Kamelya Hinson

About Kamelya Hinson

Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Specialist Digital Media planning and strategy Plain language and health literacy Content development for mobile apps Campaign/initiative development, implementation, and evaluation Public affairs and media relations As a young graduate in the early 90’s, Kam worked in radio, television newsrooms and interned in NY with Spike Lee\'s 40 Acres production company. She moved to Atlanta in 1995 and continued a career in communications. As Communications Manager for Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, she led the marketing efforts for the annual fundraising, volunteer, and scout recruitment. In 2009, she moved into the public health communications field and is currently a Senior Health Communication Specialist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention serving as Social Media Lead in the Office of Smoking and Health. With 12+ years’ experience in public health communications, risk communications and public affairs, she has earned several awards for communications, diversity, and emergency response work including COVID-19. In 2021 she earned the HHS Pledge to Excellence Award for leading internal and external communication efforts for the mission to procure ventilators to support state and local hospital shortages and to stockpile for future public health emergencies that require respiratory support. In 2018, she deployed to US Virgin Islands (USVI) to serve as Sr. Communication Liaison Officer for Hurricane Maria Response. As liaison officer, she led all communication staff transitions and briefed new communicators on current operations. Provided web and social media consultation, increasing USVI Dept of Health Facebook engagement by 300%. Promoted prevention and preparedness messages daily on USVI radio, television, churches, and community meetings. Supported the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in assessing the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the US Virgin Islands. In 2016, Kam deployed to American Samoa to serve as Risk Communication Lead for the Zika Response. Worked with CDC to initiate the building of a website for the American Samoa Dept. of Health to include Zika microsite with CDC content syndication. This work resulted in a website for the health department and sustainability for the community beyond the response. Worked with CDC to create a newspaper and billboard ad using Samoan tribal historical research. Produced a simple street flyer for windows of local businesses, resulting in a 50% increase in voluntary Zika testing.

Experience

1. Sr Health Communication Specialist

   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

   May 2009 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   Currently Social Media Lead in CDC\'s Office of Smoking and Health: Manage all social media activities for CDC’s National Tobacco Education Campaign to inform the public about the health effects of tobacco products. This includes overseeing a monthly content calendar and managing a team of two contracted employees and three vendors to deliver creative assets. Write, edit, and clear plain language communication materials to disseminate scientific information about the health effects of tobacco products to the public, key partners, stakeholders, and state and local health officials. Collaborate and coordinate with federal, state, and local partners to brainstorm and share ideas for continued efforts to keep the public informed. Provide strategic input and actionable recommendations for annual social media planning based on metrics and evaluation. Previously served as CDC Vital Signs Social Media Project Lead in CDC\'s Digital Media Branch: Coordinated with CDC programs to support digital media activities for the topic of the month – this often included working with 3-4 different programs at one time, each in different phases of the Vital Signs process. Often simultaneously kicking off the next month’s activities, launching the current month’s activities, & preparing metrics reports for the prior month’s activities. Other projects in the Digital Media Branch include: Mobile App Content Manager: Disease of the Week, Solve the Outbreak & Health IQ Health Literacy/Plain Language Lead: Conducted plain language reviews. Attended Health Literacy Council meetings, ensured new communications staff received plain language training. Web Content Manager of CDC.gov Health and Safety Features: Provided technical writing, editing and web development support. CDC.gov Features Workgroup Chair: Led collaborations with fellow CDC health communicators to improve web standards, and discuss public health topics to be highlighted on the CDC website.

Education

• University of Florida

  BS, Journalism & Communications

  1985 — 1990