Chief Communications and Marketing OfficerThe Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute
Ohio State Health Science Colleges
Skip Hidlay became chief communications and marketing officer (CCMO) for the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, the Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute and the seven health science colleges in November 2020.
A brand marketing and communications strategist, Skip has more than 20 years of experience as an executive leader in health care and the media. His areas of expertise include digital content marketing, data analysis, public relations and workforce engagement.
Most recently, Skip was senior vice president and chief communications and marketing officer for University of Chicago Medicine, a position he held since 2016. He oversaw the team responsible for developing and implementing all internal and external marketing and communications strategies, including brand management, digital, service line, public affairs and media management.
From 2011 to 2016, he served as vice president and chief communications and marketing officer for Ascension Via Christi Health, the largest health care system in Kansas. There, he led strategic communications, brand strategy, marketing, digital content creation, web management, creative services and government relations.
Skip spent the first 30 years of his career in print journalism, covering local, regional then national stories. Nearly 14 of those years were with Gannett Co., holding executive leadership positions with increasing responsibility at four Gannett media properties.
As CCMO, Skip oversees the development and implementation of innovative, creative, strategic and measurable communications and marketing programs. Fusing brand, image, services, clinical capabilities, faculty insight and research accomplishments, Skip is responsible for communicating to and connecting with faculty, staff, patients, students, trustees, volunteers, alumni, donors and community members. In addition, he oversees the local, national and international media relations program; internal communications for our growing network of employees; and proactive and reactive public relations.
Skip graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and earned a Master of Healthcare Leadership degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kan. HMN Perspectives inducted him in 2019 to its Hospital Marketing National Hall of Fame’s Midwest class. He is currently serving a one-year term as vice chair of the Vizient Chief Marketing Officers Network and will progress to a one-year term as chair of the group later in 2021.