Hello Friends,
We can’t believe we're already halfway through the year—time flies when you're busy partnering with clients to transform health care!
In the past six months, we’ve launched a campaign to help protect and honor the gift of kidney donations; publicized an innovative addiction recovery technology platform; brought practice-changing cardiology research to the masses; helped bring cutting-edge prenatal screening to underserved communities—and that’s only a few of the highlights.
None of this could have happened without the transformational clients and consultants with whom we’ve had the privilege of partnering. Thank you for all that you do!
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In 1972, Congress made a commitment to cover treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) regardless of their age or disability status. Today, Medicare covers the costs for dialysis and transplantation, but only covers anti-rejection medications—one of the key factors to ensure long-term organ health—for three years after transplantation. Medicare’s policy ultimately results in hundreds of patients needlessly losing their organs each year, many of whom do not survive.
Honor the Gift, a national, patient-centered campaign managed by CURA Strategies, sponsored by CareDx and promoted by a coalition of kidney and transplant organizations, is advocating to extend Medicare coverage of immunosuppressive medication for kidney transplant recipients beyond the current three-year limit. Changing this policy will protect patients, honor the gift of kidney donation, and will save Medicare an estimated $73 million over the next 10 years. In just three months, over 6,000 people have signed our pledge to help extend coverage of these life-saving medications and are choosing to stand up for people like Monica, who's featured in the video below.
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Monica Fox received her kidney transplant on Thanksgiving Eve 2016, but lives every day knowing that as of next winter, her coverage of immunosuppressive medications isn’t a guarantee.
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To learn more, and sign our pledge, visit www.honorthegift.org and follow the campaign on social media:
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In March, CURA was in New Orleans, supporting media relations at the American College of Cardiology’s 2019 Annual Scientific Session (ACC.19). Months of planning, press release development, pitching and social media engagement paid off—a record number of news outlets covered the research presented at ACC.19. We can’t wait to start prepping for ACC.20 in Chicago with the ACC media relations team!
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To help combat our country’s addiction crisis, tech startup DynamiCare Health created an innovative digital platform that reinforces a person’s recovery from addiction and rewards healthy behavior. Used over the past few years by addiction treatment centers throughout the country, DynamiCare launched their platform directly to those living with addiction and their families in early May. Check out the local Boston ABC affiliate story we secured on DynamiCare’s launch event!
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DynamiCare Co-Founders, Eric Gastfriend (left) and his father David Gastfriend (middle), hosted an event with former Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (right) to celebrate the launch of their platform to families.
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The Social Shake-Up honored our very own Account Supervisor, Casey Dillon, with a 2019 Movers and Shakers Award, which is given to a prestigious group of people whose work made a “demonstrable impact for their organization or clients.” Way to go Casey! We couldn’t be more proud of you.
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We’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newest interns, Hera and Libby! We all know interns are the lifeblood of any PR firm and are looking forward to working with them this summer.
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Hera Ashraf is an Indianapolis native and recent graduate from George Washington University, where she received her MPH in Health Communications and Marketing. Before pursuing her Master’s degree, Hera worked in scientific research in hospitals. In her free time, Hera likes to bake, explore the city, and try new restaurants and cuisines in D.C.
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Libby Stauffer is a Columbia, Missouri native and recent graduate from the University of Kansas, where she majored in Strategic Communications with a minor in Global and International Studies. While at KU, Libby served as the Communications Director for KU Student Senate and interned at Parris Communications, a boutique PR firm in Kansas City. When not working, she likes to read, cook and play with her dog, Zeus.
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At CURA, we give back to the community by participating in charitable activities that are meaningful to us. Here's what CURA Cares has been up to this year.
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CURA was a proud sponsor of Beats for Bella, a fundraiser in Philadelphia to benefit children born with congenital heart disease (CHD). CURA VP, Scott Leezer, spoke at the event about his work to fundraise for the development of the Fontan Blood Pump, a potentially life-saving device for children born with single ventricle heart disease—one of the most complex forms of CHD. The event raised over $100,000 and benefited the Fontan Blood Pump. Scott is pictured here with his wife, Cortney (left), six-year old Bella Borkowski (front), and her mother and Founder of Beats for Bella, Erin Borkowski (right).
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CURA Strategies has been a proud supporter of the Arthritis Foundation for the past several years. CURA SVP and Managing Director, Thy-Ann Nguyen, serves on the Foundation's Metro DC Leadership Board and is currently helping to plan the Arthritis Foundation's first gala in D.C. in over ten years! The gala will be held the evening of October 3rd at the beautiful InterContinental at the Wharf and proceeds will help find a cure for the millions of adults and children suffering from arthritis. (Yes, children can get arthritis too!) Interested in sponsoring, attending or donating an auction item? Email: thyann.nguyen@curastrategies.com. We hope to see you there!
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Until our next update, please follow CURA Strategies on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, check out our website, or drop us a line! We'd love to hear from you.
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