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Shelly, Senior Communications Consultant at Leading Midwest Health Care System: Advize Career Interview
A career journey from sports broadcasting to Senior Communications Consultant at a leading Midwest healthcare system is highlighted, showcasing adaptability and diverse skill acquisition in news, non-profit, freelance, and public relations.
The interview reveals the multifaceted nature of this role, encompassing strategic communications planning, internal communications execution through various channels, and collaborative team work.
Success hinges on functional skills, strong writing, time management, and the ability to navigate complex team dynamics and prioritize kindness.
The healthcare industry's constant evolution provides daily learning opportunities, and the interviewee emphasizes the importance of humility, work-life balance, and proactive engagement for career success, particularly when navigating male-dominated environments.
Entry-level opportunities abound, with a strong writing background proving highly valuable.
The interview concludes with a candid reflection on crucial career lessons learned, emphasizing the significance of a balanced approach to work and life.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shelly Schneider
Senior Communications Consultant
Leading Midwest Health Care System
University of Florida
None
Creative Writing, Journalism
Healthcare
Communication and Marketing
Worked 20+ Hours in School
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Career Path of a Senior Communications Consultant at a Leading Midwest Health System
Shelly's career path showcases adaptability and growth, starting with college experiences as "a sports broadcaster" and evolving through various roles in news, nonprofit communications, freelance writing, and public relations within the healthcare sector. The journey highlights the diverse skills acquired—"internal and external communications, media relations, crisis communications"—culminating in a senior communications consultant position at a large Midwest health care system.
Responsibilities of a Senior Communications Consultant at a Midwest Health Care System
Shelly's main responsibilities as a Senior Communications Consultant involve developing "comprehensive communications plans" for internal communications at a large healthcare system, collaborating with departments like patient experience and quality. Implementation uses diverse channels such as "weekly leader brief articles," the intranet, and hospital newsletters, showcasing a multifaceted approach to internal communications.
A Day In The Life Of A Senior Communications Consultant At A Leading Midwest Health Care System
A senior communications consultant's day at Leading Midwest Health Care System involves a daily team huddle, ongoing project meetings with partners to develop communication plans—some lasting months—and substantial writing, including emails and newsletters. The role also includes responding to ad-hoc requests, which Shelly assesses with her manager to determine if they are within the scope of her responsibilities.
Most Important Skills For A Senior Communications Consultant At A Health System
For a Senior Communications Consultant at a leading health care system, "functional skills and techniques" are important, but equally crucial are "curiosity, flexibility, time management, strong writing and editing," and the ability to build and set boundaries with teams. The capacity to "gently push back" when facing tight deadlines is highlighted as a key skill.
Favorite parts of being a Communications Consultant at Healthcare
Shelly's favorite aspects of her Senior Communications Consultant role include the flexibility of remote work, allowing for increased productivity, and the opportunity to "meet and interact with such a diverse group of amazing people." This interaction allows Shelly to leverage her skills to support teams in areas outside her expertise, such as patient safety and the patient experience, and learn from their "left brain" approaches to problem-solving.
Biggest Challenges Faced By A Senior Communications Consultant At A Midwest Health System
Shelly's biggest challenge as a Senior Communications Consultant is educating teams on strategic communication, emphasizing the need for "something newsworthy to communicate" rather than hastily releasing information or inappropriately leveraging the brand. This highlights the importance of strategic planning and thoughtful messaging within a large healthcare system.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Healthcare Industry As A Senior Communications Consultant
Shelly, a Senior Communications Consultant, finds the constantly evolving healthcare industry "fascinating," learning something new daily, from acronyms to complex medical equipment like infusion pumps. The rewarding aspect of the work is communicating with and educating "amazing, caring and selfless" frontline caregivers.
What Type Of Person Thrives In The Healthcare And Communications Industry, According To A Senior Communications Consultant At Midwest Health Care System
Success in healthcare communications requires a curious, flexible, and collaborative approach; a willingness to "step up and volunteer," even outside one's defined role, proves more valuable than specific prior experience.
What a Senior Communications Consultant at a Midwest Health Care System Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Health Care Industry
Shelly, a senior communications consultant, reflects that a crucial, yet unfortunately learned-through-experience lesson in the healthcare communications industry is the importance of humility: "God gave me two ears and one mouth and I needed to use them in that proportion." This realization, that "you are replaceable," and that one's opinions aren't always sought, shaped their career trajectory.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Communications Professionals
Many entry-level communications roles exist within the healthcare industry, with Shelly highlighting opportunities such as "communications specialist," "public relations specialist," "social media specialist," and "event coordination," depending on individual interests and skills. A strong writing background opens doors to copywriting positions in marketing or article creation.
Significant Career Lesson From a Senior Communications Consultant at a Leading Midwest Health Care System
Shelly, a Senior Communications Consultant, identifies two key career lessons: prioritizing kindness ("offering someone a genuine smile...will take you farther than any expertise"), and maintaining work-life balance to avoid compromising personal well-being for professional advancement ("if it starts to compromise you as a person...get out quick and find a balance").
College Experiences That Helped a Senior Communications Consultant at Midwest Healthcare System Succeed
Shelly's college success stemmed from proactive engagement, including volunteering for less desirable tasks like "carrying equipment or plugging in cables" and consistently working in the broadcast field to gain hands-on experience. The ability to learn from mistakes, with the support of mentors, also proved invaluable in shaping their career trajectory.
How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Communications Consultant's Career At A Midwest Health Care System
Early in their career, while working in sports broadcasting, the interviewee gained resilience navigating a male-dominated environment, learning to "keep your eyes on the prize" and ignore distractions. This experience proved invaluable later in a similarly male-dominated EMS management role, reinforcing the importance of self-awareness, setting boundaries, and actively listening before speaking to succeed.
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