Philadelphia-based Healthcare Public Relations Professional Wins Noted Achievement Award
Leigh Fazzina Honored by Public Relations Society of America’s Philadelphia Chapter
King of Prussia, PA, December 8, 2008 - The Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Philadelphia chapter named Leigh Fazzina, Director of Public Relations at MediciGlobal, the global leader in patient recruitment and retention for adult and pediatric clinical trials, the recipient of the Maxine Elkin Award for her leadership, professionalism, integrity, passion and commitment to advancing the public relations profession. The award was presented to Leigh at the chapter’s Annual Pepperpot and Achievement Awards Ceremony, December 4, 2008, at the Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia.
The late public relations professional Maxine Elkin was a great asset to the Public Relations Society of America’s Philadelphia Chapter. Award nominees must achieve her standard as a “person who excels in education either through mentoring and/or teaching and whose efforts help shape the careers of future public relations professionals or their contributions to PRSSA (the student society).” Leigh was unaware of her nomination by colleagues. A panel of judges then selected her for her dedication, passion, and active involvement in her profession.
I nominated Leigh for this award to honor her for all that she does in promoting public relations. I have worked with Leigh on two separate occasions (first as a college student intern) and now as a public relations professional. I feel very fortunate to learn from someone so motivated and passionate about her work,” said Lindsey Lewis, Public Relations Coordinator at MediciGlobal.
Leigh’s public relations career has spanned 15 years but she is far from reaching her peak. Whatever project she takes on she continues to be a rising star. With a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and a concentration in public relations and journalism from Rider University in New Jersey, Leigh has applied her degree to a wide range of varying PR perspectives in the healthcare industry. She has experience with the healthcare aspect of public relations (pharmaceutical and hospital), the agency aspect, and working for leading global public relations agencies, such as Ruder Finn, as well as medical societies, such as the prestigious American College of Physicians.
On a daily basis Leigh is directing, developing and managing global PR programs for numerous MediciGlobal pharmaceutical and biotech clients, as well as for MediciGlobal itself. Her work is assisting the MediciGlobal team with bringing new prescription medicines to market and to patients faster, which saves biopharmaceutical companies time and money, critical factors in today’s economic environment.
Leigh is a national board member of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Health Academy. She has served on its Board of Directors since 2003. Since taking this position Leigh has chaired the Communications, Promotions, Marketing and Sponsorship Committees. In her first year as Sponsorship Chair, Leigh nearly doubled the sponsor revenue from the previous year and in 2005 she was honored with the organization’s “2005 Volunteer of the Year Award” for making meaningful contributions to the mission of the organization and enhancing the healthcare public relations profession.
Leigh is currently co-chairing the organization’s 2009 annual conference entitled “Leveraging Social Media in Healthcare Public Relations: Innovations & Strategies for Enhanced Consumer Engagement.”
Leigh serves as a professional mentor for the PRSA New Professionals Mentor Program where she mentors young PR professionals around the country to help guide them in their PR career path and the industry, and she also serves as a Senior Judge of the national PRSA Bronze Anvil Awards. In May 2009, Leigh will serve as an adjunct professor at Temple University teaching a masters level healthcare communications class.
“I am honored to receive this award for doing something that I absolutely love doing – public relations. I thoroughly enjoy my career, the public relations profession, and I am committed to getting involved professionally wherever I can, to not only learn - but to give back and help other young PR professionals grow. I can’t imagine doing anything less,” said Leigh.
Liz Moench, President and CEO of MediciGlobal says, “Like the award’s namesake, Leigh inspires others in public relations both professionally and personally. We are so proud that Leigh has been recognized for her contributions by receiving this year’s Maxine Elkin award.”
About the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)
The Public Relations Society of America (http://www.prsa.org), headquartered in New York City, is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals with nearly 32,000 professional and student members. PRSA is organized into 109 Chapters and 10 Districts nationwide, and 20 Professional Interest Sections and Affinity Groups, which represent business and industry, counseling firms, independent practitioners, military, government, associations, hospitals, schools, professional services firms and nonprofit organizations. The Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has 296 Chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States, and one Chapter in Argentina.
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About MediciGlobal
MediciGlobal is in the business of making a meaningful difference to patient health—by identifying and engaging patients for clinical trials, and by building deep and lasting connections with our many stakeholders. Our clinical trial recruitment practices are guided by global standards and by our concern for the lives of the patients who put their trust in us. We’re also making certain that those who participate in these trials fully understand what clinical trial participation means, and that their participation is guarded by strict privacy policies. MediciGlobal meets BBB OnLine® and WBENC accreditation standards and is certified as a Safe Harbor company. Visit www.mediciglobal.com and follow the company on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MediciGlobal.
www.mediciglobal.com
For further information contact:
Alicia Carango
+1 484-674-6855
acarango@MediciGlobal.com
