Hillary Edwards

About Hillary Edwards

As a communications and marketing leader with nearly a decade of experience in the healthcare industry, I am passionate about crafting strategies that foster engagement, build trust, and drive organizational growth. I thrive at the intersection of creativity and strategy, consistently leveraging innovative approaches to connect with diverse audiences and deliver meaningful results.My career has been shaped by transformative roles at Ardent Health and BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, where I honed my expertise in crisis communications, digital marketing, content strategy, and team development. These experiences laid the foundation for my leadership approach—one that values collaboration, adaptability, and purpose-driven storytelling.Now serving as Director of Media and Public Relations at Ballad Health, I lead strategic communications efforts that amplify our brand voice, strengthen community relationships, and support our mission to improve lives. I oversee media relations and crisis response, ensuring our messaging is clear, compassionate.I am especially passionate about telling the stories of the people who live in the Appalachian Highlands—their resilience, generosity, and deep-rooted sense of community inspire the work I do every day. Through thoughtful storytelling and authentic engagement, I strive to honor their voices and elevate the impact of healthcare in the region.I believe effective communication is a catalyst for change. I’m committed to mentoring teams, embracing innovation, and staying ahead of industry trends to create measurable impact in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Experience

1. Director, Media & Public Relations

   Ballad Health

   Aug 2025 — Present

   Key Responsibilities:• Lead daily media relations, managing inquiries, drafting statements, and building relationships with national, state, and regional outlets.• Develop and edit press releases, pitches, Q & As, and official communications.• Monitor media coverage and recommend strategic responses and opportunities for engagement.• Support executive media prep, including training, research, and message development.• Identify and advance reputation-building opportunities across traditional and digital media.• Develop and document system-wide crisis communications strategies, adapting for local implementation.• Stay current on hospital operations, trends, and priorities through strong internal relationships.• Collaborate with corporate marketing, public relations, and community relations teams to align messaging across initiatives.• Create media strategies to support executive visibility and enhance Ballad Health’s public profile.• Develop and manage high‑profile organizational events, including executive leadership meetings and press conferences.

Education

• East Tennessee State University

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Mass Communications

  2009 — 2013

Skills

• Advertising
• Fashion Blogging
• Blogging
• Social Media
• Retail
• Twitter
• Press Releases
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Public Relations
• Media Relations
• Strategic Communications
• Time Management
• Copywriting
• Marketing Communications
• Facebook
• Microsoft Word
• Team Leadership
• Editing
• Event Planning
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Powerpoint
• Photoshop
• Final Cut Pro
• Public Speaking
• Prezi
• Marketing
• Event Management
• Customer Service
• Indesign