The Team
MICHELLE
McADAM
President
As principal of Chronic Communications, Michelle McAdam has built the reputations of medical technology companies across the therapeutic spectrum, from emerging and mid-sized companies, to well-known names such as J&J and Edwards Lifesciences. In her 20-plus years of experience, she has established credibility, elevated awareness, driven revenue growth, enhanced competitive edge and neutralized issues for them through branding, public relations, digital programs and issues management.
As principal of Chronic Communications, Michelle McAdam has built the reputations of medical technology companies across the therapeutic spectrum, from emerging and mid-sized companies, to well-known names such as J&J and Edwards Lifesciences. In her 20-plus years of experience, she has established credibility, elevated awareness, driven revenue growth, enhanced competitive edge and neutralized issues for them through branding, public relations, digital programs and issues management.
Prior to founding the agency, Michelle served as Vice President, Global Communications and Corporate Branding for Edwards Lifesciences, where she led external and internal communications, crisis management, corporate branding and digital initiatives for the company’s cardiovascular and critical care businesses. There, her team generated a half-billion media impressions which helped to more than double sales for the SAPIEN transcatheter heart valve. She also managed such issues as an FDA warning letter, lawsuits and a Senatorial investigation, among others. In addition, she helped to craft earnings announcements, annual reports and Shareholder Meetings, and partnered closely with Government Affairs on key initiatives.
Prior to Edwards, Michelle held senior leadership positions at several global communications firms, including Edelman, Weber Shandwick and Porter Novelli. In those agencies, she represented such major consumer and technology brands as Pepsi-Cola, General Mills, Mattel and Hewlett-Packard, among many others. From the consumer work she learned how to drive patients to action, while the technology work honed her skills in translating complex technical concepts into clear, simple value propositions that resonate across audiences. Her agency experiences taught her important tenets of client service that she has adopted in her own firm: listening, delighting clients, accurate budgeting, and avoiding negative surprises.
Michelle is a proud Trojan from USC and enjoys traveling and eating her way around the world.
BILL
HEINEKE
Media Relations
As a former Associated Press newsman and daily newspaper reporter, Bill Heineke possesses more than 30 years of experience in getting the attention of reporters, writers and producers in the healthcare arena. He has worked across medical devices, biotech and pharma for such companies as Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Allergan, Given Imaging, Pulmonx, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough, Upjohn, Astellas US, Paxman and Northwestern Medicine.
As a former Associated Press newsman and daily newspaper reporter, Bill Heineke possesses more than 30 years of experience in getting the attention of reporters, writers and producers in the healthcare arena. He has worked across medical devices, biotech and pharma for such companies as Johnson & Johnson, Amgen, Allergan, Given Imaging, Pulmonx, Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Schering-Plough, Upjohn, Astellas US, Paxman and Northwestern Medicine.
In addition to serving as a journalist, he has worked with major global public relations firms such as Burson-Marsteller, Ruder Finn and Manning Selvage and Lee.
Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in English Composition from DePauw University.
HELEN
WINKLER
Account Execution
Helen Winkler has more than 14 years of experience in public relations, communications and branding, with a focus on the healthcare industry. Her experience includes cardiology, endocrinology, dermatology, urology, diagnostics and patient monitoring, including Edwards Lifesciences, Fraxel, Emboline and several Fortune 500 pharmaceutical brands.
Helen Winkler has more than 14 years of experience in public relations, communications and branding, with a focus on the healthcare industry. Her experience includes cardiology, endocrinology, dermatology, urology, diagnostics and patient monitoring, including Edwards Lifesciences, Fraxel, Emboline and several Fortune 500 pharmaceutical brands.
Helen specializes in press material and collateral development, conference and trade show support, management of client speaker bureaus and industry award programs, media relations, and corporate community relations programs.
Most recently, Helen worked as Engagement Director for Health Advocacy Strategies, LLC., a specialty firm that helps healthcare companies integrate the authentic patient voice throughout their branding, marketing and communications. There, she led patient marketing program development, including creation of patient-centered brochures and websites, and managed patient engagement programs, including an online patient-to-patient mentor program and patient spokesperson training programs.
She previously worked as an Account Executive for GCI Group’s healthcare practice, now GCI Health. Helen began her PR career, and found her passion for the healthcare industry, while working in global communications for Edwards Lifesciences.
Helen holds a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Bucknell University.