CURA Strategies, an integrated health care communications and public affairs agency, announces the addition of two new vice presidents to the company’s leadership team: Stephanie Wight, VP of media relations, and Preston Knowles, VP of digital marketing. With each specialist bringing over a decade of experience in health care communications, their expertise will advance CURA’s mission of partnering with health care changemakers to help people live better, healthier and longer lives.
“CURA’s entire team uses the integrated PESO model but with continued changes in the core disciplines of media relations and digital marketing, having focused senior specialists will ensure we are continuing to deliver best in class results for our clients,” said Anne Woodbury, founder and CEO of CURA Strategies. “We’ve been on a long hiring odyssey to find leaders with the right combination of experience, drive and passion for transforming health care. The wait paid off with the additions of Preston and Stephanie.”
Preston Knowles is a seasoned digital communications and marketing professional whose experience spans numerous health care organizations, federal agencies, defense companies and big tech. Prior to joining CURA and during his time with Weber Shandwick and Outcast, he led and developed digital marketing initiatives for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), Vaccines.gov and Healthcare.gov.
Preston is skilled at targeting messages to both niche audiences and the general population, with a track record of building digital campaigns that exceed clients’ expectations. Collectively, through digital marketing and paid media, his campaigns have reached over 5 billion users in the last three years. Preston’s specialty lies in paid media planning and strategy as well as developing measurement frameworks to support integrated campaigns.
Stephanie Wight is a dynamic and collaborative communications professional specializing in health and health care media relations. Prior to joining the CURA team, Stephanie was at JPA Health where she led earned media efforts to drive awareness around health inequities and access issues for people living with kidney disease and lung cancer. During her time there, she also launched a patient education campaign aimed at helping people with inflammatory bowel disease tackle the emotional and social hurdles of living with a debilitating chronic disease.
Stephanie understands the nuances of storytelling, has an eye for news and a passion for helping others. Over the past decade, she’s worked creatively 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 also recently served on the board of Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR), where she led professional development events and their annual Emerging Leader Awards reception.
In addition to these new hires, CURA Strategies was also recently nominated for PRovoke News’ 2023 Boutique Agency of the Year award, which honors the best and most innovative firms around the globe.
“In 2018, we were honored with PRovoke Media’s North American and Global New Agency of the Year,” Woodbury said. “The results we achieved that led to this 2023 nomination proves CURA has staying power—we have earned our place as a national leader in health care communications and public affairs strategy.”
Other notable hires in the past year include:
- Emily Hagan, CURA’s first associate creative director, representing a significant expansion in the firm’s creative and branding capabilities;
- Claire Grant, VP, who was formerly with APCO Worldwide and has extensive experience in policy and advocacy; and
- Kate Lyons, VP, whose experience as the former director of marketing and community outreach at Marion Health hospital in Indiana is helping CURA expand its hospital and health system portfolio.
CURA Strategies
CURA Strategies is an award-winning bipartisan, integrated strategic communications and public affairs agency focused on one thing: transforming health care. CURA—Latin for care, concern and attention to others—exemplifies the company’s mission to take exceptional care of its clients, so every client can transform the health care system in the U.S. and improve lives. CURA is a certified Women-Owned Small Business. Visit our website and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more.
