As Vice President, Communications at Impact Marketing + Communications, Tara brings more than 20 years of experience developing, implementing and evaluating health communications programs with a focus on social determinants of health and addressing health disparities in the U.S. and in low- to middle-income countries.

• Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders including state health departments, healthcare associations and public health organizations• Conducted and synthesized qualitative and other formative research including focus groups and convening technical expert panels• Conducted site visits to develop needs assessments and gap analyses• Created and implemented communications strategies and plans including managing teams and subcontractors• Developed educational materials including curricula and training modules using adult learning principles for health providers, community health workers, students and public health personnel• Coordinated virtual and in-person events and webinars• Utilized a user-centered design approach and cultural competency principles to create compelling and actionable materials such as guidelines and tools for health providers and plain language materials for patients across a number of health topics• Coordinated earned and paid print, broadcast and digital media campaigns• Provided high-level communications technical assistance and capacity strengthening to government agencies, partners, and community-based organizations

Prepare course materials and teach online section of course to Master of Public Health students.

Provide high-level strategic communication support to international organizations including DAI and The CORE Group on initiatives focused on health systems strengthening, digital innovations and scaling up nutrition in low- to middle-income countries.

Provided leadership in the planning, implementation, managing and evaluation of health communication and marketing programs and strategies for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT). • Planned and developed communication and marketing priorities and strategic plans with short and long-term goals and objectives for CDC. • Conducted and analyzed formative audience research to develop platforms and tactics to promote the National Diabetes Prevention Program and ensure health communication and marketing activities address cultural, socioeconomic, health literacy, and linguistic challenges by considering the diverse interests, needs, concerns and priorities among different segments of the population.• Created marketing and dissemination plans, and developed series of e-learnings and webinars to promote National Diabetes Prevention Program for CDC grantees. Provided support to grantees and training on effective use of program materials.• Developed, tested and disseminated science- and audience-based products, tools and messages for the National Diabetes Prevention Program using clear communication techniques in a variety of formats (including fact sheets, videos, posters, digital media tools, job aids, brochures and manuals) targeted to different audiences (such as working adults, employers, insurers, CDC grantees, health providers and Medicare beneficiaries) that are valid and consistent with audience research (including concept, message, social media and Web-usability testing).

Led development of tools, methods and strategic vision for social and behavior change (SBC) communication and directed activities in 13 countries. Managed partners and consultants, and tracked budgets, deliverables and reporting. Established and maintained relationships with internal and external organizations. • Assessed Food for Peace development program activities with a focus on SBC, analyzed findings and developed recommendations for USAID on how to strengthen efforts.• Created evidence-based suites of communication materials for health workers and consumers, including low and limited literacy audiences, such as nutrition and HIV counseling cards in Haiti and materials on HIV testing, treatment and adherence in Tanzania for ‘Test and Treat’ initiative.• Created process for translating quantitative data into strategic operational communication plans and actionable materials in 11 countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Developed a manual with guidance and templates for practitioners and content for an easy-to-use web page, coordinated two regional trainings, and documented success stories. o Data-driven materials included fact sheets, policy briefs, videos, media handbooks, presentations, talking points among others in Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Haiti, Bangladesh, Guatemala and Afghanistan. • Organized working groups in each country with donors, implementing partners and UN agencies to collect and share information, coordinated high-level events, and prepared talking points, speeches, and presentations.• Worked closely with staff to carry out advocacy activities to share research findings with policymakers, elected representatives, civil society, media, district officials and religious leaders. • Developed consultative training package for creation of national communication strategies, based on formative research findings, facilitating workshops in Cote d’Ivoire, Malawi, Uganda and Mozambique.

Managed strategic social and behavior change communication programs in developing countries using human-centered design approach. Recruited and supervised field staff and managed contractors, provided technical oversight and quality control on all deliverables, and managed multi-million dollar budgets to ensure timeline and USAID contract compliance. Designed and facilitated communication capacity strengthening training for NGOs and government officials and provided technical assistance to partners. • Led creation of HIV communication tool kit for health providers, community leaders, consumers and media in Sub-Saharan Africa, creating demand for HIV prevention services. Used as a model by PEPFAR-UNAIDS.• Increased HIV testing, reduced risky sex, and decreased sexually transmitted infections in Sub-Saharan Africa by partnering with MTV to create first season of award-winning TV series, Shuga.• Worked with the University of Witwatersrand and Ohio University to develop curricula and online training package for social and behavior change health communication and promote it globally. • Created a mass media campaign to promote reproductive health services in Kenya. • Achieved 43% increase in counseled patients at intervention sites in Albania through effective management of 3-year, $3M sexual and reproductive health communication program. • Developed communication implementation guide and provided training to government partners to support roll out of Kenya’s National Reproductive Health Communication Strategy.• Increased use of mosquito nets and malaria treatment of children under 5 years of age and pregnant women by managing grant program to NGOs in Kenya. • Developed 5-year strategic framework on malaria for President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) by leading consensus-based meetings with implementing partners.

Acted as public relations and strategic communication counsel to National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CDC on public health initiatives. • Led communication efforts for Be the Generation campaign, funded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), to establish and maintain relationships between scientists conducting biomedical HIV prevention research and the communities most impacted. • Developed and implemented communication strategies for CDC’s influenza, preteen and infant immunization campaigns including media materials and outreach. • Led development of TV, radio and print ads and supervised media buys.• Spearheaded media relations efforts for launch of Preteen Vaccine Campaign and Annual Influenza Campaign, garnering coverage in 300+ print and online articles, 115 radio interviews, 900+ airings of audio bites, and 80+ TV segments in one quarter.• Coordinated series of ethnic media roundtables with CDC in major cities across U.S. resulting in print and broadcast coverage in 200+ outlets in 20+ languages.• Created compelling and narrative-based materials using formative research with audiences and conducted focus groups throughout U.S. to concept test and pre-test materials. • Facilitated national public-private partnerships and documented best practices.• Coordinated special events with high-level HHS and CDC personnel.• Served as point of contact and liaison for information requests and coordinated responses.

Supervised public relations account teams and coordinated communication activities for clients such as California Department of Health Services (CDHS), National Cancer Institute, State of Illinois, and private sector companies including energy and pharmaceutical sectors.• Developed communication strategies, messages and talking points; conducted media training for spokespeople; coordinated press conferences and provided communication counsel.• Served as point of contact and coordinated responses to the public and media.• Established and maintained relationships with key trade reporters and led publicity strategy and outreach resulting in national and international coverage.• Created and managed award-winning communication campaign for substance abuse prevention, reducing alcohol and drug use by 10- to 14-year-olds using narrative-based interventions. • Created award-winning emergency preparedness tool kit used as model by CDC.• Developed health curricula distributed to students/educators throughout U.S.• Created government agency web site including content and design

• Established language and computer training center (still in operation)• Created Nutrition curriculum and taught English and Life Skills courses• Organized and facilitated local English Teachers’ Association

• Produced and edited documentary films "Walter Burley Griffin: In His Own Right" and "Mr. Shimkus Goes to Washington" • Directed live, local productions

• Researched and developed news and feature articles