This edition of member news includes accomplishments from AHCJ members Ken Alltucker, Jeanette Beebe, Suzanne Bohan, Helene Epstein, Liza Gross, Catherine Guthrie, Phyllis Hanlon, Markian Hawryluk, Christine Herman, Harriet Hodgson, Tayla Holman, Stephanie Innes, Jason Kane, Prerna Mona Khanna, David Levine, Doug Levy, Jane Palmer, Katja Ridderbusch, Lara Salahi, Laura Santhanam, Joanne Silberner, Don Tepper and Lynne Terry.
Please welcome these new professional and student members to AHCJ.
All new members are welcome to stop by this post’s comment section to introduce themselves. Continue reading
Chirlane McCray
The first lady of New York will keynote AHCJ’s Urban Health Journalism Workshop in October. Chirlane McCray, the founder of comprehensive mental health plan ThriveNYC, as well as the wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio, will talk about addressing behavioral health issues in the city.
She also spearheads the Cities Thrive Coalition of mayors, with representation from more than 150 cities from all 50 states, advocating for a more integrated and better-funded behavioral health system. Continue reading
Mark Weber
The Department of Health and Human Services is sponsoring a seminar for reporters on covering suicide on Tuesday, in what the lead organizer described as an effort by HHS media officials to engage with journalists in new ways.
Mark Weber, the deputy assistant secretary for public affairs, said that media officials often interact with reporters in what he called “ATM transactions” – communicating only when one needs something from the other. Continue reading
Jeff Porter
Jeff Porter, AHCJ’s longtime special projects director, has been named director of education for the association and its Center for Excellence in Health Care Journalism.
Porter, who takes a lead role in content planning for national conferences and workshops, also will play a larger role in AHCJ’s growing array of national fellowship programs.
“Jeff does a great job dealing with hundreds of speakers, instructors and moderators each year,” said Len Bruzzese, AHCJ’s executive director. “We plan to use his curriculum and data reporting skills in our fellowship programs and webcasts.”