Who We Are

One of PRNews’ 2020 Top Women in PR, Anne Woodbury is a sought-after strategic counselor who applies her unique background in government, communications and public affairs to develop breakthrough campaigns that drive improvements in health care. Anne’s belief in the transformative potential of uniting mission-minded influencers has led to the creation of new organizations, coalitions and campaigns on issues such as mental health, diabetes, obesity, transplantation, health technology and value-based purchasing. Her creation and leadership of the award-winning Advocates for Opioid Recovery organization helped earn CURA the PRovoke New Agency of the Year award in 2018 and nominations for 2020 Boutique Agency and Healthcare Agency of the Year. Anne co-founded CURA Strategies after spending over a decade at Omnicom and spent the first 12 years of her career working with former Speaker Newt Gingrich, with whom she co-authored Saving Lives & Saving Money: Transforming Health and Healthcare.

Thy-Ann has extensive experience planning and implementing strategic communications programs for clients across the health care spectrum from global corporations to non-profits. Thy-Ann has leveraged her experience to successfully execute numerous integrated communications initiatives, thought leadership campaigns, product launches and earned media efforts.

In addition to her communications expertise, Thy-Ann serves as Chief of Staff at CURA Strategies, where she oversees key operational areas including talent development, finances, employee development and business development. She plays a pivotal role in staff planning, financial management and ensuring the overall health of the organization’s internal operations.

Thy-Ann currently leads the team supporting the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session and previously supported IgA Nephropathy Foundation, Behavioral Health Group and DynamiCare Health.

Thy-Ann started her career working on global pharma and medical device clients such as Novo Nordisk, Abbott Vascular and Philips Healthcare, specifically in the areas of home health care, clinical informatics, medical imaging and cardiovascular care.

Scott Leezer is a seasoned strategic public affairs expert with over a decade of bipartisan government relations consulting experience. Scott’s genuine understanding of public policy and political landscapes helps him to develop and implement strategic policy agendas that meet his client’s goals and objectives through relationships with key stakeholders. Previously, Scott served as Director of Government Affairs at The Federal Group. Earlier in his career, Scott served as a former health aide to Senator Dick Durbin, who is currently a member of Democratic Senate leadership. Scott is also the founder of FontanBloodPump.com and is a sought speaker on heart disease advocacy. Well-connected, passionate, and highly motivated, Scott’s commitment, specifically in the areas of heart disease and veteran health, earned him PR Week’s 2019 “Most Purposeful Agency Professional.”

For more than 15 years, Sarah has helped health care clients navigate communications and advocacy challenges. On behalf of pharmaceutical companies, trade associations, nonprofits, and foundations, Sarah builds campaigns that raise awareness, change behavior, and shift policy and the federal and state levels.

Sarah joined CURA’s strategic communications team in 2025 after 13 years at GMMB, a leading D.C.-based communications firm specializing in mission-driven work. There, Sarah led strategy for clients across a range of health care issues, with a focus on patient education and access to health coverage. Known for asking smart questions and digging deep to learn the issues, Sarah helps clients set clear goals and choose the right mix of digital, earned, paid media, and advocacy to get results. Prior to GMMB, Sarah managed corporate and nonprofit accounts at advertising agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Miami, Florida.

Sarah lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and two boys.

Christine brings nearly two decades of experience in health communications, patient advocacy and rare disease, with a focus on translating complex science into compelling, actionable stories for patients, providers and other key stakeholders. She has supported pharmaceutical, biotech and cell therapy companies through high‑stakes milestones, including U.S. market entry, clinical trial recruitment and launch‑adjacent unbranded disease education campaigns, as well as FDA approvals, CRLs and IPO‑related visibility.

Prior to her communications career, Christine was decked in safety goggles and a white lab coat as a scientific researcher at the United States Department of Agriculture’s (UDSA) Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, coordinating clinical studies and co‑authoring peer‑reviewed publications—experience that grounds her communications counsel in scientific rigor and empathy for trial participants.

Christine holds an MS in Nutrition Communications and a BS in Biopsychology from Tufts University. She is also a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Stephanie Wight is a seasoned communications professional specializing in healthcare public relations. With a knack for storytelling and an eye for news, Stephanie has worked creatively over the past 12+ years to elevate the voices of key leaders, translate complex healthcare issues for lay audiences, and secure earned media coverage in legacy outlets to move the needle for clients.

At CURA, Stephanie leads media relations efforts to advance policy priorities, from expanding access to opioid treatment programs and non-invasive monitoring tools for organ transplant patients to reducing health disparities in maternal care and diabetes. She also works to elevate the profession of OB hospitalists, who provide timely and evidence-based care to pregnant women in the hospital, and highlight the important work of URAC, one of the nation's leading healthcare accreditation organizations.

Prior to joining CURA, Stephanie spent more than two years on the public health team at JPA Health where she led earned media efforts and patient education campaigns for the LUNGevity Foundation, the American Kidney Fund, U.S. Pharmacopeia, the American Gastroenterological Association, and the CDC’s Inside Knowledge campaign for gynecologic cancers.

Prior to joining JPA, Stephanie grew her career at The Reis Group, another health-focused PR agency where she led earned media activities for a national children’s health system, worked closely with leading Alzheimer’s researchers and helped drive clinical trial recruitment, led the press program for Digestive Disease Week and played a role in launching Ancestry.com’s new health product, AncestryDNA.

Stephanie has been an active member of Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), severing on the board for several years, and is a member of Michael Smart’s Inner Circle, a premier group of PR professionals who specialize in media relations.

Stephanie grew up in Maryland and graduated from University of Delaware, where she studied communications, public relations and psychology.

Adrian Dipple is a marketing executive with over a decade of experience in developing and spearheading impactful marketing programs across the health care sector for government agencies, trade associations and health corporations. Adrian is passionate about leveraging cutting-edge marketing technologies and trends to deliver exceptional customer experiences and accelerate business growth.

Prior to joining CURA, Adrian held a variety of leadership roles, most recently serving as Chief Commercialization Officer & Head of Marketing for Simpl Healthcare and Vice President of Marketing at Collaborating Docs. Earlier in his career, Adrian served as Director of Marketing and Communications for the Association of Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina, helping its members reach key legislative milestones that increased access to affordable home care throughout North Carolina. Additionally, Adrian previously developed USDA WIC’s marketing program, which led to a Medicaid partnership for cross-eligibility which vastly expanded access to the program for low-income families.

Adrian lives in Washington, DC with his family and is a private pilot and avid chess player.

Sarah Farinelli has over six years of experience providing strategic communications counsel to Fortune 500 companies, biotechs, hospitals, and healthcare advocacy organizations. Over her tenure, she has helped manage external and internal communications efforts for multiple product launches in oncology for global pharmaceutical clients, led patient and advocate programming, and supported several unbranded patient education and disease awareness campaigns in the oncology, rare disease, and neurology spaces. She has driven media outreach efforts across key regulatory milestones and major congresses, and has traditional and digital media expertise across the healthcare space with specialized experience in influencer identification, recruitment, and engagement.

At CURA, Sarah leads strategic communications on behalf of Kvyerna Therapeutics, the Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition and Diabetes Leadership Council, the West Health Policy Center and The Leapfrog Group. Sarah currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina, and has her B.A. in Political Science from the University of Miami.

With a background in communications consulting and innovation design, Angie approaches design as both a creative and strategic practice. She holds a Master’s in UX Design and approaches her work with a commitment to honesty, accuracy, and thoughtful problem-solving. Growing up in a family of artists gave her early exposure to visual communication and a lifelong appreciation for design as a tool for clarity and impact.

Emily Crouch is a seasoned government relations professional with extensive experience in both the legislative and health care sectors. As Senior Manager of Government Relations, she collaborates with clients to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies.

Prior to this role, Emily spent three years on Capitol Hill, where she worked for four U.S. Senators, gaining in-depth knowledge of the legislative process and policymaking. She then transitioned to the nonprofit sector, where she spent two and a half years designing and leading a bipartisan leadership development program for early-career Congressional staff. Through this initiative, she helped cultivate the next generation of public policy leaders, fostering cross-party collaboration and strategic engagement.

Emily brings a deep understanding of legislative affairs, stakeholder engagement, and leadership development to her role. Her experience navigating both government and nonprofit landscapes positions her as a trusted advisor for clients seeking to advance their policy objectives.

Patrick Meade is a government relations and advocacy professional who specializes in congressional engagement and developing grassroots programs for patient organizations and mission-driven healthcare companies. Since joining CURA in 2020, he has advanced policy efforts in rare kidney disease, organ transplantation, congenital heart disease, military family quality of life, and infection prevention.

He leads research and development for CURA’s Health Policy Profiles series, first launched in 2020 and published on a biennial basis.

Patrick is active in the Society of Health Policy Young Professionals (SHPYP), Electing a Democratic Generation (EDGE), and the Blue Dog Caucus. Before joining CURA, he earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, and interned with two members of Maryland’s congressional delegation.

With a strong background developing media outreach programs and social media content strategy, Laura is passionate about developing creative communication plans that exceed goals and drive tangible results.

Having worked with a variety of clients in the rare disease, immunology, gastroenterology, sleep, and micro-robotics spaces, she has experience across healthcare sectors including biopharma, medtech, and nonprofit management. Laura is also passionate about patient advocacy and ensuring that the patient experience is heard, understood, and valued in larger decision-making processes.

Prior to joining CURA Strategies, Laura worked at Health+Commerce, a health care PR and digital marketing agency, where she primarily focused on corporate and regulatory communications. Laura graduated from Villanova University with a B.A. in Political Science and Communications (Public Relations).

Cole combines his passion for creativity and strategic thinking to create effective communication solutions. His expertise spans graphic design, healthcare innovation, and product marketing, giving him a distinct perspective that propels campaigns and brands forward.

Before his tenure at CURA, Cole worked in healthcare and agency settings. He began his career as a medical research assistant, focusing on pediatric orthopedic surgery, where he discovered his interest in clinical care. Subsequently, he expanded his expertise by working with startups and healthcare systems, assuming patient engagement and business development roles. During this time, Cole also explored integrated communication strategy, branding and content creation through creative agency experience.

Most recently, Cole contributed as a Cleveland Clinic Innovations (CCI) marketing consultant. In this role, he managed internal communications with clinicians and spearheaded external marketing efforts for new medical devices, therapies, and Health IT technologies.

Cole holds a bachelor’s degree in public health and a master’s degree in healthcare administration, both from George Washington University.

Marlena combines her love for writing and social media into her everyday work as a strategic public relations professional and digital strategist. She has experience working with health care clients on advocacy campaigns and corporate communications across biopharma, diagnostics, and medical associations. ​

Before joining CURA, Marlena supported cancer diagnostic company, Foundation Medicine, in project management, media monitoring, content development, and social media initiatives like promoting conference attendance, expanding the reach of thought leadership pieces, and sparking follower growth. Marlena also worked closely with the American Medical Association’s grassroots advocacy department, leading their social media and digital advocacy campaigns targeting patients, physicians, and policymakers. Through this work, she supported content development and advertising efforts across major social media platforms, including Meta, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter), as well as the execution of mobile display, CTV, out-of-home, and print advertisements.

Marlena graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in Advertising & Public Relations with minors in Digital Media Trends & Analytics and Psychology. In her spare time, Marlena is an avid reader and cook.

Casey is an emerging digital strategist and public relations professional with a passion for creative writing and a commitment to making a difference.

With an educational background and specialization in nonprofit communications, Casey leverages her expertise in both advocacy and health policy, having contributed to pivotal moments on The Hill and helped build up grassroots advocacy communities. She stays ahead of emerging social trends, using her innate analytical mindset to craft tailored strategies that amplify each client's unique voice.

Casey started her career working in-house at a fast-growing international pharmaceutical company. Her experience and relationships there led her to the public affairs and public relations hub of DC, where she now thrives.

She takes pride in her glass-half-full mindset and conscientious work ethic, delivering personalized solutions ensures valuable support for every project.

Juliet Thomas is a strategic public relations professional with several years of experience across professional services verticals such as health care, technology, government and social impact.

As a Senior Account Executive, she specializes in media relations, social media strategy, and content development. Through her focused interest in media relations, Juliet secures top-tier media coverage, fosters reporter relationships, creates earned media outreach strategies and trains subject matter experts in media relations. Driven by a keen interest in the intersection of policy and public relations, she brings a unique perspective to deliver communications strategies for complex and technical environments.

Juliet holds a BS in Strategic Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a minor in Political Science from West Virginia University.

A storyteller at heart, Janay believes that behind every health initiative is a human story waiting to be told. Before joining CURA, she spent five years as a local TV anchor and reporter, mastering the art of building trust and uncovering the "why" behind the headlines. Today, Janay applies her reporter’s eye to healthcare, helping clients navigate the media landscape through authentic storytelling that connects communities and moves public health forward.

Hannah Melnick is a public relations professional with experience supporting corporate communications, brand storytelling, and media strategy for clients across health care innovation, public health and mission-driven sectors.

At CURA, Hannah supports integrated communications efforts for clients in the advocacy and nonprofit health spaces, contributing to media relations, stakeholder engagement, and strategic messaging.

Prior to joining CURA, Hannah collaborated with Edelman-Smithfield on the development of a corporate narrative evaluator using emerging AI tools. She also partnered with Real Chemistry and Syracuse University to educate students on opportunities in health care communications, alongside Real Chemistry founder Jim Weiss.

Originally from Boston, MA, Hannah now resides in Arlington, VA. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies with a certificate in Digital Media and a minor in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Master of Science in Public Relations with an emphasis in Financial and Investor Communications from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Grace Salus is an emerging public relations professional with a passion for the health care sector, creative content strategy, and digital communications. She has experience working with mission-driven clients and is motivated to make a positive impact.

At CURA, Grace began her career as an intern, collaborating with multiple account teams and supporting internal project management and social media content. She now serves as an Assistant Account Executive, where she helps coordinate targeted media outreach and develops strategic messaging for campaigns.

Prior to joining CURA, Grace strengthened her media relations skills through extensive internship experiences at a health and wellness agency, global health care company, a branding and creative agency, and a nonprofit organization. Additionally, she contributed as a Creative Member at Elon University’s student-run agency and served as Vice President of her campus PRSSA chapter.

Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Grace now resides in Washington, D.C. She holds a B.A. in Strategic Communications with minors in Human Service Studies and Psychology from Elon University.

Madelyn is an emerging government relations and advocacy professional with a passion for advancing health policy. With experience in state-level politics and supporting coalitions and clients across the pharmaceutical and nonprofit sectors, she brings a background grounded in practical, people-centered policy solutions.

At CURA Strategies, Madelyn began her career as an intern and now serves as an Assistant Account Executive. In this role, she supports policy initiatives focused on congenital heart disease, quality of life for military families, rare kidney disease, organ transplantation, and substance use disorder recovery.

Fernando is an administrative professional with experience in law firms, customer service and the hospitality industry. Renowned for his reliability and efficiency, he manages CURA’s daily office operations. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, Fernando supports client projects with translation services. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Legal Assistance from UDC, deepening his understanding of legal and administrative processes.