Kaci Watt
Public Relations, Communication
Healthcare: How the Industry is Tackling COVID
Read the full report: Healthcare: How the Industry is Tackling COVID
About the Project
Healthcare: How the Industry is Tackling COVID was completed during the Fall 2020 semester for Anne Marie Mitchell’s Global Public Relations course. I chose to share this project because in my time at Columbia College Chicago, I have noticed many forget the power storytelling and communications have in traditionally non-artistic industries. I believe, as a creative, one has the ability to make a space for themselves in any industry.
This report exemplifies how public relations and other communication tactics can be used to do so through the lens of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the global scale research done for this project, my team and I were able to assess the areas in which communication tactics could fill gaps within a science-based industry, like healthcare, and then get creative on how to accomplish this. It is undeniable there is currently no larger issue within the global healthcare industry than the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
During the long dark months when the world felt so isolated, one thing that helped hold us together was communication. Whether that meant a press briefing from experts like Dr. Anthony Fauci or a public service announcement advocating for masking featuring global celebrities—constant communication initiatives were working to spread information and attempting to create some sense of unity. I hope from exploring this report, one can better understand the true foundational and behind-the-scenes creative work communication professionals have in all industries.
Finally, I would like to thank my team who helped complete this important project during a very strange time. It was an honor to work with you and be your leader. Thank you.
About Kaci Watt
Kaci Watt (she/her) is a May 2021 honors program graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a B.A. in Public Relations and a minor in Journalism. During her time at Columbia, she was involved in many on-campus organizations both as a general member and in leadership positions. Her roles included staff reporter and copy editor for the award-winning Columbia Chronicle, contributing writer and senior editor for Her Campus, and VP of Member Relations and President of Columbia's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA.) Off-campus, she works as a Public Relations and Marketing Assistant with SHOUT Marketing & Media Relations.
Hailing from the Metro Detroit area, Watt will be returning to her hometown post-graduation to pursue a Master’s degree in Secondary Education. She hopes to teach communications, journalism, and other media studies at the high school level, with the goal of inspiring students to pursue communication arts professionally. First introduced to journalism and communications during high school herself, Watt desires to help ignite a similar passion for the industry in future generations.
“Kaci is an all-star student in every way. As president of our award-winning Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), she has created regular communications to inform and engage the membership during a difficult year. She leads every PRSSA meeting with positive energy, makes everyone feel heard and included, and delivers clever, visually appealing presentations. The presentations are among the best I've seen in my 13 years advising the chapter.
In class, she shows up 100%, physically and mentally. She loves a challenge and asks terrific, research-based questions. She is also kind and fun with an infectious laugh, a true Libra. I'm so honored to have had the chance to teach her, advise her and watch her blossom as a young professional.”
-Anne Mitchell, Associate Professor, Communication