Todd Murphy
10328 SW Todd St., Portland, Ore. 97225
todd@murphymedcom.com
503-680-9539
Profile
Freelance medical writer and communications strategist with deep experience as a former journalist and expertise in medicine, science, technology, and beyond.
Expertise
MEDICAL WRITING AND EDITING
Writer and editor with special expertise in medicine and healthcare. I write white papers, case studies, needs assessments, blog posts, web copy, slide decks, and a range of other medical communications materials.
MEDIA RELATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
• Work with clients on advocacy and public interest campaigns, formulating communications plans and earning media and online coverage.
• Former Senior Communications Specialist for Oregon Health & Science University and Communications Coordinator for the OHSU Brain Institute, one of the top neurological institutes in the United States. Formulated and executed communications plans, wrote news releases, blog posts, and other materials.
• Former Director of Communications for the non-profit Children’s Institute, where I led all digital and print communications. Oversaw all e-newsletters, website content, social media, video production, printed reports and materials, and earned media outreach.
EDITING AND MANAGEMENT
Former Managing Editor of the Portland Tribune, where I led a staff of 20 reporters, photographers, designers, editors, and copy editors in producing a weekly print edition and a continually updated website.
OTHER WRITING AND RESEARCH
Was a member of The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Ky.) newsroom team that won a Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting for immediate and follow-up coverage of a school bus crash that claimed 27 lives. Have won numerous other writing awards while reporting for a range of publications, including Time magazine and The New York Times. During the past several years, have written a wide range of public relations and brand journalism pieces for clients and employers
Experience
MEDICAL WRITER, COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT — JUNE 2016 - PRESENT
Research and write pieces for health and medical groups and public relations and other clients. Advise clients on communications and communications strategy. Specialties: medical writing, continuing medical education, editing, media relations, brand journalism, content management.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE — JAN. 2015 - JUNE 2016
Led all communications for early learning advocacy organization. Was responsible for overall strategic communications planning, while creating and executing project communications plans. Directed all digital and print communications, including twice-monthly e-newsletter, website improvements, social media, video production, and printed research reports and advocacy pieces. Increased earned media coverage of the organization and its work.
SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY — FEB. 2011 - JAN. 2015
Formulated and executed communications plans, wrote news releases and other materials, successfully pitched stories to media relating to OHSU’s Brain Institute and OHSU’s medical and health research. Worked with media on all requests relating to OHSU; edited and managed a health and medical blog and performed other social media work on behalf of the OHSU Brain Institute.
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT, WRITER — AUG. 2009 - FEB. 2011
Researched and wrote magazine articles, brochures, news releases and other materials and helped non-profit and other clients formulate and execute their media relations plans. Clients included Pyramid Communications, IDT911 and the non-profit Chalkboard Project.
MANAGING EDITOR, PORTLAND TRIBUNE — SEPT. 2008 - AUG. 2009
Responsible for the coordination and editing of stories and photographs and for the overall design and production of the print edition and the newspaper’s website.
REPORTER/NEWS EDITOR, PORTLAND TRIBUNE — JAN. 2001-SEPT. 2008
Reported on business, politics, and education. Coordinated, supervised, and edited the work of A-section reporters and helped manage the production of the paper’s news section.
FREELANCE WRITER AND PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANT — SEPT. 1996-JAN. 2001
Northwest correspondent for Time magazine and Portland correspondent for The New York Times. Also wrote health pieces for Better Homes & Gardens magazine and wrote for a range of business and trade magazines and websites.
Prior: REPORTER, LOUISVILLE (KY.) COURIER-JOURNAL and SIOUX FALLS (S.D.) ARGUS LEADER
Covered general assignments, politics, medicine, the law and the courts, did investigative projects.
Awards
Along with The Courier-Journal team Pulitzer, have won numerous individual writing awards, including from the Associated Press, Gannett Corporation and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Education
B.A. degrees in Journalism and Economics, South Dakota State University
References available upon request
click here to download my resume