Neal Hall, M.D., President, GILLESPIEHALL, Inc.
- Q: How did you make the transition from medical-surgical ophthalmic physician to marketing and PR strategist?
- I was fortunate enough to assist Bridget Gillespie Paverd with a number of technical medical research initiatives her PR firm needed; it was an amazing fit. The rest is history. The transition to healthcare PR and marketing practitioner was natural. My medical training taught me to be sequential and analytical in diagnosing and treating patients. The true measure of a medical degree is its ability to synthesize and simplify a message; this ability separates the more effective, skilful clinician from the physician. Turning complex medical information and terminology into plain English that patients can digest and use is definitely one of my strengths.
As we're a health-based PR and marketing company, the addition of a professional and insightful clinician gives us an enormous edge over most PR firms in this field. Our talented team of copy writers, editors, graphic designers, and photographers has the benefit of starting with plain and straightforward medical information from which clear and creative messaging emerges. Together, we bridge the enormous divide between overly technical medical concepts and effective client-specific healthcare PR and marketing. To this end, our clients and their constituency are best served.
- Q: What sort of 'big picture' of health and health care do you get from the medical practice-PR fusion?
- Practicing medicine and interacting with the community has given me a thorough grasp of the challenges facing patient healthcare and health policies and regulations in the private and not-for-profit arenas. Practicing in a large, competitive metropolitan area, I've come to appreciate the importance of know-how PR and marketing as an essential component in the formula for success of any endeavor. Together with Bridget, we form a formidable team where savvy PR and marketing is a proven and certain deliverable.
- Q: You have an academic background most of us dream about - Cornell, Harvard. How did your academic career evolve?
- My football and athletic talents became the means to open doors for college study, which I otherwise could not have afforded. As a high school stand out running back, I was recruited by numerous colleges to play football. I selected Cornell University - the magnificent campus completely inspired me. Here I majored in clinical nutrition and minored in pre-medical studies. I also ran track during my four years at Cornell and captained the Cornell University track team in my senior year. (Editor's note: Honors followed him and he was named Cornell University's Athlete of the Year for athletic and academic achievements. He was also inducted into Cornell's Athletic Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility). I went on to attend medical school at the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University. Upon graduation, I completed my ophthalmology medical and surgical subspecialty training at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard University. I particularly loved Boston!
- Q: Do any of your records still hold?
- I believe the 400 meter relay record we set in 1978 still stands.
- Q: Getting back to GILLESPIEHALL - what makes this partnership work so well?
- Bridget and I have a knack for developing inspirational programs that deliver real results. We shy away from very little - and usually embrace challenging controversy. We always make sure our message, audience, medium, and timing are exactly right. But it is often the work we do cultivating the marketplace prior to approval - or renewing excitement for an established but weary product - that demonstrates the true power of our communications efforts. Our clients will tell you we come from all angles: scientific, inspirational, emotional, persuasive, informative - always with an innovative flair and intense spirit and commitment.
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