Whether it’s about sharing a personal story, inspiring a team, or explaining complex national health care trends, the words I’ve crafted have helped shape narratives and connect organizations to the people who matter most.
Marketing / Copywriting / Magazine Feature
“Not a Simple Fix: A Worthwhile Journey,“
Saint Luke’s Health Magazine, 2022 v2
After three years, 142 pounds, nine dress sizes, 15,000 minutes of meditation, dozens of behavioral therapy sessions, two finished 5Ks, and one pandemic, I was a successful surgical weight loss patient. I had Before & After pictures and everything. And I wanted to help others who might be ready to take the same scary, life-changing leap. So I shared my surgical weight loss story, along with a few helpful tips.
Corporate Communications / Strategy / Writing
2024 Economic and Community Impact Overview
BJC Health System
In March 2025, BJC Health, one of the nation’s largest integrated academic healthcare systems, engaged a nationally recognized consulting firm to conduct a comprehensive economic and community impact study. After all the data was collected and analyzed, I was tasked with turning that data into a compelling story for the health system’s key stakeholders.
Internal Communications / Speechwriting / Video Production / Town Hall
“Celebrate the Kind”
Saint Luke’s CEO Town Hall, Fall 2017
In Dr. Estes’ Fall Town Hall presentation across the health system, she launched the “Celebrate the Kind” — an internal employee-engagement initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the team members who served patients, guests, and even neighbors in their own communities with compassion and kindness.
Executive Communications / Speechwriting / International Keynote Address
“Ripple Effects of Care: Creating a Healthier Globe by Starting Local”
IHF’s 43rd World Hospital Congress
In 2019, Melinda L. Estes, MD, President and CEO of Saint Luke’s Health System was invited to deliver a keynote address at the 43rd World Hospital Congress, a global forum that brings together members of the International Hospital Federation and global health care leaders to discuss key and current issues of health care policy, management, trends, and solutions.
Executive Communications / Speechwriting / Keynote Address
“Finding the Balance to Move Forward: The Impact of COVID-19 on our Healthcare Workforce”
Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems Annual Meeting, 2022
After Dr. Estes completed her term as Chair of the American Hospital Association, she was invited to delivered the keynote address at the 2022 Annual Meeting for the Vermont Association of Hospital and Health Systems. In the remarks I crafted, Dr. Estes discussed the challenge facing health care today: “To move forward, we first must find balance. And to find balance, we must face and accept the fact that the traditional health care models in which we were educated and trained simply do not work anymore.”
Internal Communications/ Crisis Management / CEO Column
White Coats for Black Lives: A Special Message from Melinda L. Estes, MD
In June of 2020, in a summer of mass civil unrest across the U.S., the Saint Luke’s family knelt together in silence for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, remembering George Floyd’s final tragic moments and honoring too many lives lost to racism. Dr. Estes shared this moment with the entire health system. #WhiteCoatsforBlackLives
Executive Communications / Ghostwriting / Byline Column
Chair File: Reflection on an Unexpected and Unparalleled Year
American Hospital Association
As the 2020 Chair of the American Hospital Association’s Board of Directors, Dr. Estes filled an important leadership role and helped provide a steadying influence for hospital leaders nationwide. This farewell column to all AHA members summarizes the turbulent and inspirational year.
Internal Communications / Employee Engagement / Scriptwriting
A Special Request from Dr. Estes
DEI Initiative Launch Message
In December 2021, Saint Luke’s launched a system-wide initiative to explore, understand, and improve the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Underlining the importance of the initiative, Dr. Estes delivered this special request to all employees. I crafted this script in which she discusses the critically important research, reflection, listening, and hard work needed to ensure a diverse, equitable, and inclusive health system.
Social Media / Content Creation / Project Management
Celebrating Valentine’s Day with Heart (Doctors)
Social Media Campaign for the Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute and Heart Month
February is National Heart Month. And in 2017, my brainchild of creating tongue-in-cheek but on-message heart-healthy Valentines from the world-renowned team at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute was an award-winning success. With international media mentions and wide social media sharing, the campaign was featured on all Kansas City news outlets and even made its way to Good Morning America.
Marketing / Project Management / Strategy / Writing / Patient Handbook
My Surgical Weight Loss Handbook
Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss
After completing my own surgical weight loss journey, I had a special perspective as a writer, a marketing professional, and a patient. With all this knowledge, I was tasked in 2020 with reimagining the patient handbook for the Saint Luke’s Center for Surgical Weight Loss. The result was labor of love and a tool that is now universally praised by the Clinic team and its patients.
Marketing / Copywriting / Magazine Feature
“Caring for Our Neighbors… Literally,”
Health Magazine, 2022 v3
When the EMTs loaded Leah Suttington into the ambulance at her home in June 2021 with a suspected heart attack, they asked if she had a hospital preference. If not, they would take her to the nearest Emergency Department, but she absolutely did. “Take me to Saint Luke’s,” she said, certain that their expert heart care team would be able to help her. After all, if you grow up next door to a hospital—using its vending machines as your personal summertime snack bar—a certain level of loyalty is understandable.
Executive Communications / Messaging / Writing / Podcast Interview
Her Leadership Story: A Voice at the Table
Her Story Podcast, Think Medium
As Dr. Estes served her term as Chair of the American Hospital Association, she enjoyed discussing the importance and value of women in leadership roles, especially in the health care industry. For this Season 4 episode of the Her Story podcast, Dr. Estes was interviewed by her friend and colleague, Nancy Agee. Provided the questions in advance, I crafted all the talking points to help guide each of Dr. Estes’s answers.
Executive Communications / Ghostwriting / Trade Media / Byline Article
“A Health Care Challenge: Facing Social Inequality and Health Disparities in Times of COVID-19”
Arkansas Hospitals Magazine, Summer 2020
At Saint Luke’s Health System, the teams at our 18 hospitals and campuses across the Kansas City metro region have been fortunate to not yet experience the COVID-19 surge levels seen in New York, New Orleans, and San Francisco. But that doesn’t mean we haven’t seen firsthand the impact of the illness on our most vulnerable patients in a multitude of other ways. As president and CEO of Saint Luke’s, and this year’s Chair of the American Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees, I’m troubled by what COVID-19 is doing to our low-income and minority Americans – not just how their lungs burn and heads ache in our hospitals, but also how their lives are shattered in their homes, right in our hometowns.
Executive Communications / Ghostwriting / Trade Media / Byline Article
“Our Evolving Workforce: Seizing Change to Advance Progress”
Chief Executive Officer, Summer 2020
American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
“In a 1962 essay in The New York Times, writer James Baldwin made the simple but inspired observation, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.’ He was discussing a writer’s responsibility during a time of great change in America’s history.
Today, we can see another truth in Baldwin’s observation as it relates to our overwhelmingly fatigued system of care, and all we’ve endured and learned during the past two years.”
Social Media / Content Creation / Video Production
Saint Luke’s takes the Mannequin Challenge
In 2017, I made a bold request of our Neurology team at Saint Luke’s Hospital, asking them to participate in a viral, social media challenge that was everywhere. They gladly jumped in–and froze! The result was an award-winning video that increased followers and eyeballs!
Marketing / Copywriting / Magazine Feature
“Love in the Time of COVID”
Health Magazine, Special Edition 2020
Every couple has their own special love story. Jim and Rosie Jordan are no exception, even in the middle of a global health crisis. Jim, a resident at Anderson County Hospital’s Residential Living Center, and Rosie have been married for 65 years. With three children, nine grandchildren, and many great-grandchildren, they have experienced a wonderful life together…
Internal Communications / Ghostwriting / CEO Column
“A Million Thanks for a Thousand Hearts: A Message from Dr. Estes”
CEO Update
Celebrating a milestone of 1,000 successful heart transplants, Dr. Estes’ congratulatory column praised the health system’s renowned cardiac transplantation team. It reminded all employees of the System’s proud history of advancement and excellence.
Marketing / Crisis Communications / Copywriting
“Thank You” Print Ad
Health Magazine, Special Edition 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Saint Luke’s continually offered messages of appreciation, care, and compassion for patients, employees, and community members across the region. I crafted the message of thanks in this in-house print ad, featured in a special edition of the health system’s quarterly consumer-facing publication, Health Magazine.
Executive & Crisis Communications / Ghostwriting
“Dear Patients, Neighbors, and Friends…”
Health Magazine, Special Edition 2020
In these chaotic and confusing times, we all need the security of knowing help is nearby, ready, and waiting. With that in mind, I want to take a moment to assure you that Saint Luke’s is here, and we will continue to be throughout the entirety of this COVID-19 pandemic…
Marketing / Copywriting / Magazine Feature
Saint Luke’s: Coming Soon to a Home Near You
Hospital in Your Home Launch
Health Magazine, 2023 Vol. 1
One Tuesday last July, Margo Banks sat in an exam room in the Emergency Department at Saint Luke’s East Hospital, frustrated to be back. Two years earlier, she’d been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and this was her fifth or sixth return—she’d lost count. She didn’t want to be there. Didn’t want to be admitted, and certainly not for another multiple-night stay. But this time, it wasn’t her heart that was the concern. It was COVID-19, and it was getting worse.
Executive & External Communications / Ghostwriting / Community Letter
“A Letter to Our Neighbors”
Community Letter from Saint Luke’s Hospital CEO
As Kansas Citians, we know there’s nothing brighter or more beautiful than our Country Club Plaza neighborhood lit up for the holiday season. This year, especially, I’m inspired by the promise we see in those lights, the bright future they represent, and the loving glow of the Kansas City community they reflect.
Fundraising / Strategy / Content Creation / Social Media / Copywriting
“A Snapshot of One Moment” Fundraiser
Saint Luke’s Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer
When the Saint Luke’s Koontz Center for Advanced Breast Cancer opened in 2016, it was the first center in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the comprehensive care of Stage 4 (metastatic) breast cancer. In 2019, I led a successful fundraising initiative, in partnership with the marketing directors for the Koontz Center and the Saint Luke’s Foundation, which included social media posts and a mailer to potential donors’ homes.
Investor Relations / Project Management / Writing / Annual Report
“Performance”
PETsMART, Inc. Annual Report 2001
In 2001, I was responsible for the complete creation of the PETsMART, Inc. annual report, from theme development and copywriting to managing the graphic design agency and printer. Additionally, I authored the tagline the company adopted as its services vision and internal rallying cry: “Total Lifetime Care: Every Pet. Every Parent. Every Time.”
Investor Relations / Project Management / Writing / Annual Report
“Still hungry”
PETsMART, Inc. Annual Report 2002
In 2002, I was again tasked with creating, writing, and producing PETsMART’s Annual Report. After another year of tremendous growth and plans for more to come, I centered the report on the theme of “Still hungry.”
“I am uncomfortable talking about the things that I write. It seems unseemly to me. I have no problem at all when I see anybody else talking about the same project, but I feel my work should speak for itself.”
Aaron Sorkin
WordBird LLC 