Leonardtown, Maryland – MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital’s Marketing, Public Relations, and Philanthropy Department earned five healthcare marketing awards through the Aster Awards Program, an elite competition dedicated to recognizing excellence in medical marketing, and the Advertising Awards from Healthcare Marketing Report (HMR), a publications group focused on marketing news and information from around the nation in the field of higher education and healthcare. The nationally-recognized awards are not a new feat for the Marketing team at MedStar St. Mary’s, who in fact have won more than 22 Aster Awards and eight HMR Awards throughout the past 10 years.
Earning an Aster Gold Award in the publication series category was The Pulse, the hospital’s monthly internal newsletter for associates. Also winning an Aster Gold Award were the promotional materials for the hospital’s 2014 Wrapped in Red Foundation Gala. An annual fundraiser held each November, the Gala raised more than $197,000 for hospital scholarships, capital projects, and new equipment. MedStar St. Mary’s won their third Aster Award in the TV / Video Advertising category for their “I Am the Patient Experience” Video located on the home page their website. Coming in at the Bronze level, the hospital utilized the help of Advertising Agency EFX Media from Arlington, Virginia, to develop the video.
Both the patient experience video and promotional materials for the 2014 Wrapped in Red Foundation Gala also placed at the Silver level for the Advertising Awards through HMR, in the digital video and special events categories, respectively. MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital was the only MedStar entity within the 2015 winners list to collect two awards from HMR.
“I’m consistently proud of the marketing products and publications this team delivers. Each one is a reflection of the culture of quality that exists throughout all of MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital,” said Holly Meyer, Director of Marketing, Public Relations and Philanthropy at MSMH. “It’s a mental boost to be recognized among thousands of entries across the nation in our industry and others – especially when we write and design most of the work ourselves in-house then work with local printers, photographers and videographers to produce the final product.”
The Marketing, Public Relations and Philanthropy Department includes six associates in addition to Meyer – Jennifer Eubanks, philanthropy officer; Jeni Irwin, marketing coordinator; Rachel Lytle and Deborah Gross, writers; and Nicki Strickland and Ruby Hawks, graphic designers.