Congrats, New Steering Committee Members!

We are pleased to announce the election of five new members to the Public Affairs & Marketing Network (PAMN) Steering Committee. Learn more about them below!

Lindsey Gruenberg, Marketing and Communications Manager, Weill Cornell Medicine

Lindsey Gruenberg leads the development and implementation of a strategic marketing and communications plan supporting the clinical and research endeavors of the Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, in partnership with the Meyer Cancer Center.

As marketing and communications manager at a matrix cancer center, Lindsey is keenly aware of the complexities and nuancesinvolved in effectively promoting the institution’s exceptional patient care, innovative technologies and portfolio of basic, translational and clinical research. Lindsey oversees a team responsible for digital and traditional initiatives spanning web development, social media, community outreach and mixed media productions, including podcast, photo and video.

Lindsey also directs marketing and communications for the Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Clinical Trials Office, spearheading subject recruitment efforts across the New York metropolitan area, with a specific emphasis on improving clinical trial access among diverse patient communities throughout Brooklyn and Queens.

Lindsey is passionate about empowering people with cancer to make informed healthcare decisions from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. As part of this commitment, she guides the development and creation of resources designed to distill complex scientific information for lay audiences.

Inspired by the cancer community and the field’s significant progress, Lindsey feels privileged to collaborate with well-respected researchers and clinicians who are dedicated to improving quality of life and bettering outcomes for all cancer patients.

A Chicago native, Lindsey Gruenberg holds a B.S. in Biology and Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is active in the New York City chapter of the Wisconsin Alumni Association. Lindsey also completed a certificate in digital marketing from New York University and is the recipient of several digital publication awards.

Gillian Irwin, Communications Strategist, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Gillian Irwin has 13 years of experience in communications and web content strategy, and a love of design and editing. She has served as communications strategist for the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, a consortium of Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals and Cleveland Clinic, since 2014. In her role, Gillian directs all marketing and communications for the center, including web content and strategy, social media, internal communications, branding, design, mass email, video and print. She collaborates closely with center leadership to ensure alignment of communications with the strategic goals of the center, and is continuously looking for new ways to boost the center’s visibility and recognition in the community and throughout the nation.

Gillian has been a member of PAMN since 2010 and a member of the communications subcommittee since 2018. She values her membership in PAMN, and looks forward to taking a more active role as a member of the Steering Committee.

Gillian earned her master of arts degree in nonprofit administration from John Carroll University, and a graduate certificate in nonprofit organizations from Case Western Reserve University. She earned her bachelor degree in journalism and history of art from The Ohio State University.

Jane Kollmer, Director for Communications, University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

Jane Kollmer is the director for communications at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. With 15 years of experience in healthcare and science communications, Jane is well-versed in strategies that attract and engage audiences through the strategic use of compelling content.

Jane began her career as the editor of a radiology magazine in the Philadelphia area. She later worked for a professional nonprofit organization in nuclear medicine in the Washington, D.C. area. Since moving to Chicago, Jane gained experience as a writer for the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. She later joined a life sciences marketing and public relations agency to lead the content marketing team. In 2018, Jane returned to the comprehensive cancer center to become director for communications.

In her role, Jane is responsible for elevating the University of Chicago’s profile as a leading cancer research institution and raising visibility of and positive affiliation for the comprehensive cancer center among members, staff, medical and research communities, news media, and the public. To achieve these communications goals, Jane uses a mix of print and digital communications pieces to reach various audiences. Jane is interested in learning more about how to use data to improve communications efforts and how to work together with development and hospital marketing in a matrix organization to create a unified message for the cancer brand.

Like many of us, cancer is personal for Jane, having lost a parent to cancer at a young age. As a result, Jane is also interested in cancer advocacy and supporting cancer survivors. She loves being able to communicate the latest advances in cancer research to the general public.

Chadley Uekman, Web Manager, Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
I’ve been at UAMS for 14 years now, and I’ve been able to dedicate time in my current role to content specific to the cancer institute at UAMS. In that time, a lot has changed. We were a fairly new institute when I started, and now we have grown and have a new building, a different director and more service lines.

Being the web manager for our cancer institute is fulfilling because I get to bring together so many moving parts and create cohesive content for our digital consumer experience. Most patients’ first interaction with the institute will be online. If our website and our digital content doesn’t look good, or help them to come here, then our institute suffers because of it. It’s my job to create a positive online experience.

Working at a cancer institute has its challenges. You are constantly thinking of the patient, but you also are thinking of your institution. I think this applies to a lot of different cancer centers, which is why I’m so happy to have a group of colleagues through PAMN to share these experiences with and get feedback from, and also to share my experiences with others. Part of my PAMN experience is as a member of the communications subcommittee since 2018.

Even though working at the cancer institute can be a time-consuming and sometimes high-stakes job (most jobs in healthcare are!), I still find time to unwind. Arkansas is The Natural State, so of course I love to spend time outdoors, either hiking or going to the lake. I’m an uncle and I’m expecting a niece soon. Little known fact – I love to read and write, and I self-published a book a few years ago! It’s relaxing to sit down and put my thoughts on paper rather than a Mac laptop.

Elizabeth Y. Whittington, Director, Digital Media Communications, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Elizabeth Whittington is the director of digital media at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where she leads a successful team in digital content strategy, SEO and SEM, social media, marketing and physician communications. She is committed to raising the awareness of the exceptional clinical care and scientific research of the institution, including the comprehensive cancer center. In 2018, the National Cancer Institute awarded the comprehensive cancer center the highest possible rank of “exceptional” and the best numerical score in the hospital’s history during its recent renewal.

Prior to St. Jude, Elizabeth was responsible for digital strategy at CURE Media Group, a healthcare-focused publishing company. She led CMG to several digital awards, including the 2010 FOLIO: Best Consumer Health and Fitness Magazine Website. She was a fellow of Medicine in the Media: The Challenge of Reporting on Medical Research, sponsored by the NIH’s Office of Disease Prevention.

After earning a biology degree from Mississippi University for Women, she attended the University of Mississippi for journalism. She also holds an MBA from Christian Brothers University. Elizabeth is a member of the Public Affairs and Marketing Network and the Public Relations Society of America. She has held memberships in Association for Healthcare Journalists and the National Association for Science Writers. She enjoys running, spinning and has a slight addiction to coffee and business books.

Become a Member Institution

As a PAMN member institution, your employees benefit from an extensive network of communications and marketing professionals employed at academic cancer centers.

Already a member? Login