Michigan Medicine
Special Events, Projects, Programs, or Campaigns
Silver
Over the past year, the U-M Medical School Communications Community of Practice has successfully built, refined and navigated a network and system to promote the collaboration and support of more than 90 unit-embedded communicators across Michigan Medicine. The team of volunteers leading this effort have utilized novel initiatives to develop partnerships, ensure access to resources, and embolden a unified voice, brand, and message across the Michigan Medicine landscape.
What was the most impactful part of your entry?
The metrics for success that we have used for this project have provided a clear indication of its impact. Since the launch of the Community of Practice program, we have seen increased morale among communicators, which has led to a marked decrease in staff turnover. Based on the results of repeated annual surveys - nearly 90% of respondents find value in attending COP monthly meetings; more than 90% say COP members share information and resources with each other; and nearly 30% interact with other embedded communicators daily, up from 5% in 2022. These increased efficiencies not only help the individual communicator with professional development and enhance the quality of service they provide to their unit, but it has also helped decrease the burden and cost of new employee onboarding and unnecessary intervention from the university communications department.
What challenge did you overcome?
This program is continually evolving, and we are learning new best practices to support its many constraints every day, but the challenge of coordinating this many individuals under one banner has been the greatest challenge.
There are 6 communities with more than 90 members in the Communications Community of Practice representing all major areas of the Medical School and Michigan Medicine. Each community meets monthly, either virtually or in person, at various locations across the Ann Arbor campus and Michigan Medicine. We have learned that members communicate and share resources and announcements best using Microsoft Teams and other tools and have opportunities to engage in initiatives and events offered by the COP.
Every embedded communication professional across the Medical School is assigned a community and encouraged to attend their regular community meetings. Membership is open to embedded communication professionals at Michigan Medicine and the Medical School with positions including all marketing and communication classifications, creative services, web-related roles, and event management and coordination.
Contact:
Megan VanStratt
vanstrat@med.umich.edu