Featured Post from ExpertFile

ChristianaCare Launches a New Speakers Bureau: Is This the Future of Healthcare Communications?

Oct 23, 2023

5 min

Only just a few months after their win of an IABC Gold Quill Award (shared with ExpertFile), the ChristianaCare healthcare communications and digital team has once again made major moves to make their organization even more accessible to the community with the launch of their new ChristianaCare Speakers Bureau.


As one of the leading healthcare systems in the United States, Delaware based ChristianaCare is home to a wide variety of medical experts. Now live, the ChristianaCare Speakers Bureau features 80 experts who are currently available for speaking engagements on a wide variety of health topics including: Aging and Senior Health, Cancer, Children’s Health, COVID-19, Diabetes, Pregnancy and Childbirth. Sports Medicine, Stroke, Weight Management and Women’s Health.


Designed with the ExpertFile platform, the ChristianaCare Speakers Bureau provides easy discovery and access to experts, including their biographies, downloadable photographs, samples of past presentations, languages spoken and more. The site can be viewed here.




Screenshot from the new ChristianaCare Speakers Bureau launched Aug. 2023.  The site provides easy discovery and access to experts, with the ability to search by topics and keywords.  Detailed profiles for experts include biographies, downloadable photographs, samples of past presentations, languages spoken and more.   


How a Speakers Bureau boosts thought leadership


A Speaker's Bureau is an initiative within an organization that assembles a team of expert speakers who can represent the organization and speak authoritatively on its behalf.  While media appearances are often the core focus for experts in organizations, a Speakers Bureau opens up additional opportunities to speak at events such as in-person conferences, webinars, podcasts. Speakers ideally represent a diverse group of professionals from within the organization, and can share their knowledge, insights, and experiences on a range of topics relevant to the organization's mission, values, and field of work. Through event appearances, these experts help to enhance the organization's visibility, foster community engagement, and solidify the organization's reputation as a thought leader in its field. Speakers Bureaus provide effective and efficient way to promote the organization's initiatives, achievements, and viewpoints to the wider public.


Creating New Connections Between Experts and the Community


Following a string of successes that followed the launch of their ChristianaCare Experts site that resulted in major increases in national media coverage and SEO performance, the formation of a Speakers Bureau was a smart move that will further extend the reach of the ChristianaCare brand.  Events provide an excellent way to connect meaningfully with a wider audience to help ChristianaCare make progress on key goals such as delivering effective community health education and improving healthcare equity.


“At ChristianaCare, our mission of service to the community includes a commitment to provide timely, accurate health information so that people can make informed decisions about their health,” said Karen Browne, vice president of marketing and communications. “Through our new speakers bureau, we’ve expanded our capacity to meet these needs in the community.”


The Benefits of a Speakers Bureau


Given the fragmentation of traditional media channels and the massive growth in events such as webinars and podcasts, Speakers Bureaus are fast gaining popularity as a proven way to personify your organization and build a stronger connection to your brand.  So far the ChristianaCare Speakers Bureau appears to be off to a solid start. 


"We had a huge response to our media release when we launched earlier this week and in the first day alone we had multiple organizations sending speaking opportunities for our medical experts.  We're also seeing a great response internally as more of our experts requested to join the Speakers Bureau once it went live," said Hiran Ratnayake, Senior Manager of Media Relations at ChristianaCare who played a key role in developing the Speakers Bureau with his colleagues Shane Hoffman, Communications Director and Tom Hendrich - Senior Digital Content Editor at ChristianaCare.  


Is a Speakers Bureau Right For Your Organization?


Here are some key benefits to consider in determining if a speakers bureau makes sense for your organization:


Bolsters Community Engagement: An active Speaker's Bureau helps create a bridge between your organization and the community you serve.


Promotes Diversity and Inclusion: A Speaker's Bureau offers an exciting opportunity to showcase the diverse voices and unique experiences within your organization.


Enhances Organizational Visibility: The increased exposure at events can lead to greater recognition in the industry, more opportunities for collaborations, and ultimately, a wider reach for your healthcare services. It also is a proven way to boost SEO pagerank and domain authority in search engines and also provides a lot of additional content for your social channels.


Develops Professional Skills: For healthcare professionals who participate, a Speakers Bureau offers an excellent opportunity to develop public speaking skills, foster leadership abilities, and establish themselves as thought leaders in their respective fields.


Facilitates Knowledge Sharing: A Speaker's Bureau cultivates a more dynamic learning environment, which can lead to new ideas, innovations, and improved patient care within your organization.


Strengthens Crisis Management Readiness: Having a pool of trained speakers ready to contribute can be incredibly beneficial in times of crisis. These professionals can help your communications team more effectively communicate critical information to the public, media, and other stakeholders.


Enhances Employee Engagement: Employees who are given the opportunity to share their knowledge and represent their organization publicly, often feel more valued and invested in their work.


Going Beyond the Walls of Your Medical Facility


In the constantly evolving world of healthcare, accurate and timely information is critical to informed patient decisions and effective treatments. Organizations such as ChristianaCare understand that their role as a prominent healthcare system is to deliver information that extends beyond their immediate medical responsibilities. It’s simply no longer adequate to provide care within the walls of a medical facility. Today there is a critical demand for a more engaged approach, requiring hospitals and healthcare systems to leverage their in-house expertise for community education.  A more informed community, armed with knowledge, which can make empowered decisions about their healthcare.


While the public has an abundance of medical information at their fingertips, to help them participate more actively in their healthcare, much of the information found on social media today often lacks clarity, context, and credibility, leading to confusion and misinterpretations. Healthcare experts, leaders, and executives can play a pivotal role in dispelling myths and offering credible, evidence-based insights.


An engaged, approachable healthcare professional is a reassuring sight, reinforcing the community’s faith in the system. It’s a win-win for these experts and the healthcare institution they represent. And most importantly it's a win for the communities they serve, as people identify potential health issues earlier, adopt healthier lifestyles, and reduce emergency hospital visits. This puts less burden on the region’s healthcare system, and better utilizes resources to reach a broader audience. After all, healthcare is not just about curing the sick; it’s about educating, engaging, and empowering the community for a healthier future.


Congratulations to the entire team at ChristianaCare for creating such a valuable resource for your community. And thank you for letting us be a part of this exciting journey.








Powered by

You might also like...

Check out some other posts from ExpertFile

ExpertSpotlight: No Joke: The Curious Origins and Enduring Traditions of April Fools’ Day featured image

2 min

ExpertSpotlight: No Joke: The Curious Origins and Enduring Traditions of April Fools’ Day

Every April 1, the world collectively loosens up. Friends prank friends, brands try to outdo each other with outrageous announcements, and even the most serious newsrooms occasionally get in on the joke. But behind the laughter and “gotcha” moments, the origins of April Fools’ Day are anything but straightforward - and that’s part of what makes it so fascinating. One of the most widely accepted origin stories dates back to 1582 and the Gregorian calendar reform. When France shifted New Year’s celebrations from late March (around April 1) to January 1, not everyone got the memo, or chose to follow it. Those who continued celebrating in spring became the subject of ridicule, often tricked with fake gifts or sent on pointless errands. They were dubbed “April fools,” a label that stuck. Other theories reach even further back, connecting the day to ancient seasonal festivals like Hilaria, where people donned disguises, mocked authority, and celebrated the unpredictable shift into spring. Across cultures, the common thread is clear: a moment in the calendar where normal rules are bent, and mischief is not just accepted - it’s expected. What started as localized traditions has evolved into a global cultural phenomenon. Media outlets, corporations, and public figures now participate in April Fools’ Day with increasingly elaborate hoaxes. Perhaps the most famous example came from the BBC in 1957, when it aired a segment about Swiss farmers harvesting spaghetti from trees, complete with convincing visuals. Viewers were fooled, and a legendary prank was born. Today, in an era of viral content and misinformation, April Fools’ Day walks a fine line between humor and credibility, forcing audiences to question what they see and hear. Beyond the pranks, the day reveals something deeper about human nature. It’s a rare, socially sanctioned opportunity to challenge authority, play with truth, and share in collective amusement. For journalists, it also offers a unique angle: how stories spread, why people believe them, and what it says about trust in media. In a world often dominated by serious headlines, April Fools’ Day reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful connection comes not from facts alone, but from the shared experience of being delightfully fooled. Our experts can help! Connect with more experts here: www.expertfile.com

From Saint to Shamrocks: How St. Patrick’s Day Became the World’s Biggest Irish Party featured image

2 min

From Saint to Shamrocks: How St. Patrick’s Day Became the World’s Biggest Irish Party

Every March 17, cities around the world turn green as millions celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parades, music, traditional foods, and a strong dose of Irish pride. But the origins of the holiday trace back more than 1,500 years to St. Patrick, the 5th-century missionary credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. Over time, the feast day commemorating Ireland’s patron saint evolved into a broader celebration of Irish heritage, folklore, and culture. Many of today’s traditions, wearing green, shamrocks, lively parades, and even the association with leprechauns — developed centuries later, particularly as Irish immigrants in North America began celebrating their heritage publicly. In fact, some of the world’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day traditions, including massive parades and even dyeing rivers green, originated in the United States and Canada rather than Ireland itself. From the real history of St. Patrick to the myths, symbols, and global traditions that followed, historians and cultural experts can help unpack how this ancient religious observance transformed into one of the world’s most recognizable cultural celebrations. ExpertFile connects journalists with historians, cultural scholars, and experts in Irish heritage who can provide insight on topics including: The real story of St. Patrick and his mission in Ireland How shamrocks, leprechauns, and the color green became iconic symbols Why parades and public celebrations grew in North America How Irish immigration shaped the modern holiday The cultural and economic impact of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations worldwide Journalists looking for fresh angles on the history, traditions, and cultural significance of St. Patrick’s Day can connect with experts available through the ExpertFile platform. Our experts can help! Connect with more experts here: www.expertfile.com

Oil Shock: How the War in Iran Could Send Global Fuel Prices Soaring featured image

2 min

Oil Shock: How the War in Iran Could Send Global Fuel Prices Soaring

The ongoing war involving Iran has rapidly become one of the most consequential energy stories in the world. Oil markets have reacted sharply as military escalation threatens critical energy infrastructure and shipping routes in the Persian Gulf. Brent crude prices have surged past $100 per barrel as traders react to supply disruptions and the growing risk that the conflict could persist or expand across the region. At the heart of the concern is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but vital shipping corridor through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows. Any disruption to this route has immediate ripple effects across global energy markets, transportation costs, supply chains, and ultimately consumer fuel prices. Analysts warn that if disruptions continue, the world could face sustained higher oil prices, tighter energy supply, and inflationary pressure across multiple sectors including transportation, manufacturing, and food production. In some scenarios, oil prices could climb significantly higher if shipping through the region remains restricted or if energy infrastructure becomes a sustained target in the conflict. For journalists covering the evolving situation, the energy implications of this conflict are complex and rapidly changing. From geopolitical strategy and energy security to economic ripple effects and consumer fuel prices, reporters need credible expert voices who can explain what’s happening and what comes next. ExpertFile connects journalists with leading experts across energy economics, geopolitics, global supply chains, and international security who can provide timely analysis on questions such as: Why the Strait of Hormuz is so critical to global oil markets How war in the Middle East impacts gasoline and diesel prices worldwide Whether oil prices could spike to $120 or higher The economic ripple effects of energy shocks on inflation and global markets How governments and energy companies respond to supply disruptions What the conflict could mean for long-term energy security and global trade Journalists covering the global energy story can connect with the many experts available through ExpertFile to provide context, analysis, and insight as this rapidly evolving crisis unfolds. Our experts can help! Connect with more experts here: www.expertfile.com

View all posts
Powered by