Organizational & Departmental Communications Officers
Organizations and departments can have their own focused communications teams.
OAPD & F&A
Communications Officer, YSM Administration
Peggy joined Yale School of Medicine in July of 2023 as communications officer for YSM Administration, including the Offices of Academic & Professional Development and Finance & Administration. She brings more than 20 years of experience in developing and executing strategic communications, employee engagement, and reputation management initiatives. Her background includes significant roles with Fortune 200 companies, as well as public, private, nonprofit, and global nongovernmental organizations, including within the health care and financial services sectors. Over the course of her career, Peggy honed an expertise in corporate responsibility, stakeholder engagement, and demonstrating social impact with various organizations, including MetLife, Inc., AmeriCares Foundation, United Nations Association of the USA, U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd, and the Connecticut General Assembly. Peggy holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications and marketing from Franklin Pierce University, a master's degree in European Economic and Public Affairs from University College Dublin, and an executive education certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies to Create Business and Social Value from Harvard Business School.Center for Emotional Intelligence
Program Director, Communications
Erin Brough is the associate director of communications at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. She holds an M.B.A. and is a Certified Project Management Professional. In her role, Erin is responsible for the Center's communication and branding strategy, including management of the RULER and YCEI websites, lifecycle communications for RULER schools, operational news and updates for YCEI staff and consultants, social media management, budgetary oversight and creation, and project management of various implementation projects. She maintains the working relationship with Yale OPAC and the YSM Office of Communications. Erin lives in Hamden, CT with her son, husband, and dueling cats.Managing Director, Kavli Institute for Neuroscience and Director, Scientific Operations, Department of Neuroscience
Development and Alumni Affairs
Communications Officer, YSM Development and Alumni Affairs
Julia Chianelli joined Yale University in February 2023 as the inaugural communications officer in the School of Medicine’s Office of Development and Alumni Affairs and Office of Communications. She has 26 years of experience in marketing communications and has won numerous awards for innovation and excellence in communication. Prior to joining Yale, she served as director of development and alumni affairs communications at Quinnipiac University, director of advancement communications at Trinity College-Hartford, and manager of alumni communications at The University of Connecticut Foundation, Inc. She also held communications roles at Fortune 500 companies and was managing editor of a special-interest consumer magazine. Julia earned two bachelor of arts degrees at the University of Connecticut and studied at the Universität Mannheim and Goethe-Institut Mannheim in Mannheim, Germany. She holds a master of science in interactive media and communications at Quinnipiac University. While a graduate student at Quinnipiac, Julia was inducted into Lambda Pi Eta, the official honor society of the National Communication Association.Yale Cancer Center (and Smilow Cancer Hospital)
Associate Communications Officer
Terry Corcoran is an Associate Communications Officer working mostly with the Department of Pathology and also with Yale Cancer Center, producing written, photographic and videographic content. Among his responsibilities are producing a monthly internal newsletter for the Pathology Department, managing its social media accounts, and assisting faculty, students and staff with their communications needs. Before coming to Yale, Terry worked for more than two decades in daily journalism in Connecticut and New York. He also served as an assistant to Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary, a writer and editor for the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, and a senior staff writer for the Hartford Business Journal.Internal Medicine
Associate Director, Communications
Serena Crawford is the associate director of communications in the Yale Department of Internal Medicine. In her role, she leads efforts to elevate the department's reputation and visibility among audiences at Yale and beyond. Before joining the department, she served as the director of communications for the Liman Center at Yale Law School. She holds a BA from Middlebury College and an MFA from the University of Oregon.Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH)
Associate Communications Officer
Alyssa Cruz is an Associate Communications Officer at the Yale Institute for Global Health, with a focus on Digital Communications. She has worked in Higher Education for over five years within various departments; including Academic Affairs, Education Programs, ITS, and Student Services. Through her roles and contribution to her Alma Mater, she was featured in the Alumni Magazine 'From the Hill' in the Spring of 2018 and covered the issue in the Spring of 2019. She also received recognition from the Public Relations Society of America - Connecticut Chapter for her work on the Coffee with the President series.Yale Cancer Center (and Smilow Cancer Hospital)
Associate Communications Officer
Psychiatry
Director of Communications
Chris Gardner is Director of Communications for the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. He promotes the work of the department's nearly 1,000 faculty members and trainees via the web, social media, and a monthly newsletter. He maintains the department's portfolio of over 70 websites and manages its messaging service and media relations. Prior to working at Yale, Chris enjoyed a 20-year career at the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury, CT where he worked as Bureau Chief and Local News Editor. He received two first place awards for investigative reporting from the New England Newspaper & Press Association for uncovering wasteful spending in municipal government. He is the former Chairman of the Board of Newtown Youth and Family Services in Newtown, CT. He serves as Senior Burgess on the Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses and is an elected member and Vice Chair of the Newtown Legislative Council, currently in his third term. Previously he served on the Newtown Board of Finance. He is also Newtown's "Keeper of the Flag," in charge of maintenance and upkeep of the town's iconic Main Street flagpole.Yale Cancer Center (and Smilow Cancer Hospital) & Pathology
Senior Director, Physician and Community Engagement
Neurology
Neurology & Dermatology Communications Officer
Alli is the Communications Officer for the Departments of Neurology and Dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Informed by analytics and driven by the goal of amplifying the clinical, research, and education programs and accomplishments in both departments, she created and continues to manage a comprehensive print and digital communications strategy. From website and social media content creation and promotion, to writing and publishing comprehensive annual reports, she is passionate about seeking new media avenues to connect with a multitude of target audiences. She also pursues external marketing opportunities, such as enhancing both departments’ presence on the Yale Medicine website and implementing search engine optimization (SEO). Before joining Yale in 2019, Alli held multiple positions in the media and communications sphere. She began her career at education-technology publisher Macmillan Learning in marketing and editorial roles before transitioning to Warner Brothers Discovery’s digital ad sales team.Internal Medicine
Associate Communications Officer
Crystal Gwizdala joined Yale School of Medicine in 2023. She works within the Department of Internal Medicine (Geriatrics) on Patient Priorities Care, an approach to health care that aims to help patients, care partners, and clinicians focus decision-making and healthcare on what Matters Most: patients’ own health priorities. Over the course of her career, Crystal has worked in a plethora of scientific fields such as toxicology, mental health and chemical manufacturing. Crystal's passion for learning and making science accessible led her to a career in science communication.Communications, Senior Officer; Director of Communications, Medical Education
Dana Haugh is the Director of Communications for Medical Education and Senior Communications Officer at the Yale School of Medicine. She joined Yale in 2018 as the Web Services Librarian & Coordinator of Marketing and Communications at the Cushing/Whitney Medical Library before moving to the Office of the Deputy Dean for Education in 2025. She received her MLS from Queens College and BA in English from Stony Brook University.Communications Officer
Communications Officer, Office of Collaborative Excellence
YSM Collaborative ExcellenceEmergency Medicine
Communications, Officer
Emily Lemiska is a communications strategist with 15 years of experience in the health sector. She currently serves as Director of Communications for the EMS for Children Program, a federally funded grant program. Based out of Yale School of Medicine, Emily works with 60+ sites across the country to engage EMS agencies and emergency departments in improving pediatric emergency care. Previously, Emily served as Director of Communications for the U.S. Pain Foundation, and worked in Public Affairs at Massachusetts General Hospital. Emily graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University and recently completed Yale’s Women’s Leadership Program.Urology & OBGYN
Communications Officer
Cheri Lewis joined Yale School of Medicine in 2022. She is a New England native, a former broadcast reporter/anchor, and an alum of Boston University and the University of Illinois - Springfield.Women's Health Research
Communications Officer
Sara joined the Women's Health Research at Yale team as Communications Officer in early 2024, bringing more than 15 years of experience in communications roles of increasing responsibility in both nonprofit and agency settings. Notably, Sara led media relations efforts for the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the National Mall in 2011 and authored Growing Up Rural in America during her time as Director of Media and Communications for U.S. Programs & Advocacy at Save the Children. At Save the Children, Sara served as an inaugural member of the organization’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. At WHRY, Sara works closely with the Director and Senior Program Officer to inform audiences of the center’s work to change the landscape of medical and behavioral research, professional and personal practice, clinical education, and health policy to advance women’s health.Child Study Center
Director of Communications; Vice Chair for Communications, Child Study Center
As Director of Communications for the Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) and Department of Child Psychiatry, Crista guides departmental strategic communications, oversees related projects, and facilitates dissemination of the center's varied and complex research, clinical, and educational work. Crista serves as the department's vice chair for communications and a member of the YCSC strategy and stewardship team, meeting regularly with the department chair and other vice chairs. Crista also works to develop and sustain relationships and connectivity within and across the YCSC community. Prior to her current role, she served as a program manager and operations director for Minding the Baby™ (MTB) for 11 years, leading a variety of initiatives surrounding implementation, research, and training in the basic tenets of the MTB clinical model. Since she began working at Yale in 2002, she has served as a research associate, project director, chair of the YCSC web and social media committee, and member of the YCSC branding and networking committee. Crista holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Communications from Northeastern University; a Master of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University; and a Master of Arts in Child Development from Tufts University, where she sharpened her expertise in developmental literacy and served as a home visitor for a school-based home visiting program with families of Kindergarteners in Somerville, Massachusetts. In addition to her work in teaching and academic research, Crista’s professional background includes work in public relations, nonprofit management, web development, professional editing, grant facilitation, marketing, and job training.Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence
Marketing and Engagement Manager, YCEI
Katy McGrath is the marketing director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. In this position, Katy works alongside the executive leadership team to build a marketing, sales, and communications infrastructure at the Center. As the Center increases its focus on strategic, revenue-generating initiatives, Katy will create and lead the team executing marketing, sales, and retention strategies. Katy is an experienced senior marketer with over a decade of experience developing and executing strategic marketing plans while growing high-performing teams. Working with clients such as Aetna, Cornell University, United Healthcare/Optum, and the United Way, Katy comes to us with robust knowledge of a variety of competitive markets. In her previous roles with Rebel Interactive, she enhanced brand presence, led multi-channel marketing campaigns, optimized strategy by leveraging data-driven insights, and conducted market research to optimize high-impact activities for multiple companies and organizations. Aside from her marketing and sales strategy expertise, Katy is an accomplished team leader who values authentic collaboration, creativity, and performance.Yale Cancer Center (and Smilow Cancer Hospital)
Associate Director, Public Affairs and Communications
Departmental Communications Lead
Director, YSM Communications
Julie Parry stepped into the Director, YSM Communications role in December 2024. In this role, she develops written and verbal messages for YSM’s internal channels, including MyYSM, town halls, emails, newsletters, and digital monitor displays to amplify – and engage the YSM community in – the school’s mission, values, and strategic goals and priorities. She also helps implement and execute an audience-based communication strategy that informs, engages, and inspires both internal and external stakeholders, including health care consumers, prospective students, and the public. In addition, Julie serves as the relationship manager with the YSM departmental communication officers to foster and facilitate collaboration among – and support – this community of practice. Julie joined Yale School of Medicine and the Department of Internal Medicine in August 2018. While in Internal Medicine, she outlined a communications strategy for the department to highlight its exceptional clinicians, educators, researchers, and staff. Julie and team created and wrote for 11 publications, showcasing a variety of topics to a range of internal and external audiences, along with creating and managing the department’s social media accounts and website. She also created the department’s first annual report to accentuate the department’s excellence in its tripartite mission, along with revitalizing the monthly newsletter, D[IM]ensions, and launching the department’s alumni publication, D[IM] Digest. During her 25+ years of experience in communications, public relations, and marketing, Julie has worked in a number of industries such as sports and entertainment, technology, and healthcare. Julie earned her master's degree in Marketing & Strategic Communications from New York University in 2025. She was honored with the Leadership & Service Excellence Award at 2025 commencement. Additionally, she completed the Yale School of Management Women's Leadership Program in March 2025, and a graduate certificate in Healthcare Marketing & Communications in 2023.Senior Website Designer
Web Design and Communications Officer
Biomedical Informatics & Data Science (BIDS)Communications, Officer
Alexa Tomassi joined the Department of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine in 2019. She currently serves as the department's Communications Officer. Before coming to Yale Pediatrics, she spent 5 years in the non-profit space working in digital communications, marketing, organizing, and development. Alexa graduated from UConn with a BA in Urban and Community Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys advocacy and volunteer work, going to concerts, and meeting friends and family for hikes and walks.Neurosurgery
Communications Officer - Neurosurgery
Jay joined Yale School of Medicine in May of 2025 as communications officer for the Department of Neurosurgery, bringing over 20 years of experience in print, digital and broadcast media. His work has earned several national and regional awards, including recognition for excellence as a writer and editor from the Society of Professional Journalists. During his career, Jay has worked in several industries beginning in news before pivoting to corporate marketing, then healthcare communications.Emergency Medicine
Communications Manager; Writer, Emergency Medicine; Technical Writer