Anne Banner

Manager, Communications and Media Relations
Contact: 202-994-2261
Email: mcmacb@gwumc.edu

Contact Anne for:

• Scheduling media interviews
• Writing press releases
• Strategic communications plans

As the manager of communications and media relations, Anne serves as the main media contact for the GW Medical Center. Anne drafts and edits media materials, including news releases, tip sheets, media plans, talking points, briefing documents, fact sheets, ad copy, and collateral materials. She also serves as a contributing writer for the Medical Center newsletter, Web site, magazine, and the Cancer Institute's annual report and newsletter. Anne manages medical center partnerships and events by maintaining relationships with community partners and Medical Center faculty.

Anne has extensive media and management experience in the field of health, and came to GW from the Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation, where she was the manager of external affairs. She has also worked as an account executive for The Aker Partners, the Media Coordinator for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, and was an Account Executive for Fleishman-Hillard. Anne is a graduate of the University of Missouri.

Marla Bolotsky

Manager, Communications and Marketing, School of Public Health and Health Services (SPHHS)
Contact: 202-994-7801
Email: sphmjb@gwumc.edu

Contact Marla for:

• Communications and marketing needs at SPHHS

As the manager of communications and marketing in the School of Public Health and Health Services, Marla Bolotsky consults departments and organizations interested in expanding the reach of their work through marketing and email campaigns, partnership development, site design, and other electronic and strategic communications efforts.

Marla has more than 20 years' experience working in the non-profit and foundation sectors and is an expert in strategic communications, electronic communications, marketing and outreach, Web site design/redesign and usability analysis. Marla previously served as the vice president and director of online communications and publishing for the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, where she led the foundation's efforts to expand its online capabilities and created kaisernetwork.org, the foundation's health policy information and news summary service. Further, Marla has served as a contributing columnist for the Los Angeles Times, where she reviewed health care Web sites.

Dawn Garrott

Photographer
Contact: 202-994-2904
Email: photo@gwumc.edu

Contact Dawn for:

• Event, studio, or location photography
• Finding existing stock or event photos

As the Biomedical Communications photographer, Dawn shoots location, portraiture, and medical photographs. She photographs major GWUMC events, including guest speakers, receptions, and press conferences. Dawn also photographs people, including portrait, action, and environmental shots of faculty, residents, and medical students. Dawn has extensive digital imaging experience, and, when not taking pictures, she is busy scanning slides for powerpoint, retouching old photographs, printing posters, and preparing pictures for promotional use in publications and Web sites.

Dawn has worked at GW since 2005 and is a graduate of Shepherd University, where she earned a bachelor of fine arts with a concentration in photography.

Jewels Gundrum

Executive Coordinator
Contact: 202-994-2555
Email: mcmjmg@gwumc.edu

Contact Jewels for:

• General marketing and communications questions
• Administrative and financial matters
• Business cards and letterhead

As executive coordinator, Jewels monitors news feeds as they relate to GWUMC, its faculty, and its students. She incorporates this information along with news items and events to create and distribute Weekly Briefing, GWUMC’s weekly electronic newsletter. Further, she writes the “Round of Applause” section for Progress, GWUMC’s monthly publication. Jewels manages the budget for both MCCM and large-scale events such as the NBC 4 Health and Fitness Expo, which she also helps coordinate. Among other administrative duties, Jewels handles billing inquires as they pertain to communication and marketing and biomedical communications, organizes new staff orientations, and creates business cards for the Medical Center.

Previously, Jewels worked for BB&T as a relationship banker. She is a graduate of James Madison University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in media arts and design with a concentration in print journalism and two minors in sociology and communication. At JMU, she was a yearbook staff photographer for the Bluestone.

Melissa Kadish

Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Contact: 202-994-8874
Email: mcmmsk@gwumc.edu

Contact Melissa for:

• Communications, marketing, or media relations needs

As communications coordinator, Melissa Kadish conducts media relations, writes stories and content for various Medical Center publications, and provides event support.

With a background in public relations, Melissa has experience working at a national association and a communications agency. At the American Society of Landscape Architects, Melissa managed communications efforts for the association’s 48 regional chapters and represented ASLA at trade events. She also spent three years at Tierney Communications, working on public relations and public affairs campaigns for the Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Wal-Mart and Exelon. Melissa holds a bachelor's degree in public relations from Penn State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in strategic public relations from GW.

Thomas Kohout

• Placing a news item or story in Progress

Thomas Kohout serves as editor of Progress, GW’s internal-audience newsletter covering the news, events, research, and accomplishments of the Medical Center community; and Cancer Chronicles, a quarterly newsletter featuring the news and accomplishments of the GW Cancer Institute and its partners. Thom also serves as managing editor of Fusion, the annual student-run scientific journal of GW's Beaumont Medical Research Honor Society, and he contributes photography, design, and event support for MCCM, as well as stories and content for GW Medicine and Health magazine.

Thom has more than 15 years of publishing experience developing content and materials for advertising and marketing campaigns, newsletters, newspapers, magazines, and journals. He has served as a writer, photographer, designer, and editor with organizations such as the Thompson Publishing Group and the American Statistical Association, as well as two branches of The George Washington University (University Relations and MCCM). In those positions Thom has developed and launched several new periodicals, implemented major product redesigns, and led a pair of award-winning publications.

James Kraetz

• Web design, development, and updates for SPHHS

As the senior programmer/analyst for the School of Public Health and Health Services, James Kraetz updates content on SPHHS and GWUMC Web sites, designs and constructs new Web sites, and works closely with students, faculty, staff, and alumni associations to develop supportive applications.

James created one of the world’s only MPH Practicum Management Web sites and also developed a course evaluation system that improved the response rates. Originally from Syracuse, NY, James has worked for GWUMC since 2007 and is a two-time nominee for the "Service Excellence Award."

Adrian Granzella Larssen

Manager, Marketing, Communications and Events
Contact: 202-994-6531
Email: mcmagl@gwumc.edu

Contact Adrian for:

• Marketing and advertising plans
• Placing news items or stories in GW Medicine and Health magazine
• Copywriting, editing, and publication text

As manager of communications, marketing, and events, Adrian develops and executes communications and marketing plans that promote the image and activities of GWUMC. She is the managing editor for GW Medicine and Health, for which she also writes, produces, and distributes. Adrian works with departments and programs within the Medical Center to develop marketing collateral, including admissions viewbooks, brochures, newsletters, and event programs and materials. She also plans targeted print and online media campaigns. Further, Adrian is involved with events like the GW Cancer Gala, for which she manages event materials, Web sites, and communications outreach.

Adrian has extensive marketing, communications, and event planning experience. Before joining GW, Adrian worked as a marketing manager for Ratner Companies, where she developed and evaluated marketing programs, wrote communications and promotional materials, and oversaw brands’ productivity and budget. She also worked for Pepperdine University as the manager of special events, as well as for public relations and integrated marketing agencies. Adrian holds a BA and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

Michael Leong

Digital Imaging Coordinator/Medical Photographer
Contact: 202-994-3621
Email: bmcmal@gwumc.edu

Contact Michael for:

• Graphic design services

As the digital imaging coordinator for the Department of Biomedical Communications, Michael produces brochures, posters, and publications for the GW Medical Center. An experienced photographer, Michael also contributes to the photography department, specializing in public relations and medical photography. Further, Michael produces digital composites, and performs image enhancements and repairs.

Michael began his career at GW in 2000 as a medical photographer and soon expanded his position to include graphic design. Michael graduated from Towson State University in 1994 and later received a certification in medical photography from The John Hopkins University Medical Center.

Barbara McGowan

Associate Director for Biomedical Communications
Contact: 202-994-2904
Email: bmcben@gwumc.edu

As the associate director, Barbara McGowan heads the Biomedical Communications department, which includes photography, graphic design and on-demand copy services. Barbara is an accomplished photographer and supervises and coordinates photographic operations for the Medical Center.

With The George Washington University for more than 25 years, Barbara possesses a wealth of knowledge in efficient and effective operations for Biomedical Communications. She has received numerous awards, and her work has appeared in various books and magazines. Barbara is a graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received her degree in biology and photography.

Anna Miller

Writer
Contact: 202-994-4643
Email: mcmamm@gwumc.edu

As the communications and marketing writer, Anna writes for various Medical Center publications, including GW Medicine and Health, the biannual magazine for GWUMC alumni, students, residents, and faculty; Cancer Chronicles, a quarterly newsletter featuring the news and accomplishments of the GW Cancer Institute and its partners; and Progress, GW’s internal-audience newsletter. Anna also conducts research and interviews for articles, and assists in writing news updates for the GWUMC Web site.

Anna is a 2009 graduate of high distinction from the University of Michigan, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Gender and Health. At UofM, Anna was initiated into the national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.

Vaibhav Pradhan

• Web design, development, and updates

As senior programmer analyst for the GW Medical Center, Vaibhav Pradhan maintains the Web sites hosted by the GWUMC server. Specifically, he plans new Web sites, redesigns current sites, and works with clients on ongoing updates. Vaibhav also performs code work and provides technical support to the staff.

Vaibhav has extensive coding experience with various technologies. His clients have included Fannie Mae, Georgetown University, and Bluewatermedia, where he worked closely with approximately 400 clients for regular maintenance of their Web sites. Vaibhav earned his diploma in computer technology and bachelor’s in computer engineering from the University of Mumbai and his masters in computer science from The George Washington University.