Susan Saito Email & Phone Number

Program communications lead for Kaiser Permanente's social health practice, an enterprise initiative to improve health care quality and equity by addressing the myriad nonmedical, social factors, such as housing security and financial wellbeing, that influence people's health and ability to access health care. Partner with business leaders and marketing and communications colleagues across the organization to support all aspects of operationalizing the social health practice to support Kaiser Permanente's 12.5 million members.

San Francisco Bay Area

Helping to build a robust suite of employee relations resources for employees and managers, including guides, templates, and training materials.

Walnut Creek, Ca

Managed public relations, media relations and crisis communications for AAA-affiliated property and casualty insurer. Included managing agency relationships, serving as a strategic adviser to executives on media opportunities and other public appearances that supported the company’s business goals. Developed consumer content for partner clubs to strengthen AAA’s highly-respected brand. Led wildfire communications planning and execution and created media training and messaging for executives. Summarized a clunky, 200-page crisis communications plan into a 10-step checklist.

Oakland, Ca

Provided strategic communications counsel and execution for all aspects of CEO communications, including media relations, corporate communications, and support for high-profile keynote speaker spots at top business and media events, including the World Economic Forum and the 2015 Paris Climate Conference. Managed social media content to raise thought leadership position for highly visible CEO and one of America’s top health care organizations. Increased quarterly Twitter and LinkedIn engagement by roughly 35 percent.

Oakland, Ca

Coached, staffed and briefed C-suite executives, physicians and other top spokespeople for national media appearances, interviews and other events, including multicity media tours and more. Placed health care-related stories in top-tier, national media outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Reuters, USA Today, Essence Magazine, etc. Authored more than a dozen opinion pieces and other editorial articles under the names of physicians and executives, including a guest editorial piece on “Redefining Health” for the CEO that was published in the Quarterly Journal of Medicine as part of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation series on building a culture of health.

Oakland, Ca

Developed and directed high-profile multidimensional PR campaigns to promote the organization’s industry-leading health care design and environmental sustainability work. Earned wide media coverage and many top recognitions for Kaiser Permanente hospitals and the company’s clean energy work, and managed key relationships with industry and business partners to position the company as a leader in climate action, including working with the U.S. Green Building Council, Healthcare Without Harm, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House. Created a comprehensive, multiyear PR campaign for a first of its kind hospital design competition that earned international media coverage and generated a pipeline for next-generation engineering and design ideas now being constructed into hospitals and medical offices across the U.S.

San Francisco Bay Area

Developed written, visual, and multimedia content for digital channel reaching an audience of 70,000 physicians and employees, and receiving .5 million page-views a year. Assisted with content planning and management, ensuring content was consistent with the nationally recognized brand, and served as chief copy editor for 15 newsletters produced monthly at Kaiser Permanente hospitals throughout Northern California.

San Francisco Bay Area

Covered crime and breaking news for award-winning 69,000-circ. daily newspaper in SF Bay Area. Broke the story of a missing pediatrician who disappeared for 43 days before she was found drowned in her car in the Oakland Alameda estuary. The search captured widespread media attention, including by CNN, where I was interviewed live on Nancy Grace about the police investigation into the disappearance.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Wrote advertising copy and contributed to creative campaigns for such clients as Perry’s Ice Cream, Trico, and more.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Stringer covering mostly health and social services-related news, including hard news and features.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

With direction from the VP of communications and general counsel, built a government relations function from the ground up. Worked with lobbyists and industry groups in both Albany and Washington to advocate for managed care during one of the most politically charged periods for the industry. Advised senior management on key health care policy issues and developed communications strategies to influence legislation. Organized and hosted lobby days, bringing health care executives, physicians, and health plan members to the state Capitol to advocate for managed care. Wrote position papers, press releases, fact sheets, talking points, op-ed pieces, and speeches for executives.

Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area

Provided non-inflight customer service, including passenger ticketing, boarding, ground operations, and baggage claims.