Marisa Sharkey, MA, APR
Marisa Avallone Sharkey brings 20 years of experience leading communications to healthcare, corporate and non-profit organizations.
Throughout her career, Ms. Sharkey has planned and executed cross-discipline marketing and communications programs and provided strategic counsel on media response, community relations and organizational issues.
Ms. Sharkey has secured placements in outlets throughout the world, including Oprah!, The Today Show, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, BBC and TV Tokyo – often bringing complex medical information mainstream. Ms. Sharkey is the PR person behind the “voice lift,” a voice modification procedure that quickly became part of pop culture vernacular with an entry in the Macmillan English Dictionary and coverage in major media worldwide.
Taking her communications skills viral, Ms. Sharkey has developed social media programs that target diverse audiences, including conceptualizing and launching a blog for children featuring a hospital mascot aimed to make health care more comfortable for youngsters.
Well-versed in employee and physician communications, Ms. Sharkey has directed various internal programs, including a web-based employee suggestion program, intranets and other initiatives to engage staff and help them navigate and adopt organizational culture changes.
Ms. Sharkey’s efforts have earned numerous accolades, including awards from Healthcare Marketing Report, and PRSA Philadelphia Pepperpots, including the “Best of Show” for an institutional community campaign; and the 2004 President’s Award.
Ms. Sharkey volunteers her talent and media relations skills to the March of Dimes as part of the Philadelphia chapter’s communications committee, and serves as the media rep for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Philadelphia affiliate.
Recognized as an industry leader, she has participated in numerous panel presentations on communications and media relations, has been interviewed by industry publications, blogged for a communications website, and presented to graduate-level PR students.
In addition, Ms. Sharkey served as the 2008 President of the Philadelphia Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), which is one of the largest PRSA chapters in the country. She is currently on the executive committee/leadership board of PRSA’s Health Academy which represents health care communications professionals throughout the country.