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Hannah joined Penn Medicine as a press officer in 2019. As the team’s Assistant Director for Strategic Communications, Hannah works with faculty, researchers, students, residents, and fellows to share their breakthroughs, clinical research, and inspiring patient stories. She also edits Penn Medicine’s award-winning Facts & Figures publication—a comprehensive, pocket-sized, annual report which summarizes the organization’s fiscal information and accomplishments. Hannah previously worked at Edelman New York’s Corporate Affairs practice, leading strategic communications programs for higher education, technology, and food and beverage clients. There, she generated national media coverage, managed social media campaigns, and drove thought leadership programs. Hannah is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Arts and Sciences, where she earned degrees in public relations and psychology.

Caren Begun has 24 years of public relations experience, predominantly in healthcare. Throughout her career, Caren has collaborated on strategic planning and media relations to support pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, manufacturing, and medical device companies. She has particular expertise in publicizing clinical research and regulatory approvals, engaging media around medical meetings, and shaping patient and caregiver experiences into compelling stories. She has also built a strong rapport with oncology trade publications and patient advocacy organizations. Before joining Penn Medicine in August 2021, she served as Senior Media Relations Specialist for New Jersey-based PR agency Green Room Communications, where she worked since 2012. 

Alex joined Penn Medicine in 2019 after more than five years as a journalist, many of which were spent on staff at Men’s Health magazine. He has reported on a wide variety of health and science topics including cardiovascular disease, urological health, and Infectious Diseases, often working with clinicians and researchers all over the world to accurately report the latest research news. His writing and editorial contributions have appeared in print, online, and on the airwaves. Alex has a passion for communication and a bachelor’s degree in English from Muhlenberg College.

Lauren joined Penn Medicine as a press officer in 2019. She worked previously as a News Manager at Drexel University, where she generated national media attention about advancements in health care, engineering and biomedical research. Before returning to her hometown of Philadelphia, she was a science writer for publications at the George Washington University, where she covered a variety of topics, including infectious diseases, neuroscience and public health. She has also completed internships at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Inside Higher Ed and USA Today. Lauren is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, where she earned degrees in journalism and English.

Sophie joined Penn Medicine as a press officer in 2021 after two years as a communications manager with the American Red Cross. There, she generated media coverage for the organization’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Region on everything from blood donation to local and national disaster responses. Prior to that, Sophie worked in TV news for six years reporting on a wide range of topics at WMBD31 News in Peoria, Illinois, NBC-2 in Ft. Myers, Florida, and NewsChannel5 in Nashville, Tennessee. Sophie is a graduate of Elon University in North Carolina where she earned a degree in journalism.

Kelsey Odorczyk joined Penn Medicine as a press officer in 2021 after six years in book publishing, first at Penguin Random house, and most recently at Basic Books, a division of Hachette Book Group. There, she generated national media campaigns for a wide range of nonfiction books, including To End a Presidency by Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz, and The First Cell by Azra Raza. She graduated from Fordham University with a BA in Communications, and minor in Visual Arts.

Frank joined Penn Medicine in 2018 with almost four years’ experience in health care and university communications, with specific experience generating media attention in areas including public health, therapy, biology and physics. Frank began his career as a print journalist with the Pottstown Mercury and Delaware County Daily Times, where he covered everything from spot news to public meetings and high school sports. Frank is a graduate of the School of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Ylonda has been providing administrative support for the Department of Communications since October 2000. She coordinates the day-to-day operations of the department, handles budget development, invoice processing, front office reception and outgoing/incoming mail. She also assists in web research; maintenance of appropriate inventory; composes, reviews and edits documents; organizes and maintains files and databases; and general clerical support.

Ylonda has been with the Health System for more than 10 years and was previously with the Department of Dermatology.

Sally Sapega served for more than two decades as the editor of both HUPdate, the monthly employee publication of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and System News, the internal publication for UPHS. In this role, she sought out story ideas, wrote articles, took photographs for stories, and coordinated both the design and the distribution for both publications. Following her retirement from her full-time role in July 2021, Sally continues to contribute to Penn Medicine publications as a writer of selected stories.

Julie joined Penn Medicine as a communications specialist in 2021 after twice working as the department’s communications intern in separate terms beginning in 2019 and 2020. She currently serves at the editor of What's New — the monthly internal publications for Pennsylvania Hospital. She also supports the department with writing, digital production, media relations, social media, and other needs. She has a background in writing and video production, serving as a producer for her campus TV station and features editor of the university newspaper, in addition to being president of her school’s chapter of the Association for Women in Communications. She received her BA in Communication from La Salle University in 2020, where she also received her MA in Strategic Communication in 2021.