Working to Defy Cancer: Meet the Media Relations Team

This post is part of a series highlighting staff members within Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund’s Division of Philanthropy, to give supporters an inside peek at life at New England’s favorite charity. Today, we’re talking to members of the Media Relations Team: Molly McHale, associate director; Colleen Brown, senior assistant director; and Nathalie Sczublewski, media relations specialist.

What brought you to Dana-Farber? What made you want to work here?

Molly: I was at a crossroads in my career. I had a toddler at home and wasn’t getting enough time with my family. I was looking for a role with purpose. I wanted to do something that had a positive effect on others and that would truly make a difference. That was over 14 years ago!

Colleen: I was interested in working for an organization that has a strong mission. My background is in public relations, having worked at PR agencies in New York, San Francisco, and Boston prior to joining Dana-Farber. If my work can play even the smallest part in the fight against cancer, then I’m all for it!

Nathalie: I’ve always admired Dana-Farber’s mission to help provide patients of all ages with the best care and innovative research to find a cure for cancer. I lost a family friend to lung cancer. I wanted to be part of Dana-Farber’s mission and help others.

Can you describe your role here?

Molly: My team and I develop and implement strategic communications and public relations plans for many events, gifts, sponsorships, and other initiatives. Our goal is to support the Philanthropy team on the communications and media side of things. We work closely with Philanthropy staff to learn about volunteer, participant, and patient stories that we feel the media would be interested in sharing in a TV segment, radio interview, and a print or online feature.

Colleen: I am a senior assistant director of Media Relations on the Philanthropy Communications team. Our team works on publicizing philanthropy events, campaigns, and programs in the media. Our goal is to get the word out to editorial media, on television and radio shows, print magazines and newspapers, and online news sites, to help raise funds for the Jimmy Fund and to ultimately help find a cure for cancer.

Nathalie: I have been in my role as media relations manager for just over two months. I work on drafting press materials for the Division of Philanthropy, pitching to media, finding stories for events like Radio-Telethon and the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge, and more.

Are you able to share a little bit more about your work with the Red Sox?

Molly: Our partnership with the Red Sox  is very important to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. It’s heartwarming when players talk about how important the Jimmy Fund is to their team culture. The largest event that we support is the WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund, Radio-Telethon, and the success of this event is due in large part to the Red Sox organization’s support and participation. The players are always willing to meet our patients and share special moments with them. We are so thankful to the players, the front office, and Red Sox Nation.

Colleen: We are grateful for our historic partnership with the Red Sox, as it helps us reach our local community and Red Sox Nation across the country. We are one step closer to a world without cancer, every year, because of the special support from the Red Sox.

Is there anything you would like to share about working at Dana-Farber and the Division of Philanthropy with prospective candidates?

Molly: If you are looking for a job with a true mission, this is the perfect place for you. We are lucky to work with so many amazing people within our department and the entire Institute.

Colleen: The WEEI/NESN Jimmy Fund Radio-Telethon is an event that we are especially proud to work on. To see our team’s work come together for such an amazing, multifaceted event is truly a special moment that reminds me of the importance of our work, day in and day out.

Nathalie: I truly love working in Dana-Farber’s Division of Philanthropy. The work that my team and the entire Institute is doing is so inspiring and rewarding. One of my favorite memories has been the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge. I escorted some of our runners to TV interviews on Marathon Monday. Hearing their stories was inspiring. I can’t wait for more amazing events!

What does it mean to you to work here and support Dana-Farber’s lifesaving mission to defy cancer?

Molly: It means everything to help support Dana-Farber’s mission and to be inspired by patients’ determination and strength.

Colleen: Dana-Farber, and especially the Division of Philanthropy, is a special place to work. It means so much to work for an organization where everyone is working towards one mission that impacts people globally.

Nathalie: We all know someone who has undergone a cancer diagnosis. I’ve had family members and a friend go through it. Being part of Dana-Farber’s mission to defy cancer is personal to me. I respect and admire the hard work our researchers, doctors, nurses, staff, and the Division of Philanthropy do every day to make sure patients and their families are given the best care possible.

If you are interested in exploring a career in Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund’s Division of Philanthropy, we invite you to check out our careers page to learn about our culture, view open roles, or register for an upcoming virtual Information Session.

We also encourage you to support Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund through The Dana-Farber Campaign, our ambitious, multi-year fundraising effort to prevent, treat, and defy cancer. The Dana-Farber Campaign will accelerate the Institute’s strategic priorities by supporting revolutionary science, extraordinary care, and exceptional expertise. As a community, we have the power to create a more hopeful, cancer-free future—in Boston and around the world. Together, we can defy cancer at every turn. Learn more about The Dana-Farber Campaign at DefyCancer.org.