Course: Healthcare Publicist

Course Introduction

Public relations is the strategic art of shaping public perception, managing reputations, and building relationships between organizations and their audiences through effective communication and storytelling. While PR professionals can work across any industry, healthcare is a dynamic and complex sector that benefits from specialized communications expertise.

As a nurse, you already possess what many PR professionals spend years trying to develop: deep healthcare industry knowledge, understanding of medical terminology, and firsthand experience with healthcare operations and patient care. This background positions you perfectly to tell compelling healthcare stories that many general PR practitioners would struggle to communicate effectively. As the healthcare industry continues to evolve and grow, organizations increasingly need communicators who can translate complex medical information into clear, compelling narratives for diverse audiences.

Healthcare PR professionals serve as strategic communicators for a wide range of organizations within the industry. You might help hospitals showcase groundbreaking surgical procedures, guide healthcare companies in announcing innovative technologies, or assist medical executives in establishing themselves as thought leaders in their field. The role involves crafting press releases, developing media relationships, and building comprehensive PR campaigns that align with business objectives.

Success in this field requires mastering fundamental PR skills while leveraging your healthcare expertise. This course will guide you through everything you need to know to make this career transition. We’ll cover essential PR concepts, media relations strategies, content development, and the specific considerations that make healthcare communications unique. Whether you’re interested in joining an established PR agency, working in-house at a healthcare organization, or starting your own consultancy, you’ll learn the practical skills and strategic thinking needed to thrive in healthcare PR.

Learning Objectives
1. Master core PR concepts and terminology essential for healthcare communications
2. Understand the key types of PR materials, including press releases, bylines, and media kits
3. Learn about the different types of media outlets and how to effectively pitch healthcare stories
4. Create and implement a strategic PR strategy for various healthcare clients
5. Build and maintain relationships with healthcare journalists and media outlets
6. Learn how to measure and report PR success metrics to clients
7. Establish and grow your own healthcare PR business

About the Instructor

Kate Karlsson, BSN, RN, CCRN was an ICU nurse for nine years, spending much of that time as a travel nurse in intensive care units nationwide. After facing extreme burnout after the COVID-19 pandemic, Kate channeled her healthcare expertise in a new direction, leaving bedside nursing to launch her own business in 2021.

Kate’s entrepreneurial journey began in medical writing, where she quickly found success helping healthcare organizations translate complex medical information into clear, compelling content. However, she soon discovered that her true passion lay in the strategic aspects of healthcare communications. This realization led her to expand into healthcare PR, where she could play a more active role in helping companies and causes, she believed in amplify their impact.

Kate splits her time between Australia and the U.S., embracing the freedom and flexibility that remote work provides. Outside of work, she fuels her creativity through hiking, snowboarding, and traveling to new destinations, bringing that same energy and passion to her clients’ communications strategies. Say hi and connect with her on LinkedIn??