Acknowledged pioneer and innovator in strategy, marketing, branding, public relations, organizational name changes, crisis management and advisor to boards and executives, Rhoda has traveled extensively consulting and speaking in 49 states and globally.
In 2012 Rhoda founded and continues to chair Health Market Leaders for Chief Marketing and Communications Officers from the nation’s largest, most prominent health systems representing the majority of U.S. hospitals to share expertise, perspectives and insights.
In March 2020 as the pandemic widened she started twice weekly calls for CMOs from now 115 health systems to tackle challenges, find solutions, share hundreds of resources and host CEOs as keynotes.
The coalition has met 150+ times, sharing 2,500+ best practices and hosting 50+ CEO keynotes with 5 to 15 colleagues speakers on each call. There are also monthly cohorts for 70 Children’s Hospitals and 25 Faith-Based Organization with a Cancer Center cohort starting shortly.
Rhoda Weiss Gold Anvil Recipient with PRSA Chair Debra Peterson and U.S. Air Force General Edward Thomas, Director of Public Affairs, Office of Secretary of the Air Force, Pentagon. Acceptance speech
In early 2020, learning of people delaying or going without needed health services and fearful of a “silent epidemic” of death, disabilities and late-stage diseases among 10 million Angelinos, Rhoda engaged and united Summit members from Los Angeles County’s largest, most highly competitive health systems to form BetterTogether.Health.
Each system pivots resources to deliver massive multimedia campaigns encouraging people to put their health first and access care when needed.
The newest multi-media campaign, “We Love a Healthy L.A.” includes outdoor, print, radio, digital, social and other media (Get Back to Your Doctor, Your Health, Your Joy as well as TV spots featuring people who successfully accessed timely care and screenings for early detection of cancer, stroke, heart disease, high-risk pregnancy and orthopedic issues.
A prolific writer, Rhoda was Marketing Health Services magazine editor, Health Progress and Strategic Health Care Marketing columnist; authored a book, Managing Health Care Reform: Ideas for Leaders; and taught marketing, public relations and fund raising for UCLA Extension, American Marketing Assn and others.
Kellogg Foundation Fellow and National Security Forum Mentor, she’s received numerous awards and accolades for her leadership and accomplishments.
“Rhoda’s seminal book Managing Health Care Reform: Ideas for Leaders, which was hugely influential in the national health care reform debate, was created in just two weeks to meet an impossible deadline. That book illuminated some of the qualities that have made her so successful and inspirational—amazing energy combined with the heart and courage to make impossible tasks seem ordinary. Additionally, her hundreds of well-researched and expertly written bylined columns and articles have informed and inspired thousands of professionals.”
Greg Waskul, CEO, Waskul Worldwide
Lifetime Achievement Awards & Significant Honors
- Public Relations Society of America/PRSA National Gold Anvil lifetime achievement award (32,000 professional and student members)
- U.S. Air Force & U.S. Space Force Distinguished Public Service Award, its highest national civilian honor
- American Hospital Association Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development (SHSMD) Inaugural National Leadership Excellence Award
- UCLA Extension Distinguished Faculty Award
- Women in Health Administration Woman of the Year
- Michigan State University College of Communication Arts & Sciences Outstanding Alumna
- Health Academy National Lifetime Achievement Award
- Educators Academy National Ferguson Award for Contributions to Public Relations Education
- Ball State University National Award for Contributions for Public Relations Education
- PRSA-Los Angeles Professional of the Year
- Public Health Lecturer Award
- 24 U.S. Women to Know in U.S. Health Care
- Plank Center Legends in Public Relations – among 63 Lifetime Legends
- Kellogg Foundation Fellowship
- Accreditation of APR in Public Relations and member of PRSA College of Fellows
- 24 Women Health Care
- Educators Academy Ferguson
- Co-Chair, Becker’s Healthcare Spring & Fall Conferences (13,000 Spring attendees)
- Chair, Health Market Leaders (115 CMOs representing majority of U.S. hospitals)
- Chair, BetterTogether.Health (5 large, iconic Los Angeles County health systems)
- Chair, American Marketing Association Executive Healthcare Summit
- U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force Chiefs of Staff National Civic Leader
- Advisory Board, We Are Santa Monica Fund (City of Santa Monica appointee)
- Board Member, Santa Monica History Museum
- Board Member, Becker’s Healthcare CEO Advisory Board
- Editorial Board, Strategic Health Care Marketing
Organizational Leadership & Service
Past Leadership & Board Service
- National Chair & CEO, PRSA/Public Relations Society of America (32,000 members)
- Founding National Chair, American Hospital Association (AHA) Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development/SHSMD
- Founder & Chair, Women in Health Administration/WHA
- National Chair, AHA American Society for Health Care Marketing & Public Relations
- Advisory Board, Air Force Entertainment Industry
- President, Healthcare Marketing & Public Relations Association
- Board Member/Marketing Committee Chair, UHA Health Insurance Hawaii
- Board Member, Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management
- National Board Member, Donate Life America (organ and tissue donation and transplantation)
- National Chair, Air Force Association/AFA Communications Task Force
- Vice President, AFA Doolittle Chapter
- Vice President, American Marketing Association of Southern California
- Board Member, Easter Seals of Southern California
- Board Member, St. Francis Hospice Hawaii
- UCLA Extension Advisory Boards: Transformational Leadership, Strategic Planning, Nonprofit Management, Marketing-Public Relations, Diversity, Inclusion and Access
- Detroit Homecoming expat volunteer helps revitalize beloved hometown
- Participant & Mentor, National Security Forum
Gallery
Military
Awards
Distinguished Public Service Award
Rhoda honored with Air Force’s highest citizen award for public service, the Distinguished Public Service Award, at Joint Base Andrews, just outside of Washington, D.C. Rhoda is a longtime member of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force’s Civic Leader Program and now U.S. Space Force Civic Leaders as well, a high-level advisory group serving as an interface between the Air Force, Space Force and civilian communities across the nation.
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Interviews with CEOs and Leaders
Rhoda has interviewed in person and online 50+ CEOs and Leaders.
