Melissa H. Leeb New AAOS Director of Public Relations

Melissa H. Leeb, a longtime resident of Skokie, Illinois, joins the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) as director of public relations.

Leeb is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, and has an extensive background in public and media relations. In her early career, Leeb worked in broadcast journalism as a television reporter, weekend anchor and news producer. She later developed public relations, public affairs and marketing communications expertise at several Chicago-based public relations agencies specializing in healthcare communications.

Most recently, Leeb was director of public relations for the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society (ACS). During her tenure, Leeb increased awareness and built strong support for the society’s mission, programs, advocacy issues and events. She was instrumental in the ACS’ efforts on passage of The Smoke-free Illinois Act in 2008. The Act, still in effect today, prohibits smoking in virtually all public places to protect residents, workers and visitors from the harmful and hazardous effects of secondhand smoke. Leeb was recognized with the PRSA Chicago Skyline Award for leading strategic communications efforts for the statewide campaign.

“Melissa joins the Academy with a wealth of expertise from the nonprofit and consumer healthcare sectors, ” said AAOS CEO Karen L. Hackett, FACHE, CAE, in the April 17, 2014 news release. “Her roots in broadcast journalism, and notable accomplishments with medical and health-focused nonprofits, will be a tremendous asset to the AAOS’s strategic public relations initiatives.”

Asked what prior role has best prepared her for this new position, Leeb told OTW, “My previous experience in journalism, PR agency work and at a volunteer-driven public health organization has prepared me well for my new position. As a former reporter and news producer, I understand what makes a compelling news story and I appreciate the demands and deadlines journalists face on a daily basis. I also spent time at several public relations agencies, so I understand the importance of big ideas and creative thinking. Most recently, I was the director of public relations at the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society, where I was responsible for increasing awareness and building strong support for the organization’s mission, programs, advocacy issues and events.”

Regarding her plans for the first year, Leeb commented to OTW, “This is a great time to be joining the Academy! Our new building in Rosemont offers the opportunity to promote the innovation and commitment to education that is specialty-wide in orthopaedics, and the chance to showcase the members, the education programs and the possibilities ahead for our patients in terms of the spectrum of orthopaedic care. In addition, our new strategic plan is serving as an excellent guide for the public relations team to develop communications strategies and programs that will continue to best serve our members, our patients, the media and the public. This will include the launch of the second phase of our A Nation in Motion campaign, to raise the public’s awareness about the importance and value of orthopaedic care, as well as the continuation of our national public service advertising campaign, to help educate the public about important topics like patient safety, bone and joint health and the dangers of distracted driving.”