The Department of Medicine was recently honored by the Georgia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for its exceptional communications and marketing work during the organization’s annual Awards Celebration. The DOM took home several awards – including one of the top prizes for COVID-19-related communications campaigns – and saw two faculty and staff members recognized for their contributions to the chapter and the field of public relations.
The PRSA Georgia Awards Celebration recognizes projects and programs that demonstrate excellence in the state’s public relations profession. With nearly 850 members, PRSA Georgia is the national organization’s second largest chapter.
The DOM received one of the event’s top prizes – the Best of COVID-19 Communications Award – for its Thank an Emory Health Hero campaign. The campaign solicited notes of appreciation and thanks in recognition of the incredible selflessness and lifesaving work performed by faculty, staff, trainees, and all health care workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The department also received a Phoenix Award in the Integrated Communications – Associations/Government/Nonprofit Organizations category for the same campaign.
Two department faculty and staff members were also honored for their exemplary work. Carlos del Rio, MD, professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, was the recipient of the Distinguished Public Relations award, which honors an individual outside of the communications industry for their contributions to the field. Lauren Powers, senior marketing manager for the department, was the recipient of the Shining Star Award, which recognizes an individual for professional excellence and significant contributions to PRSA.
In addition, Emory School of Medicine received a Phoenix Award in the Events or Observances – Seven or Fewer Days – Associations/Government/Nonprofit Organizations category for Virtual Match Day 2020. Traditional Match Day festivities were moved virtually this year and included a video countdown and a synchronized email, prompting hundreds of clicks and videos from well-wishers captured on social media and multimedia platforms.
About the Winners
Carlos del Rio, MD, is Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine, and professor of global health and epidemiology at the Rollins School of Emory University. He serves as the Executive Associate Dean of Emory University School of Medicine at Grady Health System, and is the co-director and principal investigator of the Emory Center for AIDS Research. Outside of Emory, del Rio is the Foreign Secretary of the National Academy of Medicine, Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board of PEPFAR and member of UNAIDS Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee. Del Rio also works on emerging infections, epidemics, and pandemics. During the 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1), he was a member of the WHO and CDC advisory teams, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, del Rio has been a leader locally and nationally, doing research, developing policies, writing scientific publications, and making countess media appearances. Before joining Emory faculty in 1996, del Rio was executive director of CONAIDA, the agency of the Mexican government responsible for AIDS Policy.
Lauren Powers has a passion for higher education and has spent much of her career working in communications for Emory University. She is currently the Senior Marketing Manager for the Department of Medicine (part of Emory’s School of Medicine), the largest department at Emory with more than 700 faculty members who are renowned leaders in research, education and patient care. She leads all internal and external communications and marketing efforts on behalf of the department’s faculty, staff, residents and fellows. She previously served as the Communications and Special Events Manager for the Emory University Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Prior to her roles at Emory, she worked in communications for the Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta Affiliate.
Powers has served as co-chair of PRSA Georgia’s Phoenix Awards Committee since 2017. As co-chair, she truly enjoys helping the best and brightest in our industry get recognized for their incredible work. This year, she also served as co-chair of the chapter’s 2020 Annual Conference committee. She was recognized as part of the inaugural class of PRSA Georgia Forty Under 40 honorees, and as the December 2017 Chapter Champion.
Powers earned her bachelor’s in mass communication from Louisiana State University. She lives in historic Grant Park with her husband, Matt. Outside of her day job and volunteer activities, Powers is a dance fitness instructor and certified personal trainer.
Related Links
Be the first to comment on "Department of Medicine shines at PRSA Awards Celebration"