SSM Health Care - St. Louis names Deena Fischer network vice president of marketing and communications

SSM Health Care – St. Louis has named Deena Fischer as network vice president of marketing and communications. Fischer will oversee a staff responsible for overall branding, marketing plan development for key service lines and programs, marketing communications, public and media relations, internal communications and social media initiatives.

“Deena’s demonstrated leadership and her strategic approach are exactly what we need to significantly increase the awareness of the exceptional services we provide in this community,” said Chris Howard, president and CEO of SSM Health Care – St. Louis. “Deena has shown that she is able to build a very strong communications and marketing team, and her skills will be essential to us during this time of great change in health care.”

Fischer joined SSM Health Care in 2004 as the public relations and marketing manager at SSM St. Joseph Health Center, SSM St. Joseph Hospital West and SSM St. Joseph Medical Park. In 2006, she became director of public relations and marketing for SSM St. Joseph Hospital West, with marketing responsibilities for the cancer, imaging, maternity/pediatrics services in the St. Charles, Mo. market. She transitioned to network director of the communications and marketing service center in 2008 and last May became interim vice president, marketing and communications for SSM Health Care – St. Louis.

Fischer holds a Master of Business Management from Fontbonne University in St. Louis, Mo. and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication from Southeast Missouri State University. She is also a member of the International Association of Business Communicators, St. Louis Press Club, Missouri Association for Healthcare PR and Marketing, Society for Healthcare Strategy and Marketing Development, and Saint Louis Crisis Nursery board of directors.

About SSM Health Care – St. Louis
SSM Health Care – St. Louis’ mission statement — “Through our exceptional health care services, we reveal the healing presence of God” — is embodied by 11,000 employees and 2,500 staff physicians. Sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary, the health care network offers comprehensive health care services, but specializes in heart, cancer, neurosciences, pediatrics, weight-loss, sleep, imaging, behavioral health, rehab and fetal surgery. A winner of the Missouri Quality Award and multiple Best Places to Work awards, SSM Health Care – St. Louis includes seven hospitals ― Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, DePaul Health Center, St. Clare Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center, St. Joseph Health Center – Wentzville, St. Joseph Hospital West and St. Mary’s Health Center  ― a free-standing ambulatory care center (St. Joseph Medical Park), plus a Managed Care Organization (MCO), and a Physicians' Organization (PO).  Go to www.ssmhealth.com for more information.