2023 Call for Presentations
PRSA 2023 Health Academy Conference
October 13 – 15, 2023
Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, TN
Proposal Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EDT, Friday, April 28
Read through these guidelines carefully to ensure that your proposal meets the criteria.
Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. EDT, Friday, April 28.
About the PRSA Health Academy
The PRSA Health Academy is a group of nearly 900 members representing hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, insurers, agencies, foundations, and medical and dental associations. We’re focused on engaging health care communicators in dialogue about the latest tools and trends. We provide in-person programs, publications and virtual networks to help you enhance the value and impact of public relations at your organization.
About the PRSA Health Academy Conference
This conference attracts nationally renowned speakers from all sectors and industries including health care organizations, major media outlets, global publications and public relations agencies. In today’s rapidly changing health care communications and public relations environment, it is more important than ever that conference attendees have the opportunity to learn relevant ideas and skills.
- Nearly 40% were directors or other senior-level public relations professionals, and 26% held the title of vice president or higher.
- 30% were from hospitals or clinics, and 20% were from pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
- 27% represented public relations/communications firms, and 10% represented media/media services companies.
Proposal Guidelines
- To participate in this conference, please submit an innovative and compelling presentation proposal that supports health care communications.
- Presentations must be relevant to the field of health care public relations and targeted to mid- to senior-level professionals.
- The practical strategies in your proposal can focus on both traditional and new forms of communication outreach as they pertain to health care transformation—media relations, social media, public policy, traditional public relations and integrated marketing.
- Feedback has shown that conference attendees are interested in the integration of traditional and social media, as well as public policy and public relations campaigns.
- Proposals that are generic in nature and not relevant to health care communicators will not be considered.
Who Is Permitted to Present?
- Proposals may be submitted by public relations/communications professionals and educators including individuals from nonprofit organizations and government health agencies.
- Submissions will also be accepted from other field-related experts such as management consultants, journalists, graphic designers, interactive communications researchers and social media and communications measurement consultants or practitioners.
- For public relations agencies and organizations that provide services in health care communications, proposals must be noncommercial and submitted with a case study, and the client also must co-present.
What Kind of Presentation Should I Propose?
- Conference attendees represent pharmaceutical, hospital/provider, payer/insurer, government and association/nonprofit sectors of public relations.
- Presentations should be targeted to one or more of these groups.
- You can share your expertise and experience on topics such as integration of public policy and communications programs, managing the new marketing mix, or communicating with/to different audiences such as patients, health community members and experts, health media, clinicians or other stakeholders.
Topics of Interest for Presentations Include:
- Best practices in media relations, social media and crisis communications
- Ethical challenges
- Effective measurement strategies
- Impact of virtual agencies
- New roles for public relations pros
Sessions last approximately 60 minutes and are most effective when interactive, compelling and engaging. Presentations should have a combined focus on current theory, strategy and practice. In preparation, ask yourself the following questions:
What can conference attendees take home from my session to use in their own health care communications settings?
How can I clearly convey what does and doesn’t work when it comes to navigating the evolving industry landscape?
What Do You Need From Me?
This year, submit your innovative and compelling presentation proposal online.
Please note the “Brief Description” section of the online portal is the description that will appear in the conference program should your session be selected. Please ensure that the description accurately defines your presentation.
Speaker Expenses and Compensation
PRSA does not pay for expenses (such as hotel and airfare when applicable), nor offer speaker stipends. Speakers will receive a complimentary conference registration, which includes access to all
general sessions and networking functions.
Accepted Speakers and Proposals: Potential Actions
The Health Academy Conference Committee reserves the right to request potential speakers’ participation in general panel sessions in lieu of their proposed session.
Presented Sessions Following Conference
Speaker presentations will be collected and made available to conference attendees and Health Academy members after the conference. Handouts are appreciated and will be posted online.
Sponsorship Opportunities
We have several targeted sponsorship opportunities available. Prospective sponsors should contact PRSA Events Manager Amy Moore via email at amy.moore@prsa.org or (212) 460-0302.
Questions?
Contacts:
PRSA Events Manager Amy Moore via email at amy.moore@prsa.org or (212) 460-0302
PRSA 2022 Health Academy Chair Jason Carlton, APR via email at jason.carlton@imail.org or (801) 668-6690
Carrie
Strehlau, 2023 Health Academy Conference Chair via email at carrie.strehlau@stjude.org or (901) 297-9875