Board of Directors

Each year, the Health Care Communicators of San Diego requests nominations and holds an election for President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer positions, and appoints other members to board positions representing key roles within the organization. This process takes place each year in December and the new board assumes their role immediately following the annual Finest Awards Dinner and Presentation.

2009/2010 HCC Board of Directors

President
Laura Gilbert

Laura Gilbert is the director of marketing and communications at Alvarado Hospital, where she executes the marketing, public relations and advertising functions of the hospital, as well as facilitates targeted internal communications and community relations.

Over the years, she has managed a variety of award-winning marketing and communications functions for hospitals in San Diego and Washington, DC, including Sharp Healthcare, Georgetown University Hospital and Washington Hospital Center, as well as at AMN Healthcare. Prior to her marketing career, Laura was a journalist/editor for several national healthcare publications and peer-reviewed medical journals.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism at San Diego State University.

Immediate Past President
Johnny Hagerman

Johnny Hagerman is a director of marketing and communications for Scripps Health System in San Diego, California, where he manages the internal and external communications efforts for a large multi-specialty medical group, Scripps Clinic, as well as the 174-bed acute care facility, Scripps Green Hospital.

In his current role at Scripps, Johnny is charged with elevating awareness of the products and services available at Scripps Clinic—capitalizing on the organization’s multi-specialty expertise and clinical research prowess. Specializing in media relations, Johnny has cultivated extensive long-term professional relationships with key media contacts locally and nationally, which has elevated the Scripps Clinic brand to the international media landscape. Johnny has executed a number of award-winning marketing and advertising programs that have significantly increased patient volumes across all 10 Scripps Clinic locations in San Diego County. He is also recognized for his role in launching a grass-roots customer service program focused on creating a culture of service excellence amongst the staff at Scripps Clinic and Scripps Green Hospital.

With more than a decade of marketing and public relations experience having worked for a global public relations firm, a large consumer product company and several non-profit health care delivery systems, Johnny has managed everything from grass-roots public awareness campaigns in health care, to launching a nationwide gorilla marketing campaign for a national Pepsi product. He has managed a variety of marketing and communications functions for organizations such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Hill and Knowlton International Public Relations, Alzheimer’s Association and the California Department of Health Services.

A native of Los Angeles, Johnny has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Eastern Europe. He is an active volunteer in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America Program, as well as Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and the Human Rights Campaign.

Treasurer
Tania Masherah

As a marketing & communications manager at Scripps Health, Tania helps manage physician and service line marketing for Scripps Clinic, a multi-specialty medical group with 10 locations throughout San Diego, and Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla.

Prior to joining Scripps in October 2006, Tania spent five years in the marketing and communications department at Metro Health, a Michigan-based health system that includes a 238-bed hospital and 10 regional outpatient centers. During her tenure there she helped manage internal communications, including print newsletters and the employee intranet, and served as a lead writer for a variety of mediums including collateral materials, news releases, speeches, and print publications.

With an interest in exploring the insurance side of health care, Tania then spent a year-and-a-half with Priority Health, a health plan located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. There she helped manage marketing for the company’s Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

Tania received her Bachelor’s degree in health communication and her Master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University.

A native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she moved to San Diego in August 2006 and has enjoyed the year-round sunshine ever since.

Secretary/Scholarship Chair

Laura Fox

Laura Fox joined Sharp HealthCare in 2008 and currently serves as marketing and communications specialist for Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. In this role, Laura focuses primarily on media relations, community events and internal and external communications for the hospital. Laura also assists with advertising and other marketing initiatives.

Born and raised in San Diego, Laura moved to Los Angeles to attend California State University, Northridge, where she earned a degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. During her education, Laura gained marketing and public relations experience through internships with Capitol Records/EMI in Hollywood; KUSI in San Diego; and Fem Public Relations in Los Angeles.

Laura’s passions away from work include spending time with family, traveling, writing and baking. An active member of Alpha Xi Delta in college, Laura enjoys staying active with her sorority. Laura hopes to pursue a master’s degree in public health administration.

Co-Programming Chair

Alison Haney

Alison Haney originated from Palo Alto, California. After visiting Southern California, she chose to attend the University of San Diego, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications. Alison began with Scripps in 2003 as a Customer Service Specialist at the Del Mar Clinic. She decided to dabble in Financial Services Marketing and Communications with Del Mar Financial Partners, Inc. , however in 2005, she returned to Scripps as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator for La Jolla. She is now the Marketing and Communications Specialist for Scripps La Jolla.

Alison is extremely supportive of her community, choosing to involve herself in SHSMD and HCC. One of her greatest passions is her participation in RunForHer, an organization that promotes awareness and research for Ovarian Cancer. The idea for this run began as the Master's thesis of a close friend in honor of her mother, but the concept, with the help of Cedars Sinai, became a reality in 2005. Alison invites all to join her for this annual event; more information is available at www.runforher.com.

Co-Programming Chair

Megan Richards

Megan is the director of marketing at LJR Medical Group where she is responsible for all marketing communications functions, community/patient relations efforts, and managing strategic relationships with referring physicians. Prior to joining LJR, she served in a variety of marketing, media relations and public affairs roles for area healthcare organizations including Scripps Health, Sharp Healthcare and the American Red Cross.

In addition to her volunteer work with HCC, Megan is involved with San Diego Hospice/Institute for Palliative Medicine and has served on the planning committee for the annual San Diego Bay Parade of Lights since 2004.

Megan holds an undergraduate degree in journalism and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in health sciences.

Membership Chair
Feigue Rosenfeld

Feigue Rosenfeld joined Sharp HealthCare in May 2002 and currently serves as the Creative Services Specialist for Sharp HealthCare. In this role, Feigue proofreads and edits copy in English and Spanish; and helps manage the production, routing and timelines of collateral and advertising for the Sharp system.

Prior to joining Sharp HealthCare, Feigue served as a Production Manager for Imagewerks, a boutique agency specializing in youth culture advertising in the action sports industry where she managed the production of collateral and advertising for local and national clients like Keep California Beautiful, a non-profit environmental education organization; Extreme Action Sports (EAS); and Activision Inc. Prior to Imagewerks, Feigue was the Traffic Manager at The Townsend Agency, a full-service marketing firm for emerging technologies including Quantum Magnetics and Fujitsu-ICL Systems Inc., where she managed the daily workflow for art directors, production artists, copywriters and freelance artists.

Feigue is a graduate of San Diego State University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with an emphasis in advertising, and a minor in French. Originally from Mexico City, Feigue has lived in San Diego since 1978.

Co-Web Site Chair

Stacy Kadrich

Stacy Kadrich joined Sharp Healthcare in October 2006 and currently serves as the marketing and communications specialist for Sharp Grossmont Hospital. In this position, Stacy helps manage marketing, public relations, community events and internal communications for the entity. Stacy’s marketing background includes nine years of experience in various industries, including tourism, political campaign promotion and advertising. Prior to her position with Sharp, Stacy was the marketing manager for the San Diego North Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she promoted tourism to North County and launched the organization’s first opt-in e-mail marketing program. She also served as the campaign manager for a bond measure in the City of La Mesa that successfully passed. As account executive for a local advertising agency, Stacy managed advertising and marketing campaigns for several local, national and international clients.

Stacy is a graduate of San Diego State University and holds a degree in Journalism.

Co-Web Site Chair

David Wilson

David Wilson is the online marketing manager at AMN Healthcare, where he directs the search engine marketing, online display advertising, email marketing and web analytics for the corporation and its divisions.

Having worked in the online marketing field for the last six years, David has gained a deep understanding of interactive channels, and how to maximize results through integrating efforts. David has helped AMN Healthcare to achieve a more efficient online marketing mix, and, as a result, the company is better positioned expand its market share within the healthcare staffing industry.

David is an alumni of UC Santa Barbara and holds an MBA from Cal State San Marcos. In his free time, David enjoys playing and watching sports, and spending time with his niece and nephew.

Co-Finest Awards Chair
Olga Hays

Olga Hays joined Scripps in March 2008 and currently serves as a special events coordinator at Scripps Health Foundation. In her current position, Olga works directly with the special events team, planning, coordinating and executing various fundraising and cultivation events that Scripps Health Foundation holds throughout the year.

Prior to joining Scripps Health Foundation, Olga was an HCC’s intern, assisting with numerous HCC-related activities and organizing the Finest Awards 2007.

Originally from Russia, Olga had spent 5 years in Hamburg, Germany before she came to the United States in April 2006. She holds a BA degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Hamburg University, Germany and a teaching degree from Bratsk Teachers Training College in Russia.

Public Relations Chair
Melissa Wirkus

With a background in writing, publishing and marketing, Melissa Wirkus has worked in the field of marketing communications since graduating cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and minor in Spanish.

Melissa joined the AMN Healthcare team in 2007 as an associate editor, where she develops content and writes articles for multiple websites, healthcare publications and newsletters. A member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Melissa has spent her professional career writing for both local and national websites, magazines and newspapers.

A San Diego native, Melissa enjoys spending her free time with friends and family when she is not busy writing.

Sponsorship Chair
Lauren Nelson

Lauren Nelson joined Scripps Health Foundation in 2007, and currently serves as the Development Coordinator on the Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas campus. In this role, Lauren is responsible for staffing a community outreach volunteer committee, soliciting corporate sponsors, coordinating a women’s health focus group, and working with Scripps Encinitas’ media partner, 102.1 KPRI FM, on a unique health education program benefiting the community. Additionally, Lauren manages the Distinguished Speaker Series, a targeted community awareness program that features Scripps Encinitas physicians.

Prior to joining Scripps Health, Lauren worked in the Development & Communications department at the San Diego American Red Cross, helping to generate revenue for operations and county-wide disaster relief.

In addition to her volunteer work with HCC, Lauren also works with the San Diego Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Lauren is a graduate of California State University Fullerton, where she was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.