sites. Today, she and her team oversee 24 Web sites with more than a quarter of a million visitors on a monthly basis, and has direct responsibility for all online marketing and communication efforts for 14 acquired companies in 17 locations around the world.

 “Carol has created a very robust Internet and new-media marketing program that has helped AMN Healthcare not only achieve market leadership in the health care staffing industry, but has ensured we have been a marketing leader in the implementation of new marketing technologies,” said Wendy Newman, vice president of marketing for AMN Healthcare.

 What makes Carol a standout is that no matter how busy and how much responsibility she fits into her work week, she always makes time for her staff by motivating them, encouraging them and, often, just listening or being a sounding board.

 Despite a work week that extends well beyond 60 hours a week, Carol finds time to give back to the San Diego community, including taking a leading role in AMN’s participation in the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, the Komen Race for the Care, and Father Joe’s Village.

 She set up the annual Health Care Communicator of San Diego’s scholarship program for future communicators and continues to ensure it is funded and awarded each year. She also has set up nursing scholarships at the University of Washington, Palomar College, San Diego State University and Point Loma Nazarene College to help combat the nursing shortage. Carol also has served as PR chair for special events for the U.S. Navy.

 Currently pursuing her M.B.A., Carol is a former HCC president and winner of numerous communication awards and recognitions, including from the PRSA, HCC, Sigma Theta Tau, American Academy of Nursing, Nursing Electronic Media Award, Web Marketing Association, and the American Staffing Society.

“Carol has been an anchor in the San Diego health care communications field for the last nine years, serving as a leader in the marketing and communications of one of San Diego’s largest health care companies—and putting AMN Healthcare on the cutting-edge of online and new-media marketing technologies,” said Newman. “She is an inspiration to all who come in contact with her and is well deserving of this award.”