The New England Society for Healthcare Communications (NESHCo) is pleased to announce that Thomas Hanley, APR, Director of Public Relations for Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, Conn., was awarded the prestigious Evans Houghton Award at NESHCo’s annual meeting. Hanley’s accomplishments during his 20-year career in communications include being named the first “PR media spokesperson of the year for crisis communications in a non profit” by nationally-renowned PR News and CommCore Consulting earlier this year. Hanley has served since 1988 as Director of Public Relations at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and its predecessor, Newington Children’s Hospital. He previously served as Director of Public Relations at Mount Sinai Hospital and Corporate Communications Officer at Society for Saving in Hartford. He earned his APR accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America in 1992 and served on the NESHCo Board of Directors from 1991 to 1993. He is a resident of Marlborough, Connecticut. “Tom was not merely a board member, he was a true leader,” said Kate Tarbox, President of KDT Communications of Springvale, Maine, and a Past President of NESHCo. “It was his ability to bring about consensus and a feeling of unity that moved many things forward for our organization. You never sat at the board table without feeling his presence and relying on his counsel and NESHCo benefited greatly from the many years he gave to the group.” In 1974, the Evans Houghton Award was established by the Society’s Board of Directors to honor the memory of Evans F. Houghton, one of the Society’s founders. The award is presented annually when, in the judgment of the nominating committee, there is a candidate worthy of the honor. “Tom Hanley's career-long commitment to open and transparent communication is something we must all strive for in our own work and our own institutions,” said Jim Rattray, Chief Communications Officer for Southcoast Health System in New Bedford, Mass., and the 2004 Evans Houghton recipient and NESHCo board member. “Tom is a role model for PR pros and a pace-setter in helping organizations navigate through difficult situations.” The Evans Houghton Award is presented in “acknowledgment of exemplary performance in, and significant contribution to, the field of health care public relations, or marketing; in appreciation for selfless devotion and dedication to other practitioners without thought of personal gain, and in recognition of those who boldly challenge themselves and peers to excel to only the highest standards of conduct and professionalism.” |