About Us

Anne Woodbury is a recognized healthcare strategist with a proven track record of successfully designing and executing multifaceted public affairs and communications campaigns that drive transformational change. From non-profits to Fortune 50 corporations, she has worked with medical device and pharmaceutical companies, health tech start-ups, home health providers and health trade associations to make a positive impact on people’s lives.

Anne Woodbury

CEO and Founder

Thy-Ann Nguyen has extensive experience planning and implementing strategic communications programs for organizations across the health care spectrum, partnering with clients to launch highly successful integrated communications initiatives, thought leadership campaigns, product launches and issue-based campaigns. As Chief of Staff, Thy-Ann oversees CURA’s day-to-day operations, human resources and marketing.

Thy-Ann Nguyen

Chief of Staff

Scott Leezer is a seasoned strategic public affairs expert with over 10 years of bipartisan government relations consulting experience. Mission-driven to achieve success for his clients, Scott strives to make the world a better place for his transformational health care clients. 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.

Scott Leezer

Senior Vice President of
Government Relations

Jen Young is a seasoned communications, marketing and public affairs executive with 25 years of experience. With experience directing integrated campaigns, programs and operations for both health and non-health related corporations, government agencies, trade associations and advocacy organizations, Jen is a dynamic and collaborative leader who excels at facilitating communications within complex organizations and delivering impactful results for clients. 

Jen Young

Senior Vice President

Claire Grant is a communications professional specializing in health care policy and public affairs. Claire has extensive experience leading state and federal policy and advocacy, regulatory, corporate communications, and reputation management initiatives for clients across pharmaceuticals and the life sciences, medical devices, consumer products, hospital and health systems, and health IT.

Claire Grant

Vice President

Kate Lyons is a communications professional with over a decade of experience building successful campaigns to drive profits and increase market share. With extensive experience in campaign optimization, crisis communications and community outreach, Kate is an energetic leader devoted to simplified storytelling for optimal results. Prior to joining CURA Strategies, Kate rebranded a health care system and served as the Public Information Officer during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kate Lyons

Vice President

Preston Knowles is a digital marketing and communications veteran. He has worked with numerous health systems, federal health care agencies and centers, consumer health care products, and policymakers to develop digital marketing strategies across many objectives. Preston’s expertise lies across social media, integrated marketing, media buying & planning, and campaign measurement.

Preston Knowles

Vice President, Digital Marketing

Michael Lisowski is a skilled government relations professional with nearly a decade of experience working on federal public policy. From drafting legislative language and passing bills, to coordinating with coalition partners, planning fly-ins, advocacy days, and roundtables, Michael has participated in all facets of the legislative process.

Michael Lisowski

Vice President, Government Relations

Stephanie Wight is a seasoned communications professional specializing in health and health care public relations. With a knack for storytelling, an eye for news, and a passion for helping others, Stephanie has worked creatively over the past decade to translate complex health care issues for lay audiences, elevate the voices of key leaders, and secure top-tier media coverage for patient advocacy organizations, hospital and health systems, professional associations, and government agencies.

Stephanie Wight

Vice President, Media Relations

Emily is a design innovator, brand manager, and project management professional with a passion for producing captivating creative content while also providing unrelenting client service. Emily has over 20 years of experience creating and producing designs and illustrations for a diverse spectrum of enterprises, including the private-sector, non-profit organizations and their affiliated partners, and federal government agencies.

Emily Hagen

Associate Creative Director

Erin Buckley is a communications professional specializing in corporate communications for companies and organizations. Erin is known for her cheerfully persistent approach to project management and her keen eye for detail and editing. Erin is experienced across communications disciplines including social and digital media, though she is particularly passionate about writing and earned media.  

Erin Buckley

Managing Supervisor

Saara Khadir is a driven and collaborative communications professional with over a decade of experience leading public health-focused and patient advocacy campaigns and communications efforts. With expertise in writing, strategic planning and public relations activities, Saara has worked closely with a range of clients including the NIH, nonprofit organizations and biotechs. Saara is passionate about crafting tailored communications that educate and make a meaningful impact on target audiences.  

Saara Khadir

Managing Supervisor

India Hinton is an innovative and driven public health professional and maternal and child health advocate. India has a wide range of knowledge and experience in health communications, program planning implementation, and identifying and analyzing public health issues that impact community health outcomes. India is committed to advancing health equity and strives to address health disparities of marginalized communities through public health policies, programs, and practices.

India Hinton

Account Supervisor

Falen Petros is skilled at health promotion, education, and community relations. Falen has a passion for health equity and social marketing. Prior to joining CURA, Falen worked at Child Care Aware of America to support Child Care Resource and Referral agencies across the country. Falen’s professional experiences also include serving as a Health Educator at Inova Health Systems. Falen received her Masters of Science in Public Health Education and Promotion from Marymount University.

Falen Petros

Account Supervisor

Sydney Shepherd has extensive experience implementing integrated grassroots/advocacy and government relations campaigns to achieve legislative goals, particularly in the nonprofit sector. Sydney is passionate about elevating the voices of advocates to promote transformational legislative changes in health care.

Sydney Shepherd

Account Supervisor

Laura is passionate about executing creative communications strategies that exceed goals and drive tangible results. With experience in the rare disease, immunology, gastroenterology, sleep and micro-robotics spaces, Laura’s work spans across health care sectors including biopharma, medtech and nonprofit management. Prior to CURA, Laura worked at Health+Commerce, a healthcare PR and digital marketing agency, where she focused on corporate and regulatory communications.

Laura Wagner

Senior Account Executive

After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a minor in General Business, Lula joined the CURA team to apply her disciplines within the communications field. Leveraging her studies in public relations, creative practices and marketing, Lula works with her account teams to help clients achieve their goals. 

Lula Hailesilassie

Account Executive

Patrick Meade is a communications professional specializing in congressional outreach and advocacy, working with health care industry clients to achieve their advocacy and business goals. Patrick graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics, along with Economics, and interned for two members of Maryland’s Congressional delegation.

Patrick Meade

Account Executive

Diana is an adept strategic communicator specializing in writing, editing, research and thought leadership. Her experience ranges from supporting clients at large public relations firms to freelance content creation and marketing. She is fueled by connection, the power of language to spark action, critical analysis and stories that improve people’s lives. Diana graduated from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media with a Bachelor’s degree in public relations.  

Diana Pressey

Account Executive

Philicia Thompson is a strategic storyteller with experience in digital, owned and earned communications. Her approach to results-driven work begins with a foundation of research and telling authentic and impactful stories to drive successful campaigns. She is a proud Gamecock and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s in public relations and master’s in mass communication.

Philicia Thompson

Account Executive

Aaron Traub is a public relations professional who specializes in media relations, content creation, research and thought leadership. Aaron has worked with clients in the health care, public affairs and nonprofit sectors, helping them achieve deliverable results for their advocacy and awareness goals. Aaron graduated from American University with a degree in public relations and a minor in marketing.

Aaron Traub

Account Executive

After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and working as a paraprofessional in ABA therapy, Collin Walden joined the CURA team. Collin is dedicated to providing in-depth research and helping in any way that he can.

Collin Walden

Account Executive

Savion is an artist & designer skilled at leveraging hand-made elements and computer skills to create interactive, inspiring graphics. He has experience working independently as a freelancer as well as part of larger teams and is fueled by getting to work on new projects. Savion graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Digital Art + Interactive Media.

Savion Mercedes

Junior Graphic Designer

David Morrell is a project management specialist with experience across multiple professional service industries including health care, cybersecurity, and technology. David’s strong attention to detail, drive to find and develop solutions, and ability to combine creativity and practicality consistently delivers meaningful and functional solutions for CURA and our clients.

David Morrell

Special Projects Manager

Fernando is an experienced administrative professional with a background in law, administrative work and customer service. In addition to building a reputation for being a dependable and efficient team player, he is also fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and served as a translator in his role as an office manager at a law firm.

Fernando Fatecha

Office Manager