Public relations professionals at the University of Rochester were recognized with six PRism Awards and five Awards of Excellence during the 2015 Rochester Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America PRism Awards ceremony on Thursday, June 18. The annual ceremony celebrates excellence in the field of public relations and communications in the Greater Rochester area over the past year. Rochester’s communications staff was awarded for their promotion of the research, innovations, services, and initiatives on the River Campus and the Medical Center.
The Medical Center’s public relations team was among the evening’s top winners, earning four PRism awards and three Awards of Excellence. Karin Christensen was honored with a PRism Award in the Service Communications category for her article featuring “UR Medicine Strong West,” a new off-campus Emergency Department in Brockport. Emily Boynton, Kate Krueger, and Chris DiFrancesco were recognized with a PRism in the Crisis and Issues Management Communications category for their efforts in Ebola preparedness at Strong Memorial Hospital. Christine Roth and Nora Hicks won a PRism in the Internal Communications category for the “University of Rochester Employee Wellness Program,” and Jeff Mead and Leslie White took home a PRism award in the External Video category for “UR Medicine Shines Spotlight on Two Hearts in Love.”
An Award of Excellence in the Institutional/Image Communications/Not-for-Profit category went to Leslie Orr, Lydia Fernandez, and DiFrancesco for promotion of the new James P. Wilmot Cancer Institute and $30 million research campaign that brings cutting-edge care and latest findings to cancer patients throughout Western New York. Heather Hare, Sean Dobbin, and Becca Youmell were honored with an Award of Excellence in the Feature Story category through placement of a Democrat & Chronicle story sharing the narrative of a 3-year-old cancer patient, Amanda, and how the Palliative Care team at Golisano Children’s Hospital helps children like her live life to the fullest. Telling a story of love found through undergoing heart transplants, White was acknowledged with an Award of Excellence in the News Release category with “Two Heart Transplants Lead to One Romance.”
On the River Campus, University Communications earned two PRism Awards and two Awards of Excellence. A PRism Award in the website category went to Lori Packer, Dawn Wendt, Sofia Tokar, Mike Osadciw, Adam Fenster, and Peter Iglinski for executing a Lego April Fool’s Day homepage takeover on the Rochester website. Science writer Leonor Sierra also received a PRism Award in the news release category for her story on superhydrophobic materials. University Videographer Matt Mann took home an Award of Excellence in the External Video category for his visual portrayal of superhydrophobic materials, and an Award of Excellence went to Adam Fenster for his photo, “Cloaked Eye,” how a lens array can be used to make objects seemingly vanish.
